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Thread: Tires being worn out quickly... could it alignment issue?

  1. #1
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    Tires being worn out quickly... could it be an alignment issue?

    These wore out rather quickly; less than 20 miles. Last time when I was having them installed, I was told alignment is/was not necessary, but wondering whether it was due to non-alignment or just happened to the tires? Is it worth to have alignment done?


    Front tires have inner side wall worn and rear have it worn from the center.

    Pics

    DF.jpgPF.jpgPR.jpgDR.jpg
    Last edited by rufryder; 06-24-2019 at 02:21 PM.

  2. #2
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    The 4th picture shows a tremendous amount of camber which will for sure cause the inside of the tire to wear. So will the toe not being correct. The middle of a rear tire wearing like that is normally a pressure thing. What psi is in that tire?

    New tires and this is how they looked after 20 miles? That thing must drive like a buckboard or something.

  3. #3
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    Camber is way off. Do you have it lowered/slammed/stanced?
    2002 BMW Titanium Silver 540i/6-speed Sport - ZHP Shift Knob - M5 Clutch/TTV Racing 15.6lb Flywheel - M60 Intake Manifold - N62 84mm TB - Dinan Intake Tube - 4" MAF Tube - DUDMD Tune - Magnaflow Resonator - Eibach 18mm Rear Sway Bar - Powerflex Front Sway Bar Bushings - CDV Delete - UUC SS Brake Lines - Koni Yellow Shocks/Struts - Eibach Springs - Zionsville Radiator & FDM

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by rufryder View Post
    These wore out rather quickly; less than 20 miles. Last time when I was having them installed, I was told alignment is/was not necessary,
    Something is DRASTICALLY wrong... obviously. But what do you mean by "Last time..."? Does that mean that when you had a PREVIOUS set of tires installed that you didn't get an alignment? Or do you mean "THIS" time when you had them installed? It's confusing - the way you wrote that.

    But... did you make a typo on that "20 Miles"? If so... please correct. And always proofread!

  5. #5
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    Camber Camber and worn out parts is my guess

    Classic example of camber issues on rear.

    Either a REAL bad alignment adjustment but based on 170K you posted on this application, I would say the entire front and rear suspension is time to retire. Have all the front and rear suspension bits and parts been replaced?

    In the rear suspension the lower control arm has a big ball joint in it and two bushings on the arm pivot points. Tire wear like that points to one or both having given its life up over the past years. You can see the ball joint in the images below. In the box, I reassembled the lower link and ball joint parts after removal at 98K. At your mileage the suspension should be giving you all kinds of hints that it is worn out.
    Attached Images Attached Images
    Last edited by StephenVA; 06-24-2019 at 06:00 PM.
    Current Garage Highlights
    2003 525iT TiSilver
    2002 M5 TiSilver
    1998 528i KASCHMIRBEIGE METALLIC (301) (Goldie)

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    2004 325iTs (2x)
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    1971 Dodge Dart Swinger "Lite Package"
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  6. #6
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    Front is definetely a toe issue. Rear is a camber issue. Had similar issue to the front when I rebuilt the suspension and replaced the Tie Rod Ends and Center while trying to count the turns on re-assembly. Drove 10 miles to get an alignment and started to see wear just like your front tires.

    Not sure how your alignment could be so way off on new tires if the old tires didn't look like that at all.

  7. #7
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    My philosophy is new tires, new alignment.

  8. #8
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    Quote Originally Posted by crazy4trains View Post
    My philosophy is new tires, new alignment.
    That used to be every year (about 13,000 miles) on my car. A couple years ago and again last week, I had my car aligned for better tire life which actually makes them out of BMW specifications. I've gone over 20,000 miles now any my tires look like they might have another ten to 20,000 miles left in them.
    I do not believe in a risk free society where the thrill of living is traded for the safety of existence. Nick Ienatsch

    The law does NOT determine "right" from "wrong". They are unrelated.

    If you put cheap parts on your car, you will soon have a cheap parts car.

  9. #9
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    Quote Originally Posted by Santaclaus4 View Post
    That used to be every year (about 13,000 miles) on my car. A couple years ago and again last week, I had my car aligned for better tire life which actually makes them out of BMW specifications. I've gone over 20,000 miles now any my tires look like they might have another ten to 20,000 miles left in them.
    You get rid of the rear camber down to like a degree or something? I did that years ago, now the rear tires all wear evenly across the board, but..... there’s a 25mph exit off of 395 that I used to take at 65-70mph, hardly any screeching, now I have to take it at 60-65..... it gets me to work like about a second slower.... Slow drivers suck.
    Last edited by BimmrMeUpSnotty; 06-24-2019 at 06:25 PM. Reason: Stupid fuckin spellcheck...
    Set the controls for the heart of the sun

  10. #10
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    RR looks like overinflation.

    You did not ID the tires. My guess would be a defective set. How did the last set wear?


    Ed in San Jose '97 540i 6 speed aspensilber over aubergine leather. Build date 3/97. Golden Gate Chapter BMW CCA Nr 62319.

  11. #11
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    He obviously needs an alignment, and needs a lesson in having the proper air pressure in his worn out tires, it’s not rocket science.
    Set the controls for the heart of the sun

  12. #12
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    Quote Originally Posted by BimmrMeUpSnotty View Post
    You get rid of the rear camber down to like a degree or something? I did that years ago, now the rear tires all wear evenly across the board, but..... there’s a 25mph exit off of 395 that I used to take at 65-70mph, hardly any screeching, now I have to take it at 60-65..... it gets me to work like about a second slower.... Slow drivers suck.
    You are exactly correct. They reduced rear camber to about 1°. I too have noticed the rear isn't quite as planted in spirited cornering but I'm enjoying longer tire life and as such, put more expensive tires on it.
    I do not believe in a risk free society where the thrill of living is traded for the safety of existence. Nick Ienatsch

    The law does NOT determine "right" from "wrong". They are unrelated.

    If you put cheap parts on your car, you will soon have a cheap parts car.

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by CSMBlack-540i View Post
    Front is definetely a toe issue...
    This is correct.

    I'd suggest to the O.P. to:
    - Rebuild front suspension
    - Rear suspension
    - Then do Alignment.

    The Rear camber issue: worn ball joints. I wrote a DIY alignment for both front and rear. In the rear, you can reduce camber to 0.5 degrees.
    Search for the DIY I wrote about 9-10 yrs ago...

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