Tyre Wear vRS

[MartynVRS]

I've made a thread on this before where the conclusion was that it was normal that the insides on the front tyre wore more, especially of lots of duals and motorways were involved. It hasn't been that long since I had Michelin PS3's fitted which are fantastic tyres. Done about 3000 miles on them so far and I noticed on the passenger side the inside wearing more than the drivers side. The wheels balanced fine (only 20g needed on each wheel), the tracking is also fine so I'm starting to think is it me? Could it be I push harder on left corners rather than right ones which causes the extra wear?

I do 100 miles a day on twisty roads, some of which were used on the Welsh Meet a few years ago. On the way home there is 3 left handers which are tight and I have to be patient with. This could be causing the extra wear. The outside of the drivers tyres is wearing fine but you can tell I push it.

I'm hoping this is the answer and I'll just adjust my driving to suit. In my younger days I'd get terrible feathering on the outside of the passenger front from taking roundabouts way too quickly and not respecting the understeer.

Edited 13 July, 2014 by MartynVRS

[vrskeith]

So you think you will  adjust your driving style on route-NO!

[Ootohere]

Wearing of tyres on the inside is not 'normal', except where the alignment or tyres pressures are incorrect.

With the vRS as with other cars,

it is not a design feature, characteristic  or something that needs to happen.

 

Maybe have more than Tracking checked,

& by someone that can use the equipment, then more importantly do the adjustment.

eg

http://wheel-alignment-manchester.co.uk/services.asp

 

?

Where do your tyres get fitted & the tracking checked?

 

You had a leaking damper i seem to remember.

Was a matched new pair fitted to the rear,

& is it maybe a case your suspension now suffering wear and tear.

Requiring replacement, possibly Bushes, and is the front end all fine, maybe misaligned or springs shot catching speed bumps or 

straightlineing Mini Roundabouts.

 

george

[Ootohere]

I see it was your front shock leaking.

So were a new pair fitted and the Full Alignment Checks done?

Are the new Dampers & Springs now fitted that you were planning on fitting?

 

http://briskoda.net/forums/topic/315744-leaking-shock

 

Professional Tyre Fitters & Alignment places looking at Tyre Wear that know what they are doing, like to ask customers the history of their vehicle and how it is used.

It is common for people to talk about Tyres Wearing etc,

when it is the vehicle needing attention, the tyres would be fine doing the job they are made for if the car is all OK.

[Jabozuma]

Your camber is in negative too much, get it fixed. Tracking is one thing (toe settings) but camber sometimes is neglected by tyre alignment garages. Have you got a report from your previous suspension geometry checks and alignment?

It is certainly not right under any circumstances. Even on track you only wear the shoulders from heavy cornering, main thread is not that much affected and never on the inside lol

[MartynVRS]

I'm having all my new suspension fitted today. TBH I haven't looked at the shock since the wheel was off. My mechanic will tell me if it's leaking or not but looked like it to me. Once it's all on I'll take it to have the geo checked. I'll take it to Skoda this time since they have access to the Hunter system. It's been checked when I had tyres fitted but needed no adjustment and was spot on.

Here's the previous thread http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/307039-fabia-vrs-tyre-wear-rates/

 

What I wanted was an answer like Jabo's, basically confirming that it's not normal. I know myself it could be too much camber but for all I know the cars could be like this as standard. Sharkrider said the wear on both inners was normal. The rest of it feels like the Spanish Inquisition!

[Ootohere]

Sorry i thought my first line was clear.  post #3

 

'Wear on the Inside, or outside' is Normal only where the Alignment or Tyre pressures are not correct.

 

The Weeping Damper (Shock absorber) spotted when you changed the tyres has probably cost you half the life of the tyres that were being fitted

& half a gallon on petrol a week if the Alignment is well out enough to have worn the inside edge of the tyres.

(so the petrol not much expense and the tyres a good bit more.)

 

The reason for questions was to understand the situation,

your Post never said anything about your Suspension needing attention,

only that the Tracking was correct. 

Which is highly unlikely, clearly shown by the wear to your tyres in only 3,000 miles.

[MartynVRS]

I don't even think the suspension can be bad as the last service by Skoda is the full inspection one. They would have noticed it if there was a problem.

I'm only upgrading because for one I can and two I suspected it maybe leaking which I'll confirm today. As of 3000 miles ago, which for me is only a months driving the tracking was correct. I was under the car when they were doing so saw for myself! As Jabo points out it isn't full geometry which is what I'll look into next.

[Ootohere]

Good if you say so.

'They would have noticed'. Of course they do, or maybe they dont.  

But you did.

 

I read it as if you noticed a weeping damper 2 months ago @ 34,000 miles when a wheel was being changed,

near side front and asked on here about warranty. (No idea if you asked anyone at a Skoda Workshop.)

&

then 3,000 later you are on the same damper that you spotted weeping,

and the inside edge of the tyre is worn.

 

sorry for having stated the blindingly obvious, but when you visually see something faulty on a car,

best take action on it before it fails or costs you more,

especially if you are inclined to drive sportingly.

 

I fully expect that i will be corrected later when your mechanic tells you your suspension was fine and the tyres wear that way,

because more corners on the road go in one direction or we drive on the Left and the Camber of the road wears them.

[Jabozuma]

My tracking was perfect one week and next week the car was not going in a straight line! Suspension on modern cars is a joke really, larger bump, smallish pothole, trying to mount a kerb while parking at barely moving speeds and your geometry will be off. 

Not to mention letting SWMBO drive your car 

[Jabozuma]

 but when you visually see something faulty on a car,

best take action on it before it fails or costs you more,

especially if you are inclined to drive sportingly.

 

 

 

I drove my dad's E-series merc x-mas time, noticed ever so slight whine coming from rear diff. Asked dad to take it to his mechanic, who is usually really top bloke as far as things like that are concerned - my dad has no clue whatsoever. He booked it in, nothing was found.

next x-mas it was like a banshee - all rear diff bearings had to be changed...

That's why mechanics and garages hate me in general as I tend to tell them what needs to be done and I am usually (not always!) right - nobody likes a smart ar$e 

[MartynVRS]

Bilstein and Eibachs all put on yesterday. No issues found like a faulty ball joint or bushes. It's in for Brake Fluid Wednesday where Skoda can investigate why it's wearing so much.

[Jabozuma]

you need to get a report like this one

 

http://mbworld.org/forums/4252067-post12.html

[MartynVRS]

But with mo measurements on the rear as there's no adjustment there.

[Jabozuma]

I think it measures all wheels, adjustment or not. 

If back is out of whack then you indeed have a problem as certainly no adjustments there!

I am going to have mine done tonight hopefully.

[MartynVRS]

Been told the Hunter system is one of the best. As far as I know there's only one locally and the Audi dealer has it. It's a 2hr calibration check and adjustment and £70

[Jabozuma]

Wow, theu are having you on big time mate! Local independent tyre specialist garage has Hunter, costs £30 and takes as much time as needed . They relocated recently to new premises amd have new Hunter machine. What on earth are they going to do for two hours??? Even with siezed suspension adjustment rods and bolts they said it never lasts more than an hour-wet rag and a blow torch does wonders

[MartynVRS]

Wow, theu are having you on big time mate! Local independent tyre specialist garage has Hunter, costs £30 and takes as much time as needed . They relocated recently to new premises amd have new Hunter machine. What on earth are they going to do for two hours??? Even with siezed suspension adjustment rods and bolts they said it never lasts more than an hour-wet rag and a blow torch does wonders

It's what I was told that's all. I know full well that's robbery.

[Jabozuma]

I thougt VAG main dealers had to use oficially allocated tiems for each procedure for labour charges? I wonder what do they put for wheel alignment since lowering kit installation is 2 hrs lol

[PaddyVRS]

Maybe I am too gentle round the corners with mine, but had a set of Kumho KU39's come off the front last month after 16k miles. All worn evenly across the tread and only about 0.5mm difference between left and right tyres (which I put down to roundabouts) 

[Jabozuma]

It's what I was told that's all. I know full well that's robbery.

 

To clarify something here.

£30 gives you basic wheel alignment i.e. toe setting sorted

£70 gives you full suspension geometry i.e. toe, camber, caster settings, where possible and takes around two hours

 

It perhaps their price wasn't bad if it was for full geometry then!

[Sparkly]

These cars only have one adjustment and that is Front End Toe.  Lowering the car will add negative camber and this can't be corrected without further modification.

 

My car is periodically checked and aligned at a good local garage with the Hunter kit, my fronts are still pretty new and although they have attended Combe Spring Action Day they seem to be wearing ok, when I got the car though I quickly noticed that the Hankooks that were on there had done exactly what you describe Martyn worn heavily on the inside of the fronts, and this was pre-lowering on stock suspension.

 

I pay £50.00 for a full check of the cars alignment (all points) and any adjustments on Toe needed, all with a printed report of before and after.

[Ootohere]

I read it as,

in the Previous thread that it was said to be normal for the front insides to wear.

(i do not agree that that is actually correct on the majority of cars with the 205/40 R 17 Tyres and the Skoda 'Sport' suspension')

 

But this thread was about the passenger side wearing more than the drivers side.

 

?

Was the damper that was removed leaking, or was it sound with no leak?

[Sparkly]

Just stating the insides of the Hankooks that were on the car when I bought it had gone far worse than the outer shoulders.  Actually so far gone when I noticed the issue that I couldn't have said whether NS or OS wheels was worst.  The problem hasn't shown itself on the Vredesteins with regular alignment checking so agreeing it doesn't need to be "normal".

 

Martyn do you have any traffic calming measures that you drive over regularly?

[Jabozuma]

True, rear axle has no adjustments whatsoever on Fabias

Front wheels have toe and camber adjustments, where toe adjustment is the one everybody does, called wheel alignment. 

Camber can be adjusted as well but requires partial suspension dismantling and should be done when Skoda lowering kit is installed, Skoda of course claims that it does not need to be done. I am writing a letter to them in this respect. Also, toe adjustment where camber is anything else than 0 will effect said camber readings. We had a play yesterday when mine was being done trying dial out as much camber as possible without dismantling the suspension but only with toe settings. Was good fun . Still not happy with my front camber, left is -0.5 and right -1.02 or something. It is not good as if anything it should be the other way around with driver side having less negative camber than passenger side as load adds negative camber even further.

 

Caster I do not think is adjustable at all as standard.