Tire Wear - Tips?

[catch22]

My GTO has 11,600 miles on it, it has the 18" with stock potenzas. I've rotated the tires twice (I was trying for every 5k miles, so I missed the mark a little... nonetheless). By rotate, I just move the fronts to the back, and vice versa.

The first rotation was around 4800, and this one just this weekend @ 11,600. Here's where I grow concerned.

The past 3k miles or so I've had a fairly pronounced lean to the right, to the point where I have to hold the wheel about 1/4" to the left to keep her straight. Roads here suck, I figured maybe I was just due for an alignment. But 10k ish miles seems soon for an alignment. I resolved to get the alignment done after a tire rotation if the lean was still there.

Good news is, the lean seems to be completely gone now. Bad news is, when I rotated my tires, the amount of inside wear on all 4s scared the beejesus out of me. They're nearly bald!

Now, I don't hear or feel strut rub at all, so it must be some kind of camber or alignment issue? What are your thoughts on this. Would you take it to the stealership?

Thanks in advance.

[goatboy2006]

I had the same problem with mine rotate at 5,000 miles and at 12,000 had to get an inspection the tires were all bald on the inside wtf I bought 4 new tires and no pull after that so I do not know why but it sucks.

[porkybmx]

If there is excessive wear on the inner portions of the tire, this is most likely due misalignment in toe. Make sure your toe front and rear is zeroed out. You said your car was fair new, so this just maybe some sort of freak problem. Camber only marginally affects tire wear, and if you cannot visible notice the excessive camber, most likely it is due to excessive toe in or toe out.

[catch22]

If there is excessive wear on the inner portions of the tire, this is most likely due misalignment in toe. Make sure your toe front and rear is zeroed out. You said your car was fair new, so this just maybe some sort of freak problem. Camber only marginally affects tire wear, and if you cannot visible notice the excessive camber, most likely it is due to excessive toe in or toe out.

I'm not sure how to check the toe alignment. Take it to a shop? Or can this be done in my garage?

[porkybmx]

You would need to take it to an alignment shop. If anything, if you bought your car new, can't you go back to the dealer and have them throw it on the alignment rack to see if it's still in spec? Otherwise, take it to your local Firestone or what not, and have them check the alignment on your car. Have them make sure your toe and camber are within spec.

It is possible to check it in your garage...as there are many methods to do so with tape measures and what not. If you are interested there is this site: http://www.shallowsky.com/alignment.html It outlines a pretty method of measuring your toe and camber.

[dsclark]

ICamber only marginally affects tire wear, and if you cannot visible notice the excessive camber, most likely it is due to excessive toe in or toe out.

Camber can affect inner tire wear, big time! If you have worn rear springs, your camber is probably off.
Replace your springs. While you are at it, replace the bushings with poly. Poly bushings will extend tire life.

[porkybmx]

Camber can affect inner tire wear, big time!

Honestly, this topic is always debated and hotly discussed...but from experience, unless you somehow have a camber setting of -6 degrees or something to that extreme, camber will not effect your tire to any significant amount when compared to the amount of tire wear toe will cause.

[catch22]

Thanks for the responses all. I think I'll call the dealership and let them give me the low-down. From what I know, they will not do alignments under warranty if the car is > 7500 miles.

Yes, I did buy it new. So I'll probably have to do an alignment, which is what I was going to do anyway.

I will try to post my results for others searching on the topic.

[goatless]

I don't have the manual handy, but I thought it recommened something other than front-to-back and vice-versa? Like a cross-pattern. I'll have to go look again.

[barrob326]

I am seeing the same thing. The problem is in my case the wear is happening not on the fronts, but on the rear tires. Driver's side mostly. I am at 11K, I didnt rotate until about 7K when I noticed how bad the tire was on the left rear. That same tire is now down to the wear bars. Is it mostly alignment, or are these stock tires really that soft that they melt off in 10K miles?

[catch22]

UPDATE

Called my local service department, GTO is going in on Tuesday. The guy I spoke to said in addition to alignment it could be many factors (suspension, steering), they'd like to find out for sure before just doing alignment. So it's going in as a warranty issue, but if it turns out to be just alignment, that won't be covered since alignment, like tire wear, is considered "wear and tear."

Ah well, full alignments are only $60 there, so, not too bad really.

Thing is, I'm doing a header install in a couple weeks (soon as they get here!), so if it's just alignment, I think I will wait till after the headers are in.

[My First GTO]

UPDATE

Called my local service department, GTO is going in on Tuesday. The guy I spoke to said in addition to alignment it could be many factors (suspension, steering), they'd like to find out for sure before just doing alignment. So it's going in as a warranty issue, but if it turns out to be just alignment, that won't be covered since alignment, like tire wear, is considered "wear and tear."

Ah well, full alignments are only $60 there, so, not too bad really.

Thing is, I'm doing a header install in a couple weeks (soon as they get here!), so if it's just alignment, I think I will wait till after the headers are in.

An alignment won't matter if your rear cradle is out and your Dealer does NOT do it for you and if your rear springs are shot, you still will have The same tire problem you may need a camber kit to help so see what the dealer can do for you....frank

[catch22]

Well, they did a frontal alignment. I guess we'll see where that puts me.

[LS1guy]

I had the same problem with mine rotate at 5,000 miles and at 12,000 had to get an inspection the tires were all bald on the inside wtf I bought 4 new tires and no pull after that so I do not know why but it sucks.

i just had to laugh at that profile

[TheEricHarris]

Same issue with my GTO. Was wearing on the rears. Basically what was happening the stock POFS suspension was allowing the tires to do this / \ when I was driving like I stole it. I did the Pedders upgrade 7k miles ago with the cradle alighnment and all that great expensive stuff, and no more uneven tire wear.

[TriflowM5+M3]

possible problems,

Rear Craddle, Toe or Camber issues, bushing issues.