Strange tire wear...
Thread Starter
Intermediate
Joined: May 2001
Posts: 26
Likes: 0
From: Coral Springs, FL
Strange tire wear...
I took a look at a 96 LT4 coupe over the weekend, 62K miles. Car looked really good except for some extreme tire wear on the outside edge of the driver's side front tire. At first I thought maybe they had replaced the other three tires, they look new, and didn't replace this one. After looking at the worn tire a little more, I figured out that it was the same age as the rest. The suspension on that side didn't look like it had been repaired anytime recently as it had the same amount of road dirt and grease on it as the other side. I drove the car and it didn't pull or behave oddly. Could this just be an alignment problem? Maybe caster/camber or toe in? Is this common for this car.
Thanks in advance for your wisdom!
[Modified by YY325, 1:25 PM 10/15/2001]
Thanks in advance for your wisdom!
[Modified by YY325, 1:25 PM 10/15/2001]
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 8,512
Likes: 3
From: Memphis, Tn
Re: Strange tire wear... (YY325)
Yes, it could be caused by bad alignment. Could also be caused by previous accident damage. Could also be caused by improper inflation. I would have a competent mechanic look at it if you are thinking of buying it. No, its not common for a properly aligned car.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 2,474
Likes: 1
From: Drive it Like You Hate it Cincinnati OH
Re: Strange tire wear... (YY325)
Maybe the driver takes a lot of hard right-hand turns... Or maybe he's been on a road course/autocross with a lot of rights...Just a thought
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2000
Posts: 3,215
Likes: 6
From: Tampa Florida
Re: Strange tire wear... (FoolCrzy)
I think FoolCrzy is on to something. When I purchased my 96, it had new GSC tires...I then had it aligned. 8000 miles later I noticed significantly more wear on the left side tires than the right. I'm almost positive that it was caused by Nebraska and its lack of corners except for on ramps...and they are all right turns here.
And yes I do get aggressive.:)
The extreme edge wear is pretty common for the front tires with normal alignments(allowing majority of the cornering force to be directed toward that outside portion).
And yes I do get aggressive.:)
The extreme edge wear is pretty common for the front tires with normal alignments(allowing majority of the cornering force to be directed toward that outside portion).
Le Mans Master
Joined: Nov 1999
Posts: 8,512
Likes: 3
From: Memphis, Tn
Re: Strange tire wear... (No Go)
If the wear were caused by aggressive driving, autocrossing, etc., you would also see wear on the rear tire. I've been to hundreds of autocrosses, and it's uncommon for a Vette to have wear only on the front unless the alignment is really screwed up.
