[IMP]

Guys, there is an issue with the rear left wheel of my optra, about one inch of the tyre's outer edge gets completely worn off, while the rest of the tyre stays fine.

Actually i noticed this around a month back, but i didn't take it seriously, since the car has done nearly 50k on these tyres, i attributed it to normal tyre wear. What i did was that I just changed the wheel, replaced the wheel with the spare, and thought that it's time to get new tyres. I was about to get new tyres, but today again, I saw the same type of wear on the spare as well. Now two tyres getting worn in the same way in the same location, there is something wrong.

Before i get new tyres, i want to sort out this issue, and my car is going to service on Monday or Tuesday.

What could be wrong?
I always ensure correct tyre pressures.
Could it be the bearing?

[rks]

Originally Posted by IMP

Guys, there is an issue with the rear left wheel of my optra, about one inch of the tyre's outer edge gets completely worn off, while the rest of the tyre stays fine. [...]

What i did was that I just changed the wheel, replaced the wheel with the spare, and thought that it's time to get new tyres. I was about to get new tyres, but today again, I saw the same type of wear on the spare as well.[...]

What could be wrong?
I always ensure correct tyre pressures.
Could it be the bearing?

Looks like one-sided wear; I am assuming that one inch is the thickness of the worn portion and the wear is all around the outer edge of the tyre. Look at the table under the section "Diagnosing problems from tyre wear" in the following website:

Car Bibles : The Wheel and Tyre Bible

Under "one-sided wear", the possible causes listed are:

1. Improper wheel alignment (especially camber)
2. Tyres haven't been rotated recently.

In your case 2. can be ruled out. So alignment/camber are the suspects.

You should also check if your wear pattern matches "Spot wear" or "Diagonal wear" and then you can read off the possible causes from the table.

[amitverma]

since the tyre wear is happening on rear left, your rear right wheel's camber adjustment is needed. try doing that asap.

[IMP]

Just took a picture. This in just 1500 kms?? can it be attributed to improper wheel alignment?

[rks]

That looks clearly like one-sided wear. The likely cause is misalignment (especially camber). You should definitely not get the alignment done at the same shop/garage you previously visited because it looks like they goofed up. And do not rely on service stations for doing tyre/wheel maintenance; these guys are usually swamped and will do a shoddy job.

I suggest you go to a good well-equipped tyre shop. I go to Unitread Tyres in East Street (near Das electricals; alignment machine in main branch another 3 kms away). They have good modern equipment. I have done 20000 kms (alignment/balancing every 5000 kms) with the tubeless tyres I purchased last Nov. in Unitread Tyres and so far the wear is perfectly even. I think there is a T-BHP thread dedicated to listing all the good tyre shops in Pune and you could choose one of these.

[nitrous]

U're having a bad camber.
Get the rear suspension checked and wheels aligned.

[IMP]

Well thanks guys, i had no idea what caused the wear. I am getting the alignment done asap.

@rks, I previously got the alignment done from the auth. service center - Pashankar Auto (Grrr...)
Will check out Unitread, many positive reviews about them.

Cheers.

[biju.bala]

I have a swift VXI which has covered 56,000 Kms and is running on its original set of tyres. Now the rear left tyre has started wearing out quickly. Wheel balancing and alignment was checked recently. Please advice what the possible reasons could be .

Thanks in advance

[Jaggu]

Originally Posted by biju.bala

I have a swift VXI which has covered 56,000 Kms and is running on its original set of tyres. Now the rear left tyre has started wearing out quickly. Wheel balancing and alignment was checked recently. Please advice what the possible reasons could be .

Thanks in advance

Was the tyre rotated recently? ie moved from front to back?

Swift rear is a fixed set up so nothing much to adjust, unless the rear suspension or wheels have had some serious impact damaging the settings.

Right way to analyze now is to do a wheel alignment reading and see if everything is aok. Also put another tyre in that axle and see if the issue is cropping up. Mostly it might the front tyre which was already worn out, and continuing to wear evenly after moving it to the rear.

Also do rule out low air pressure or slow air leaks.

[dhanushs]

Originally Posted by biju.bala

I have a swift VXI which has covered 56,000 Kms and is running on its original set of tyres. Now the rear left tyre has started wearing out quickly. Wheel balancing and alignment was checked recently. Please advice what the possible reasons could be .

IIRC, the Swifts rear tyre cant be aligned. Hence there is little you can do wrt alignment.

But then, if the suspension is sagging, there is a chance of positive camber, and inner tyre wear. Please post the alignment report here.

[SirAlec]

I guess yours is not alloy and running on stock rims.
Please check the rims for damages. also check the shape of the holes.

[SS-Traveller]

Originally Posted by IMP

...rear left wheel of my optra, about one inch of the tyre's outer edge gets completely worn off...

You have a rear wheel alignment issue. Most wheel alignment machines (& WA shops) check only front wheel alignment, while the Optra (and many other cars) need 4 wheel alignment. Usual to find this kind of wear pattern if the rear wheels don't track properly.

Specifically ask your wheel alignment shop that rear wheel alignment be checked.

[neel385]

I had a similar issue on my Indigo. Finally, the fault was homed on as incorrect Toe of the rear right tyre which was causing the rear left tyre to wear out faster than the rest of the tyres. In your case though, camber seems to be the main problem. Does the Optra have camber adjustment for the rear tyres?

[Aroy]

On front wheel drive cars, uneven rear tyre wear is mainly due to
. Incorrect Camber and/or toe-in. That is the wheel not vertical and parallel to the direction of travel. Camber/Toe in error comes with loose suspension, or accident damage, where the wheel has shifted from its designed alignment. A typical case is if you hit footpath or raised median at speed.
. Tyre rubbing against some obstruction, which may be a hard mud guard, a bolt, or even the wheel arch if the tyre bottoms out.

If the wear gradually increases towards the sidewalls, then it is alignment.

If it is a suspension problem, jack the car up and check for play and/or accident damage, in that case get the suspension work done before going in for alignment.

[Ragul]

Does camber/caster/alignment affect only a single tyre? At the least both rear wheels should be affected one would think.

--Ragul