PSA: check your tires

[SSSnail]

The last time I inspected my tires were about two months ago, based on what I saw, I guestimated that it would have last me at the very least another 6 months of hard driving. Fast forward to this passed Saturday, I brought my car in for re-balancing of the front wheels and when the car went on jack, I almost fell on my ass. Wires, metal wires, were shredded. Due to the aggressive camber settings (factory), the inner sections of the rear tires were literally disintegrating despite the outer sections were deceptively new.

I was wondering why my rear was stepping out so easily, I guess I found the cause.

I haven't been driving around much due to a change in commute and in my mind, the tires were good. That just goes to show how quickly something can go wrong if you don't keep up with maintenance. I'm just glad I didn't go on my usual long trips this past weekend. I missed the Pumpkin Festival in Half Moon Bay...

So yeah, don't take anything for granted.

 

[angry hampster]

Also, inflate to max sidewall pressure for maximum performance and fuel mileage.

 

[RichieZ]

since when is the BMW OEM alignment considered aggressive?

 

[SSSnail]

since when is the BMW OEM alignment considered aggressive?

2.1 degrees is good enough to wear your inside out... hehe.. inside-out.

 

[Doggiedog]

I always have bubbled run-flats on my tire. It's impossible to tell if the inside of the tire is bubbled without taking them off though. I guess I'll take a look when I put my snow tires on in a month or so.

 

[Howard]

2.1 degrees of camber? That shouldn't do much at all.

 

[SSSnail]

Unless you guys are new to the scene, BMW's are notorious for wearing the inside of the tires out due to negative cambers (better handling). I've always been aware of it, just didn't think my rear tires would wear out that quick in the time they did. -2.1 is quite a bit for a road car.

Edit: the way I drive probably didn't help them either.

 

[speedy2]

How did you not notice it? I guess I'm just OCD with my car. I notice things just by walking up to everyday. Heck, I even notice badly worn tires on cars that aren't even mine.

 

[thescreensavers]

^ this lol

 

[SSSnail]

How did you not notice it? I guess I'm just OCD with my car. I notice things just by walking up to everyday. Heck, I even notice badly worn tires on cars that aren't even mine.

Yeah, that's what surprises me. I'm usually freaking OCD with my car. Things like all preventative maintenance done before I think it even needs it, and usually I do them myself, oil change ever 1/2 recommended interval, etc. It's just that for the last few months, my new parking space in SF only allows me to back in, so I don't really get to take a good look at the rear tires (at a glance the outside is still way good). Not only that just a few months ago I did the brakes, and the tires were inspected just about two months ago and I thought it would be good for at least half a year so I didn't think to look at the tires.

Ever since I moved up to SF, I don't have the space to work on my car, that and I can't actually work on my car in the apartment's garage. Just goes to show I need to look at my car more often for obvious things.

 

[fbrdphreak]

Unless you guys are new to the scene, BMW's are notorious for wearing the inside of the tires out due to negative cambers (better handling). I've always been aware of it, just didn't think my rear tires would wear out that quick in the time they did. -2.1 is quite a bit for a road car.

Edit: the way I drive probably didn't help them either.

My GTO had a similar issue. Factory was only -1 or -1.5 rear camber, but the rear suspension was so saggy my rear tires were to the wear bars on the inner tread after 15K miles. And I didn't smoke the tires hardly at all, just lots of going fast

 

[/b/tard]

The last time I inspected my tires were about two months ago, based on what I saw, I guestimated that it would have last me at the very least another 6 months of hard driving. Fast forward to this passed Saturday, I brought my car in for re-balancing of the front wheels and when the car went on jack, I almost fell on my ass. Wires, metal wires, were shredded. Due to the aggressive camber settings (factory), the inner sections of the rear tires were literally disintegrating despite the outer sections were deceptively new.

I was wondering why my rear was stepping out so easily, I guess I found the cause.

I haven't been driving around much due to a change in commute and in my mind, the tires were good. That just goes to show how quickly something can go wrong if you don't keep up with maintenance. I'm just glad I didn't go on my usual long trips this past weekend. I missed the Pumpkin Festival in Half Moon Bay...

So yeah, don't take anything for granted.

Did you get an alignment to make sure that the Toe was within spec and or neutral? The reason I ask is because toe has a much greater effect on wearing on the inside or outside of a tire than camber, by far..

 

[ViviTheMage]

Yeah, that's what surprises me. I'm usually freaking OCD with my car. Things like all preventative maintenance done before I think it even needs it, and usually I do them myself, oil change ever 1/2 recommended interval, etc. It's just that for the last few months, my new parking space in SF only allows me to back in, so I don't really get to take a good look at the rear tires (at a glance the outside is still way good). Not only that just a few months ago I did the brakes, and the tires were inspected just about two months ago and I thought it would be good for at least half a year so I didn't think to look at the tires.

Ever since I moved up to SF, I don't have the space to work on my car, that and I can't actually work on my car in the apartment's garage. Just goes to show I need to look at my car more often for obvious things.

A lot of that IS overkill, and doesn't really benefit...just stick to the maint. schedule, engineers set them that way for a reason, unless you work your car more then most commuters.

I too walk around my car every day for an inspection, LOL...give my tires a hug once a month to make sure they aren't bulging...or ware on the inside oddly.

 

[fbrdphreak]

A lot of that IS overkill, and doesn't really benefit...just stick to the maint. schedule, engineers set them that way for a reason, unless you work your car more then most commuters.

Yeah, oil change at half the recommended interval is money down the drain.

 

[Dirigible]

Also: Don't just blindly reach in to check the inside wear of your tires. If you have worn them down like the OP, the exposed frayed wires can really cut up your hands.


Learned that one the hard way.

 

[Imported]

Also: Don't just blindly reach in to check the inside wear of your tires. If you have worn them down like the OP, the exposed frayed wires can really cut up your hands.


Learned that one the hard way.

That happened to me once.. not fun.

I usually inspect my tires once or twice a month. Partly due to the fact that I put my autox/track set on about that often.

 

[JeffreyLebowski]

My GTO had a similar issue. Factory was only -1 or -1.5 rear camber, but the rear suspension was so saggy my rear tires were to the wear bars on the inner tread after 15K miles. And I didn't smoke the tires hardly at all, just lots of going fast

Better than my friends GTO that eats front tires in about 5K miles.