Rear Tyre Advice Please

[Scottiepaul]

I have read all the reports on tyre wear and the whine from the rear that resembles wheel bearings. Just recieved a couple of Eagle F1 GSD's and took car to local fitter to replace fronts. Having that familiar whine from the rear, we looked at the rear tyres, and the shoulder is wearing erratically. In that I mean if you run yiour hand around the shoulder you can actually fell slight ridges on the tyres and flatspots. Is this a wheel bearing issue? My fitter reckons that in 25 years he has not seen tyre damage like this from alignment or camber, as both would show still even wear although inconsistant over whole tyre. The car is 2k away from service, and I am now going to book in today to get that and a few other nigles out the way, but this to me sounds more like dampers or bearings, 2008MY vRs TDI - built June 07 running 31psi on rears OE bridgestone RE050's Still 6mm tread on rears, 2mm of fronts which have worn perfectly. Any advice welcome?

[GAFF]

Wow that doesn't sound good. Any pics ?

[dstev2000]

I would ordinarily say a shock absorber issue as it sounds like the tyre is skipping off the road surface which is what the shockers are supposed to prevent. Have the shipping chocks been removed? I assume they have but nothing would surprise me.

Have you found the Bridgestones to be really, really crap? I did and I replaced the fronts with F1 GSD's - massive reduction in noise compared to the Bodgestones but the F1's aren't as good in the wet as I had hoped, traction control is king in 1st and 2nd when trying to press on and that's on a PD140.

Back on topic

Like Gaff says, stick up some pics if possible so we can all have a butchers

[Scottiepaul]

thanks all. Have been away for the weekend, and am really busy this week so try and get a wheel off at the weekend for some pics. Will keep you posted as I want a good look at suspension while I am there. Service due in 1600miles (2-3 weeks for me).

FI GSD's on the front have not proved much cop in the wet today with wheel spin in 3rd! Hoping that they will bed in with some miles as only 100 on them at present. Brigestones were rubbish - prone to aquaplaining, poor dry weather traction and noisey. Would have replaced rears at same time, but want this issue sorted first so I do not ruin another set.

[sworrall]

it sounds like im in a similar situation to you scottiepaul

i started getting the whine at 40mph and 70mph before xmas, i thought it was a wheel bearing so got the dealer to check it (as ive already had a front bearing replaced) The bearings checked out ok and they suggested it was tyre noise as they could hear it too.

been to the tyre dealer at the weekend and they also suggested suspension at fault as i had a laser track when the four F1 gsds were fitted last year. The guy said the tyre was slightly bumpy on the rear but wasnt too bad so he suggested we swap them front to back.

They swapped them over and the noise at 70mp[h has gone to be replaced with a louder drone at 30mph from the front so it looks like it was the rear tyres.

dvstev2000, are the suspension chocks rubber bungs between the springs? will have to give mine a check to make sure theyre not still in!

at the moment im going to run it for another couple of hundred miles to see what happens but im not sure who to take it up with, dealer for springs oir tyre dealer for the tyres?? (the front have worn perfectly by the way)

[Staedtler]

I had exactly the same issue on my Mk1 Focus which was down to the suspension going out of alignment at the rear. I think (if I remember correctly) that it was due to too much toe-out. It gave un-even wear in the inside edges of the tyres making them look like 50p pieces and causing the droning...

Since VW/Skoda copied Fords rear suspension design maybe it has inherited the same issues of easily knocked out alignment? I just had to keep getting it 4wheel aligned at £90 a time

It was tyre independant too having tried Contis, Ventus, Yokohama and Goodyears. There doesn't seem to be a solution to stop it happening, except getting a car with good old twist-beam rear suspension

[GAFF]

Originally Posted by sworrall

They swapped them over and the noise at 70mp[h has gone to be replaced with a louder drone at 30mph from the front so it looks like it was the rear tyres.

at the moment im going to run it for another couple of hundred miles to see what happens but im not sure who to take it up with, dealer for springs oir tyre dealer for the tyres?? (the front have worn perfectly by the way)

If it is the suspension then your just going to ruin another 2 tyres ?

Its not the first time I've read the rear tyres on Mk2's chewing tyres. I wonder whats the story with suspension set-up's. Is it incorrectly done at factory (equipment/people), or movement during use (bad design). Maybe its like the Touring Car Seats, and slight tap and they were retiring with broken suspension

[sworrall]

when i had the tyres changed the fronts were worn on the inner but the rears were fine.

when i went to the tyre dealers at the weekend I didnt actually know which tyres were doing it. it seems from the swap that it was the rears and unfrtunately these are the ones with the most tread

[sworrall]

is there any way for the dealer to test the shocks other than bouncing the car?

[GAFF]

Originally Posted by sworrall

is there any way for the dealer to test the shocks other than bouncing the car?

What about going to some sort of pre MOT test center, surely that will give you an idea.
I'm sure your like me and don't see why you should foot the bill for issues like this

[Scottiepaul]

Thanks for the info all. I resisted having tyres swapped until I solve the problem. I am going to try VRStu's rear camber setting checked at the service, then see what stealer says. I will then get it done independantly and so if the setting are correct (1.20 from std 1.45) but hope my 2008MY has these settings anyway. Will keep you posted. Will obviously get bearings and shocks checked to - Will double check chocks are out, but will never dare post again if I have driven 16k with them in and not noticed!

[dstev2000]

Originally Posted by Scottiepaul

Thanks for the info all. I resisted having tyres swapped until I solve the problem. I am going to try VRStu's rear camber setting checked at the service, then see what stealer says. I will then get it done independantly and so if the setting are correct (1.20 from std 1.45) but hope my 2008MY has these settings anyway. Will keep you posted. Will obviously get bearings and shocks checked to - Will double check chocks are out, but will never dare post again if I have driven 16k with them in and not noticed!

Like I say, the suspension chocks are a very long shot but don't discount it completely

If the camber is out of kilter I would expect uniform wear on the tyre edges and not the wear pattern you have described.

[JayTee]

Originally Posted by dstev2000

Like I say, the suspension chocks are a very long shot but don't discount it completely

If the camber is out of kilter I would expect uniform wear on the tyre edges and not the wear pattern you have described.

This appears to be a common problem with the common VW Group Golf platform - I have a Seat Toldo Sport TDi and have exactly the same problem - suspect wheel bearings changed, still noisy, then discovered irregular wear on n/s rear tyre - dealer denied any knowledge of a problem - new tyres all round, 10k mile later same wear problem (£120 worh of Avon ZZ3!) and now dealer admits there is a known problem with rear suspension geometry!
So now waiting for dealer to get answer from Seat on paying for rectification (under warranty) and tyre replacement!

John.

[Scottiepaul]

Car booked in for Wednesday. Noise is getting worse. Will try and get pics at the weekend, and update again next week. Out of interest I asked when booking service to get this problem checked and no look of suprise, but when I asked if they would enable the anti hijack (no maxidot) "never heard of that before" was the response. Should I be worried?!!

[Scottiepaul]

Car in for service this morning and to look at 50p shaped rear tyres. Just had a call to tell me that the car is all ok and the rear tyres are mis shapen. Good considering thats what I told them! Anyway, they told me they think it is "the way the car has been run"! When I got back in my chair I had a slight dis agreement on what the next course of action would be. They recommend I change the rear tyres. Wow! What do you think - I want Skoda to admit there is an issue here and replace the tyres for me. Whats the chances? Will report later today.