Tire Wear

[DeddRekoning]

Ok...is there anything other than alignment that can wear the inner front tires? I put CC plates on my car and have had to buy 2 new sets of front tires and 2 alignments since and now 6 months from having the alignment done, my tires are worn again.

[91GriggsGT]

Sounds like the camber is out. If it is darting under braking, then probably the toe is out too. Too much negative camber if the insides are wearing.

[DeddRekoning]

well do these damn shops just not know wtf they are doing when aligning...I've had it done at Firestone and NTB

[Gargamel]

well do these damn shops just not know wtf they are doing when aligning...I've had it done at Firestone and NTB

Didn't they give you a print out of the toe\camber readings after the alignment?

[Grape]

alignment machines are shit and the people that operate them usually are as well. There is a reason race cars use strings and straight edges.........

[DeddRekoning]

Didn't they give you a print out of the toe\camber readings after the alignment?

yes...the readings are in the green from the alignment in February of this year but my front tires are still worn on the inside

[91GriggsGT]

well do these damn shops just not know wtf they are doing when aligning...I've had it done at Firestone and NTB

That is part of your problem.

[91GriggsGT]

alignment machines are shit and the people that operate them usually are as well. There is a reason race cars use strings and straight edges.........

^^^^^ There ya have it right there.

What are the readings that they gave you on the print out?

[71chevellejohn]

That is part of your problem.

That was my first thought...

A lot of mainstream shops don't know what to do with CC plates.

Luckily I had my brother do mine on my 87 and it would run down the track practically hands free.

[91GriggsGT]

^^^^ Mine too. Never had it to an alignment shop. All string camber gauge.


DeddRekoning - If the shop is only trying to get your car aligned using the CC plates alone, they are not doing it right. There is a combination of the CC plates, + loosening the strut to spindle bolts and getting a little adjustment there too.

If you want, PM CYAZ06 here on the boards. He has helped me with mine multiple times.

[Hobie]

Sounds like the camber is out. If it is darting under braking, then probably the toe is out too. Too much negative camber if the insides are wearing.

I understand this sounds counter-intuitive, but the "hella-flush" crowd that runs around with their cars on the bump stops scraping the pavement swears that excessive negative camber doesn't necessarily cause severe premature tire wear providing toe is neutral.

Talking about this shit EDIT - sorry pic was huge, just linked it.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6022/5981728261_247a15d5de_o.jpg

It's not really related, but I'm curious to see how that claim works out.

alignment machines are shit and the people that operate them usually are as well. There is a reason race cars use strings and straight edges.........

^This

I worked at a little SCCA shop for a few years as a youngster and that's how we aligned all the cars.

From what I hear RUF Auto Center does good alignments. I have no experience with them though. I have lowered a C6 Corvette for a friend that later got the car aligned there. It's been months, no wear problems.

[my fear]

how are they worn? even all across the whole tire? how many miles did they get before they wore out? on the inside edge? outside edge? ever rotate the tires? do you have staggered wheels? directional tires?

ill break it down:
how many miles do you get out of the tires before they wear out?

do you or can you rotate the tires? if not that's a problem, tires are going to wear out faster on the front of the car due to turning.

if the tires has good tread on the outside but slick on the inside edge that's due to alignment being off, or cambered in to much.

if its the outside of the tire the alignment is still off and the tires are cambered out to much. and if they wear out across the whole tire then the toe could be off to.

[DeddRekoning]

ok...I have different sizes from front to back so I don't rotate. The inner part of both front tires is wearing with the right front being the worst. The last measurements from NTB were:

left front: right front:
-1.0 camber(green) -0.9 camber(green)
4.1 caster(red) 3.9 caster(green)
0.16 toe(green) 0.12 toe(green)

[mstng86]

Where are you located? Eastside tire in pleasant grove has a good rep.

[DeddRekoning]

I'm around Denton