Bizarre tyre wear redux

[Tubber273]

So noticed my NSF was flat after the weekend run. Tyres are ordered, but knew there was no way I could drive to F1 on that so went to get throw the wheel in the back of Mrs Catman's 147 and take it to Tesco to pump it

What's more bizarre / worrying is that the wear is not even around the entire tyre.

Thoughts?

C

When the tire tech takes the old tires off, have him inspect the rim carefully.
About 3 weeks or so ago, I had a slow leak on the front tire.
As my front tires were worn, I decided to replace all 4.
Now the relevant bit:
When the tire tech removed the right rear (never leaked!!), he discovered a crack on the inside part of the rim. As I discussed my options with the service manager (repair or replace it) the tire tech found another crack but this one on the front right.
Great day!
It seems the previous owner had hit a pothole in 2008 (as I found out in some invoices from Beverlsy Hills Ferrari/Maserati). While there was no mention or indication the tires were damaged, it's pretty evident the 2 rims were damaged slightly....on one side!! Neither crack was on the inside of the tire, but it was only a matter of time before the crack got bigger! The front rim was good enough to warn me before catasrophic failure!
So...I replaced both damaged rims, have 4 new tires...I'm happy again!
I'll post pictures of the cracks tomorrow to illustrate how small they are
Oh....and I have one front rim, and one back rim for sale if anyone's interested!!

 

[CatmanV2]

Cheers, Tubber. The guys at F1 know me well, so they'll definitely check them out.

C

 

[bigbob]

Could be wear from those speed bumps that are slightly narrower than most car's track. Personally I always put one side of the car over the middle of them at low speed to minimise wear. Annoys people behind but there you go!

 

[hodroyd]

Uneven tyre wear is usually due to either tracking, or caster / camber set-up, that is unless you have been on a track at full belt for a while and the shoulders have taken some hammer, normal driving should produce normal tyre wear across the tread in an even pattern, if not look for the issue..!!

 

[Klive]

Could be wear from those speed bumps that are slightly narrower than most car's track. Personally I always put one side of the car over the middle of them at low speed to minimise wear. Annoys people behind but there you go!

That sounds very plausible. I've seen and read about this before and makes sense with that type of wear.

Catman, have you been driving through Potter Street a lot?
And watch the guys check the tracking. Apparently my daily was just doing the hokey cokey with them, it's in, it's out, it's in again! I've realised what they were doing wrong and will be taking it back soon as I know it's out.

 

[davy83]

I have seen this sort of wear and it is generally either ball joints, tracking, or tyre inflation, or all of these. I think the factory tracking set up does tend to lead to a bit of wear on the insides like one entry above says.

 

[CraigWaterman11]

Well I guess without any of us being able to get at your car you will just have to tell us when you find out.
My vote was with Hodroyd with his analysis. The only pause I have is that it did not do anything to the opposite side. When alignment issues surface (albeit lowering, tie rods , ball joints, etc.) it usually takes a toll on the opposite side as well. One tire as it wears and is out of alignment pulls on the opposite side in turn causing havoc. Since this wasn't done and you had the alignment and Geo set up I would lean towards a rim problem. If the belts in the tire let go I am assuming you would see bubbles or pockets as well. I didn't see that on the tires and you didn't mention them. I also don't see hugging corners or straddling small barriers on the track either unless the tire following it or in front of it had the same wear (I didn't see in your posting whether it was a front or rear tire). You can keep the opposite tire out of the corner but not the tire behind or before it.....more so before it.

I hope you get it together soon brother and it works out great for you.

 

[CatmanV2]

Not buying the speed hump thing, I just don't do that many, and certainly avoid Potter street, Klive Apar from anything else I either put the one wheel on the centre of the pillow, so I'm canted over to one side, or I centre myself on the gap to maximise ground clearance below the dangly bits and wheels are on the centre of the pillows again.

The answer appears to be lack of pressure. When they pulled it off the rim, there was substantial corrosion and it was *wet*



Not a pretty sight, but the inner shoulder (LHS if that orientation is correct) is fine. They wire brushed it to the best they could and bead sealed, but I may have to bring the refurb forward.

As for the other side:



They wouldn't even throw it away. Far too good nick, so it's sitting in my garage as an emergency spare.

Should be a fun trip to Chelmsford tonight

C

 

[CraigWaterman11]

Cat, it's great you have it sorted! I have to admit I thought of tire pressure but in my mind I said, "there's a better chance there was a bear sitting on his car when he came out in the morning than his tire pressure was out!" I only thought that because from the posts I have read from you about how you take care of your car. It seemed like you always had eagle's eyes with it, or watched it like a hawk! Lol......sorry friend! It was never a second thought! I'm just glad you got it sorted and it was the least of all issues.

 

[CatmanV2]

De nada, bud. I had it on an air line on the Thursday to 2.2 bar. Did 125 miles on the Friday, 40 on the Saturday and flat on the Sunday.......

I'll get the ball joints checked shortly anyway

C

 

[hodroyd]

That looks a mess inside, is that all the slime you mentioned before..?? Did you have 2 different tyres on the same axle..?? Glad you got it sorted mate, they are the only thing between you and trouble..!!

 

[CatmanV2]

That looks a mess inside, is that all the slime you mentioned before..?? Did you have 2 different tyres on the same axle..?? Glad you got it sorted mate, they are the only thing between you and trouble..!!

Never seen slime do that before. It normally stays, well, slimey Looks to me like something else, or it was changed by prolonged contact with the water in there.
Yes, there were different tyres on each side. I know it's not preferred, but......

All sorted now. Falken 453's all round

C

 

[hodroyd]

Excellent stuff, please post how you get on with the 453's..!!

 

[CatmanV2]

The rears have been more than adequate for me, looking forward to testing the fronts.

C

 

[2b1ask1]

Agree that is a mess inside, never seen one looking like that, what did they say or what was their reaction to seeing that?

 

[CatmanV2]

Agree that is a mess inside, never seen one looking like that, what did they say or what was their reaction to seeing that?

'Ewwwww' basically Apparently it's not that uncommon, at least if you change as many as they do.

The new ones are rather spiffing. There is road noise, but it's quite a nice noise, if that makes sense. Very much inspiring confidence. No un-toward vibrations and I suspect the old ones had stiffened up. It's not that the new ones are soft in any way, but they do seem less crashy over bumps.

C

 

[hodroyd]

If the tyres were starting to crack up as you say, they were probably quite old and dried out..!! So you are getting extra road noise with 453's then, interesting..??

 

[CatmanV2]

If the tyres were starting to crack up as you say, they were probably quite old and dried out..!! So you are getting extra road noise with 453's then, interesting..??

I'm not sure 'extra' is quite the right word. It seems louder, but less unpleasant if that makes sense. Certainly nothing like approaching objectionably loud.

C

 

[CraigWaterman11]

Hey Cat.......try these out........ had them delivered this morning for my work truck. I get a little noise to, do you think it could be the tires or something else?! LOL...........sorry couldn't resist.........AND these are the Kevlar infused side walls...... go over as many bumps, side walks, lamp posts, etc. as you want.....no tears, no slime!

 

[CatmanV2]

Hmm, I think I may have some rubbing issues, though, Craig? Perhaps I can get the arches rolled out a bit

C