Another Tyre Question

ba_barabus

Right folks, my car, 159 1.9, is scrubbing the inside edge off the front tyre. TADT,S. Tyres currently fitted are 225/45/17 98w Firestone, Firehawks.

Anyway it's had all the usual done to solve the problem but it seems it's just one of those things.

Currently the rears are in excellent shape with minimal wear.

It's been suggested to me to do a number of things:

run the current tyres until they are shagged then change for non directional tyres which I can then periodically swap around on the rims to wear both edges.

Swap the directional tyres on the rims right now and wear both edges.

Swap front and rear tyres and change the whole set at the same time.

So what would you do, also tyre recommendations from those encountering similar issues would be good.

dar83

Can you not possibly buy camber adjusting bolts? Even if they have to be aftermarket ones?

Google also threw up this: http://www.alfaowner.com/Forum/alfa-159-brera-and-946-spider/289889-front-camber-adjustment-solved.html Which looks like it might solve your issue. Bit more in depth than simple adjusting but it seems to have done the trick for that guy. (I have no dies is the chassis is the same on yours or not)

ba_barabus

I hadn't considered it. I was told the camber was non-adjustable and there was nothing that could be done. I didn't question it further tbh.

challengemaster

Spacers.

ba_barabus

challengemaster wrote: »

Spacers.

Wouldn't that exasperate the problem given it's the inside edge that's wearing?

Redsoxfan

OP - sorry to state the obvious, but is the toe on the front set to zero? Who does your wheel alignment?

ba_barabus

Redsoxfan wrote: »

OP - sorry to state the obvious, but is the toe on the front set to zero? Who does your wheel alignment?

Camber is out which is the problem. Everything else is to manufacturers specs.

Redsoxfan

ba_barabus wrote: »

Camber is out which is the problem. Everything else is to manufacturers specs.

That could be your problem. Manufactuer specs (Alfa) are set so that your tyres will wear on the the inside...

Who services your car?

ba_barabus

Redsoxfan wrote: »

Who services your car?

Main dealer.

pred racer

ba_barabus wrote: »

I hadn't considered it. I was told the camber was non-adjustable and there was nothing that could be done. I didn't question it further tbh.

They are all set up like that, you can buy powerflex bushings which can be adjusted to solve your camber and toe problems.

Or what I do is buy new tyres, run them on the front until the inside edges are nearly shagged, then stick them on the back.

challengemaster

ba_barabus wrote: »

Wouldn't that exasperate the problem given it's the inside edge that's wearing?

Nvm, read 'rubbing'

Redsoxfan

ba_barabus wrote: »

Main dealer.

Ok, well if you're in Dublin I'd ask Gerry Campbell to have a look at the alignment.

Any reason why you are running 225/45/17 instead of 225/50/17? Price/availability?

quadrifoglio verde

ba_barabus wrote: »

I hadn't considered it. I was told the camber was non-adjustable and there was nothing that could be done. I didn't question it further tbh.

It is from the factory. However autolusso in the uk (who are one of the top alfa specialists) designed with powerflex a set of polybushes that allows the camber on the front to be adjusted. It is a big job to do as to set them up properly apparently takes longer than fitting the bushes. I've heard people say 4 hours to do the camber and wheel allignment etc.
However once fitted they no longer eat tyres so worth it in the long run.

The problem with sending it to an alfa specialist is that they're like consultants....they're specialists. Hence very very expensive.

ba_barabus

Redsoxfan wrote: »

Any reason why you are running 225/45/17 instead of 225/50/17? Price/availability?

They were fitted when I bought it. I was going to fit 225/50/17's when I changed them.

ba_barabus

pred racer wrote: »

They are all set up like that, you can buy powerflex bushings which can be adjusted to solve your camber and toe problems.

Or what I do is buy new tyres, run them on the front until the inside edges are nearly shagged, then stick them on the back.

I think next time round I'll just fit non directional tyres.

mickdw

So you are saying you want to pull the tyres when half worn and remount them so that the worn edge is on the outside.
Personally I dont think that will create great steering behaviour.
Also be careful as to the tyre type needed to do this.
You can have asymetric or directional tyres.
Asymetric have an outer wall that must always be to the outside therefore you cannot do the switch you require with those as inner edge must always be inner edge.
Directional tyres have a specified rolling direction but not a dedicated outer wall. These will allow you to do what you suggest as you can literally take the left front tyre off and mount it on the right side rim insuring it still rotates the same direction and the edge that was previously inside will now be outside.