Diagnose tracking problem looking at tyre wear.

[monk180]

Hi there,

So on my front left has more wear on the outside that the right one.

Also the left tyre is about 3000 miles newer than the right one, which confirms the wear extra.

Does this mean that the left tyre is tilted inwards, as in the bottom of the wheel is closer to the middle of the car then the upper part - is this toe in?

And would worn rear lower wishbone bushes on the left side cause this?

Thanks

[pudding]

Outside edge wear is usually toe.  I would expect the car to be pulling to one side quite strongly?

[monk180]

HI again,

Not strongly, but if take hands off the wheel it will drift to the left, I guess if the outside of the tyre is pressed harder in the road, is will want to pull the tyre in that direction.

But if the issue is constant, it must just be tracking, if it was worn console bushes, then would it not be random and clonking all the time?

[pudding]

Yeah it's usually tracking.  You only have to whack a kerb fairly hard to knock the alignment off slightly.

[monk180]

Ok, I did hit a pothole that blew out the left tyre, (low profile tyres feel good in fast cornering, rest of the time a bloody nuisance!!)

Think I should get a tracking job done, rather than just follow the garage advise of new lower wishbone bushes, the if the tracking goes out of whack get them done.

I mean, can console bushes go only after 97k?  I guess the lower profile tyres mean those bushes get a harder whack over bumps, so maybe they can fail within a period I personally think should not.

[pudding]

There you go then, reason found 

Console bushes can and do wear out before 97K, but only replace them if they are ripped.  When they get that bad you will hear and feel it when driving though. Knocks and bangs and really woolly vague steering.