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MG MGF Technical - Uneven tyre wear

An independent service mechanic servicing my TF160 with SP1 has shown me increased (though admittedly not too excessive) tyre wear on the inside edge of my front and rear nearside tyres - but none on the inside edges of the two offside wheels.

If I understood him correctly, this is unlikely to be a tracking issue, which would affect the inside edges of the front/rear offside and nearside wheels equally.

Do you have any thoughts as to extra tyre wear down one side of the car only?

Thanks in advance.

John
John

do you go around roundabouts very very quickly? :)
Tony

Tony

Don't we all when we can?!

No, I doubt my driving is radically different from anyone else here in that respect.

John
John

Any local speed tables/humps?
Mike Hall

Uneven tyre wear can be cause by the car sitting too low. IIRC each side is independent so it might be worth measuring the ride height in all four corners and reporting back

Do this with a tape measure from the centre of the wheel hub to the underside of the wheel arch. It should be about 365mm on a standard car. You much let the car stand for a while before doing this.
Steve Ratledge

Check wheel bearings.
Martin

>> If I understood him correctly, this is unlikely to be a tracking issue, which would affect the inside edges of the front/rear offside and nearside wheels equally. <<

If the toe-angles were suspect, then yes, I agree with what you've been told. What are the camber angles on the two wheels concerned?

Check the suspension system for damage - particularly ball joints on the tie-bars...
Rob Bell

Steve - the ride height is 350mm all round (with SP1)

Mike - yes to local humps but manage to avoid them mostly. Having said that, and following the Daily Telegraph's chap's advice, I do tend to go across them with the left side wheels and miss them with the right side (to avoid straddling them). I wonder whether this might make the difference - I will start crossing them with the right wheels and see if this evens up the wear!

Rob - "camber angles"? What are these - I wont guess

PS Can I just say a big "thank you" to Rob and to several other regular "experts" on this BBS. From this mechanical dimwit, your patient replies are unfailingly interesting and helpful (though often sadly way over my head)

John
John

Camber is one of the geometry angles - and one that is sadly unadjustable.

If you look at the front of the car, with the wheels straight-ahead, you can see that the wheel is not perpendicular with the road. The top of the wheel is either further towards the centre of the car than the lower (negative camber) or further out (positive camber).

Excess negative camber can lead to accelerated tyre wear on the inner edge of the tyre - although usually the angle has to be pretty extreme for this to happen (2 or more degrees).

There is a picture and more explanation here: http://www.mgf.ultimatemg.com/group2/suspension/suspension_images/camber.htm

If you've had the tracking checked, you will have these values on the print out. :o)

PS You're more than welcome!
Rob Bell

Sorry I missed the fact it was a TF - my suggestion was MGF related.
Steve Ratledge

This thread was discussed on 29/03/2006

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