AWD tyres

[Ishrub]

Hi DSMAZDAGTR, the 215/60R16 tyres are not very suitable for the AWDs because the wheels are only 16x6 instead of 16x6.5 hence the tyres will always bulge and prematurely wear out the tyres. Best to do as you are after a set of new tyres is to upgrade to 18x8 with either 225/45R18 or 235/45R18 tyres (225/45R18 is slightly smaller in OD compared with 215/60R16 and 235/45R18 is slightly bigger in OD compared with 215/60R16). Get the wheels in +38 offset. You will feel the difference immediately. Incidentally, both Ford and Holden fit their 215/60R16 tyres onto 16x6.5 wheels.

I have Goodyear F1 235/45R18 tyres on nmy TL AWD and despite their minimal use (5000km a year), nitorogen filled and being regularly aligned they always wear hard on the outer edge. My fronts are on the rear now but no longer distinctly legal. BUT - I like going round corners at 60kmh so I expect it and have to pay for it.

Good tyres really do feel different even with age, I really notice the cheapie 17" ön my other TJ AWD. Goodyear Blue Streak up front aren't too bad for the price but I am very cautious of the Chinese horrrors on the rear.

Cheers Peter

[DSMAZDAGTR]

I like going round corners at 60kmh so I expect it and have to pay for it.

I can associate with that..

[WytWun]

I have Goodyear F1 235/45R18 tyres on nmy TL AWD and despite their minimal use (5000km a year), nitorogen filled and being regularly aligned they always wear hard on the outer edge. My fronts are on the rear now but no longer distinctly legal. BUT - I like going round corners at 60kmh so I expect it and have to pay for it.

What toe settings are being used when the realignments are done and do you have any camber adjustment fitted?

[Victa Twin]

Castor may well have a part to play too. The effect of the inclined angle of the front struts is to project the weight of the car in front of the tyre contact patch so when you release the steering wheel on turns it re centres. What is sometimes not taken into account is this angle can lift the car slightly during turns. This lifting is a suspension geometry thing and assists recentering. Think go Karts if you've ever driven one; when they are stationary and you try to turn the steering wheel you have to lift your own weight and that of the cart.

I am thinking this may well have a part to play in the wearing of the tyres on the outer shoulders in turns. I am also thinking if it is the case (it may well not be) this should be able to be compensated for by more negative camber. It won't change the inclined caster angle and the weight factor I was talking about, but I am reasoning more neg camber will help as less of the outer part of the tyre will be "exposed" on turns.

I have recently had 2 wheel alignments trying to rectify exactly this shoulder wear on my AWD and I each time the front end was well within specs but there was/is more positive camber on the left than the right, so I am now attempting to solve this for good. I am getting 4 springs, shocks and a few other bits and pieces soon, so I might try some offset bushes then and report back. Mine is wearing the left front tyre too fast. I am very careful doing ewies as this is well known to rub the shoulder of the left front.
I put some 17x7 VRX rims with 225's so it is not just the factory 16" 215's this has been happening with. The new left front is starting to show the same signs as the previous tyre.

[grelise]

Ever since I switched to Coilovers, I haven't had any problems with outside wear. I think with the stiffer lower height, and camber adjustment has helped. Stops the car from leaning on the front outside edge during hard cornering. I also drive between 2-5,000km a year. I think I have around 1.5deg neg camber.

[Ishrub]

What toe settings are being used when the realignments are done and do you have any camber adjustment fitted?

Not sure of settings used, I have Adam (1986semagna), a suspension specialist mechanic member on the forum do it at his workplace. I also have shortened Koni sport shocks, xtra low Lovells springs, uprated Whiteline (WL) roll bars front and rear, a WL strut brace and WL camber adjustment bolts and a WL front suspension rubber kit. It certainly goes around a corner pretty flat and surprisingly quick. I think the excess wear ocurrs when I occassionaly enter right angled corners just a little too quick in both speed and turn in rate and it can certainly overload the suspension if I overdo it. I think there may be something in Victa Twin comments below about weight transfer as well.

If I was using the car a lot more more and chewing threw a heap of expensive tyres it would bother me more.

[GTVi]

Whitepower or WhiteLine ?

[Ishrub]

Whitepower or WhiteLine ?

LOL - Thanks Hayden the unnoticed effect of responding to forums far too infrequently and after a 12 hour night shift, forgetting 'WHITELINE' is even part of my icon ID .

[FamilyWagon]

Yes Vlad, I'm aware of this. I have noticed how much 'roll' I can get on the tyres when driving hard with scrubbing up the sidewalls on occassion...

However, budget doesn't allow for new wheels AND tyres.. Barely enough for tyres at the moment.. And after a little chat with the constabulary today needs to be done this week.

Hey mate. Read my last response. Might give you ideas.

[KWAWD]

I had the wheel alignment checked on the AWD cos it was veering to the left but it was all fine. Swapped the front wheels over which corrected it, even though i was expecting it to veer to the right. I wonder if its more camber on the left due to more wear.