Tyre Tread

[kanarnthan]

took my yaris in for its 1st service on friday, evrything went normally (annoyed they didnt wash the yaris tho :ffs: !!). Looked at the tyre tread report when i got home and noticed that my front driver's side tread was a mm less than all the others.

The tyres are pretty much new, nankangs that came with my alloys that i had fitted in Jan. all the other tyres had 7mm tread but the one in question was 6mm.

Does this mean my wheels need balancing? perhaps the tyre was just like that? Any help would be appreciated.... :)

[cfc1]

No.. they don't need balancing, if the balance was out you would be getting a vibration through the steering wheel at speeds somewhere between 55 and 70mph (on average).

Maybe worth getting your wheel allignment checked.. as this can cause uneven wear, if that is ok........ then....

normally it's the outside edge of the passenger side tyre that is slightly worn. (don't know if you have looked or just read the report.. o/s/f = drivers side n/s/f = passenger side... its not unlike someone to write it down wrong)

This is because we turn right more often than we turn left (roundabouts) and all the weight of the car is moved to the passenger front tyre, scrubbing the outside edge a little.. this is one of the downsides to Power Steering.

If this is how your tyres are wearing.. the only things you can really do is...

1. Slow down a little more when cornering... this stops the weight of the car shifting so much.

2. Rotate the tyres around periodically.. i.e move the tyres from front to back to prolong the life of your tyres.

3. Try to vary the way in which you turn into a driveway.. come in from the opposite direction... this way both front tyres will wear at the same rate.

Remember too, that you may go through 2 sets of front tyres before the back tyres a ready to be changed (unless you rotate them regularly).

Hope this info helps :)

[kanarnthan]

thanks for your help. will get it checked out :D

[seveer unaek]

Just reading this means i need my wheels balancing! Iv got vibrations!

[cfc1]

Vibrations can also be caused if you havn't got centralizing rings fitted with your aftermarket alloy wheels (if needed.. they are needed if the hole in the centre of the alloy is bigger than the hub.. the ring is an insert to make em both the same size)

[kanarnthan]

yeh i drove my car for a week whilst waiting for the rings to come in, definite improvement once they were fitted.

[Viper_7]

If you do rotate your wheels...then make sure the rears have also been balanced.

Most of the time, the rears arn't balanced, as it's only really of the utmost of important on the front due to the vibration...but as the rears are on a fixes axle..it's not as important.

Also.....they I bet their measurements arn't exact.

for example, I took my other halfs Yaris for a service the other day, and sods law..she had a puncture a few days prior..and we had to change the tire..as the other side was nearly due..had that done too.

Well when toyota measured them both..they were both different.... mmmmmm

vipes

[MrWinkey]

really glad i read this topic.

i have a near side front that wears more than any other tyre on the outside edge. So thje reason for this is explained. I had them rotated a few weeks ago, so hopefully they should even out.

The only problem is though, the tyre seesm to have lots of tiny little cracks in it where the wear is. It seems to be a new tyre, and also a good one, so i wonder if there is a problem with this, as well as the normal wear.

[cfc1]

really glad i read this topic.

i have a near side front that wears more than any other tyre on the outside edge. So thje reason for this is explained. I had them rotated a few weeks ago, so hopefully they should even out.

The only problem is though, the tyre seesm to have lots of tiny little cracks in it where the wear is. It seems to be a new tyre, and also a good one, so i wonder if there is a problem with this, as well as the normal wear.

←

1st of all.. if the cracks are only surface (normally the "darker" the crack, the deeper it is).. don't worry about it.. 99% of cars on the road have minor perishing on them.. if however they are deep cracks.. get them changed as soon as possible.

If the cracks are only near "the bead" (the bit near the rim) this is very common, check your friends car, i bet they are the same.. so don't worry too much about that.

Cracks/perishing is caused mainly by 2 things...

1. Incorrect tyre pressure.. your supposed to check them weekly ( i do mine every 2 weeks)

2. The weather.. they get wet, then dry out.. this causes the rubber to expand and contract and causes it (the harder the rubber compound, the more prone they are to this kind of deteriation).

3.Rubbing the tyres against the kerb when parkingc an also cause cracking.. the only solution to this is not to let the wife drive the car anymore :P

ok ok ok.. so that was 3.. what about it??

Sometimes if you use tyre paint, this can cause them to appear to be cracked... this is not always the case, it can be the paint thats cracking, i always use a little bit of paint thinners if i use tyre paint, but the foam stuff is better for a more natural look

Remember.. your tyres are the only thing that keeps you in contact with the road.. (and only a few inches of it at a time) and as such are one of the most important consumables on any car. Check them regularly for wear, pressure, perishing and blisters on the sidewalls (inside as well as out).

Davy.

[kanarnthan]

thanks for the advice davy!

[clarky]

Check mine over once every two weeks or so ... as Davy says - they're the bit that makes the difference between you and the road.