Tire Wear Photo - Need Advice
 

:confused:

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photopost/...44_Medium_.JPG

Front tires have both worn quickly on inside corners (cupped). One in photo above is down to cords in one place.

http://www.subaru-svx.net/photopost/...40_Medium_.JPG

Wear is more severe in some places (not even all the way around)
Car is 1997 with 62K and driven very seldom and with great care. Tires are 225/40 ZR18 (92W) Toyo Proxes T1S mounted on ADR GT Sports, 18 x 7.5, 5x114.3 with offset of either 42 or 48 (info from ADR - these were on car when purchased.) I inflate fronts to 40 psi cold and rears to 36. Rears are wearing evenly.

I understand that cupping is usually associated with negative camber. Before I replace the fronts, I need some advice on what to do to correct the problem. Will an alignment take care of it? Anything wrong with tire/wheel size?

Anyone have similar issues?

Thanks for your help ...

Re: Tire Wear Photo - Need Advice
 

Allignment should do it, but you'll want to have your components checked also. The top of the wheel is tilted too far inboard.

Re: Tire Wear Photo - Need Advice
 

Check the toe, but with it localized in such a small severe strip have them check the front control arm bushings to make sure they aren't dead.

Re: Tire Wear Photo - Need Advice
 

Two guesses.

1. Defective tires. I've seen it before, we had a Saab come into the shop with all 4 tires worn like that. That batch of tires had been screwed up and the steel belts were too small, allowing excessive flex of the shoulder. We put the car on the alignement rack to check and everything was bang on spec.

2. Check to see if the tire is touching the lower spring perch (the strut). If that's the case you either have too much camber, or something is broken/bent.

You're running standard width wheels and tires, with less offset (the wheel is pushed farther out), so that can't be the culprit.

Re: Tire Wear Photo - Need Advice
 

Anytime I have had tires with tread like that they always dissolve in like one summer...damn HP tires are a waste of money:mad:

Re: Tire Wear Photo - Need Advice
 

Three words for you: General Exclaim UHP. Well, two words and an acronym. 400 treadwear rating. I've had mine on for ~6000 miles and they look brand new, still have some of the little nubs left.

Re: Tire Wear Photo - Need Advice
 

Looks to me like very low tire pressures.

Re: Tire Wear Photo - Need Advice
 

I worked at a tire shop and would have said thought the same 2 things.

Re: Tire Wear Photo - Need Advice
 

Looks like the way every set of yokohamas I've had on an svx wore out. Always thought it was my suspension/alignment until I switched brands.

Re: Tire Wear Photo - Need Advice
 

That kind of wear is never from camber. Excess camber barely wears the tire and is a long gradual slope inside to outside.

Excessive tire wear like that happens from both excess toe in and excess toe out. This can, and needs to, be fixed with an alignment.

Has nothing to to with tire brand either. (I have heard of "bad tires" but that is an extremely rare case) It is also not due to rubbing, or you would have heard it.

Re: Tire Wear Photo - Need Advice
 

Thanks for the input. I am going with 4 General Exclaim UHPs and, of course, an alignment. Can't seem to find any other problems. I'll know better when I get it on the alignment rack. It'll be about two weeks for the tires to come in.

Thanks again!! :)

Re: Tire Wear Photo - Need Advice
 

First you need to replace those tires. They are not safe on the road since you are showing cords.
Secondly, you really need an alignment. Either your camber, toe or both are out. You may also want to have the suspension checked out since worn bushings, bent parts or loose components will cause uneven wear as well. Make sure you find out what your recommended tire pressures are for your specific tires on your specific car. They do vary and a difference of a couple of lbs can make a big difference.
On another note, make sure your tire treads are pointed in the right direction. Yours seem to be backwards. The tread should point down looking at the car from the front.

Re: Tire Wear Photo - Need Advice
 

Not driving until I replace tires. Scheduled for alignment and new tires in about a week.
Tires are going in right direction - one photo was from front other from back side.

Baby Got New Shoes
 

:):) Put on 4 General Exclaim UHPs (thanks to crazy-pilot for the suggestion) and first impressions are very positive. Had alignment and the fronts were basically pointing inward. Rears were also out of toe. Caster & camber were fine.

Got the lifetime rotation/balance and they will recheck alignment each time I bring it in.

Re: Tire Wear Photo - Need Advice
 

Good to hear! One thing you'll notice about the Generals is that they're quite noisy, but it's a trade I'm willing to make for the extra life I'll get out of them.

You say the fronts were pointing inward? Strange, this would have caused the tires to wear on the outside, not the inside. I'm still going with defective tires as my diagnosis, as I said I've seen that exact wear before, and it came from a defective batch of Pirelli's. The main steel belts were either too narrow for the tread, or were off center, allowing the sidewall and shoulder to flex excessively and wear.