Tire tread

irvsmith

irvsmith

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Well this is off topic since it is not related to detailing specifically. I found that the tread on one specific tire is severely degraded whereas the others are looking reasonably ok. The front left isn't great but nothing like the front right. Is there anything I should be asking the dealership about why this is happening now? We try and replace them when they recommend so this level of damage was not the norm.

Front right
View attachment 32428

Front left
View attachment 32429

Rear left
View attachment 32430

Rear right
View attachment 32431
 
Irv,

The front right tire is ready to blow out at any minute and the front left has the wear indicators showing so both of those tires should be replaced immediately. The rear tires look fine to me.

Have you ever rotated the tires from front to back? Have you ever had the front end aligned? How many miles do you have on this set of tires? If you haven't had an alignment I would recommend you do so when you replace the tires.
 
Thank you both. I believe we have had them aligned and can't remember specifically the rotations that have been done. We only have 24000 miles total on the car. I don't think the front right is original and we typically replace at least two at a time if not all four. I am going to look up the service records and see what it mentions.

David
 
Those front tires are so bad I wouldn't drive anywhere except to a tire shop on them. I'd say it's a 99% chance it's an alignment problem. Probably a toe out issue. If you put new tires on and don't correct the problem, they'll only last 2-3 months. Get it fixed tomorrow.
 
Going to price out the tires tonight and see where we should go tomorrow.
 
Alignment doesn't seem to be a problem as the tire is worn pretty evenly across the tread. Alignment issues will typically show up as a tire worn more on the inner or outer treads.

Same can be said for inflation pressure... The even wear across the tire doesn't indicate this as a cause.

Actually the wear looks pretty normal to me. Obviously worn too far, but nonetheless, normal.

I'll make the assumption that this is a front-wheel-drive car and the tires have never been rotated. On such vehicles the front tires will always wear faster than the rears due the additional forces imparted on the fronts, i.e., acceleration, braking, turning. These forces are always greater on the front tires. And then to explain why one front is even worse than the other is simple - one wheel provides nearly all of the acceleration unless the vehicle is equipped with a limited-slip differential.

This car, or this thread, should be nominated as the poster child for rotating your tires as recommended.

There's really nothing you need to ask the dealer - you just need to follow the manufacturer's recommendation for rotating your tires in the future.

Hope that helps.
 
If the car is awd you might need to buy a full set. If it's 2wd you can probably just replace the fronts.
 
It is front wheel drive. I went out to take some pictures of the sides and these are Pirellis 235/60 r18?!? I am very much out of my domain on this.

View attachment 32432
 
Yep. 18" rims. 235mm wide. Sidewall height is 60% of the width. Gotta love how tire manufacturers give you measurements 3 different ways at the same time.
 
Boy those tires are not cheap at the dealership $289 installed and balanced - $150 alignment.
 
$289 for each tire? And $150 for an alignment, even for a 4-wheel alignment is crazy. I think my place charges $80, and they actually do the alignment, as opposed to most tire shops that just tell you they did it.
 
No one buys tires at the dealership😲 The front tires appear to be a different brand, maybe its just the pic. I'd get a whole New set, have the suspension checked and a FEA done.

What kind of car is it?

Sent from my LGLS990 using Tapatalk
 
Each. I found a Michelin for $250 and $109 alignment.
 
Volvo XC90 2013. I am going with a recommendation from a Volvo service.
 
In case it hasn't been said yet; your front wheel drive car will wear the front tires faster, so rotate them more often. Bob's diagrams seem to speak most of the story.
Whatever the case, buy two new tires for the front and cross the rears.
 
Thanks to everyone! All your input is very appreciated.
 
Do you have a teenage son that uses this vehicle? I don't see evidence of it, but this could possibly be from burning out.
 
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