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[badassfajita]

Hey guys--I need help diagnosing this absurd wear on my front passenger side tire only. Basically the inside edge has been indented inwards, almost by a full centimeter, and the outside edge is nearly bald. The middle of the tire probably has 4-5/32" of tread left.

I initially thought bad alignment was the culprit, but could this be due also to a suspension issue?

All other tires are wearing equally.




Any thoughts are appreciated.

[Seminole]

There's no way that indent could be caused by wear... It almost looks like the tires have been stretched to fit the rim.

[mike3000fl]

something is rubbing and causing that "indentation".

the bald outer part is due to camber and possibly toe, your car should have negative camber. when you buy new tires get a lifetime alignment at firestone.

if the middle has a lot of meat and both outer edges are worn then your tire pressure may be too high. what psi are you running them at?

Are these stock size tires? what size are they exactly? lowered?

not my pic and not our cars but are you rubbing here...

[badassfajita]

Originally Posted by mike3000fl

if the middle has a lot of meat and both outer edges are worn then your tire pressure may be too high. what psi are you running them at?

32 psi

BTW this is an 08 e92 335i with SP, so tire size is 225/40/18, completely stock.

[mike3000fl]

i would also look for something it could be rubbing when turned full left or right.

[ScaredOnce]

The outside area of those Potenzas will wear fast, as designed and even faster if out of alignment/under pressure.

I'm not sure what's going on on the inside... Fill us in.

[JaSSon]

yeah, you're rubbing. Pull the wheel and look for something that's been polished shiny by your tire.

[reprod]

Take that tire off and snap some more pictures of the tire from different angles. I have never seen this before. Take a look inside that wheel well for anything out of the ordinary.

I wonder if this is a defective tire?

[Alpine300zhp]

Originally Posted by badassfajita

32 psi

BTW this is an 08 e92 335i with SP, so tire size is 225/40/18, completely stock.

I think your pressures are too low and that might be the problem or at least part of the problem. Bump the fronts to 36 psi cold.

[VMRWheels]

Originally Posted by badassfajita

Hey guys--I need help diagnosing this absurd wear on my front passenger side tire only. Basically the inside edge has been indented inwards, almost by a full centimeter, and the outside edge is nearly bald. The middle of the tire probably has 4-5/32" of tread left.

I initially thought bad alignment was the culprit, but could this be due also to a suspension issue?

All other tires are wearing equally.

Any thoughts are appreciated.

That is extreme toe wear. I would recommend getting the vehicle aligned ASAP. Very few experience as severe as this, but I have seen it happen here and there. When getting the vehicle aligned, be sure to have the shop check for worn suspension bushings as well.

-Charles@VMRWheels

[Tee212]

I had the same thing on mine on oem sport in the rear tires with 30k.

[HighlandPete]

Originally Posted by Alpine300zhp

I think your pressures are too low and that might be the problem or at least part of the problem. Bump the fronts to 36 psi cold.

+1

Normally do this on the rear, it is NOT rubbing anything. Pressures on the low side and alignment issues, can cause this to happen very quickly indeed.

Partly caused by running on the sidewall, and as the tire wears, the carcass distorts even more, where the sidewall joins the crown of the tire.

HighlandPete

[catch]

never seen anything like this before...

[3me]

This is pretty extreme. I wonder what your wheels look like from a side view. I bet they make your car look like its standing on tippy toes.

[HighlandPete]

The first picture is typical rear inner wear of a RFT, no alignment issues, just normal wear with BMW settings, and running a higher than door placard pressure setting. But the beginnings of the grooved wear.



This is typical of the wear we do see on the rear, sport settings and running low pressure, mean this is quite common.





This issue is discussed quite often here in the UK. A well respected tire and suspension specialist, WIM (Wheels in Motion) come across this quite often.

A combination of camber, tyre stiffness and pressure, allow extreme distortion around the tyre junction of wall and crown, marked on the drawing (A). Once the structural tread 'bridge' begins the wear the tire is weakened, distorts even more, and the wear accelerates.



The stiffened sidewall cannot distort enough to share the load, so the load is very local to the junction.

HighlandPete

[remmib]

Never seen an "indentation" like that before.

[badassfajita]

Update: Got rid of my RFTS and went with new Pilot Super Sports. Had my suspension checked out and they could not find anything rubbing against the old tire. I did get my car aligned at an indy with a Hunter Hawkeye Laser machine, and the toe was way off on that wheel as well as on both rears. Steer ahead and thrust angle were also out of spec.

Too early to post comments on the tires, but initial feedback is less than great. Steering seems overly soft. Running 32/37 psi. But have only driven 3-4 miles.

[mike3000fl]

bear in mind... with your car being so far off on toe, the "soft" steering you feel may be more to do with the new alignment than the tires.

non run flats do feel softer though than RFTs generally.

[kioneo]

Originally Posted by badassfajita

Update: Got rid of my RFTS and went with new Pilot Super Sports. Had my suspension checked out and they could not find anything rubbing against the old tire. I did get my car aligned at an indy with a Hunter Hawkeye Laser machine, and the toe was way off on that wheel as well as on both rears. Steer ahead and thrust angle were also out of spec.

Too early to post comments on the tires, but initial feedback is less than great. Steering seems overly soft. Running 32/37 psi. But have only driven 3-4 miles.

How have the new tires held up after the alignment adjustment? I ask because I just started having the exact same issue. It is just so odd, because it seems like rubbing, but sure enough there is nothing in the wheel well that indicates it. So I'm back to thinking it's alignment.

Thanks in advance.

[techwhiz]

Originally Posted by HighlandPete

The first picture is typical rear inner wear of a RFT, no alignment issues, just normal wear with BMW settings, and running a higher than door placard pressure setting. But the beginnings of the grooved wear.



This is typical of the wear we do see on the rear, sport settings and running low pressure, mean this is quite common.





This issue is discussed quite often here in the UK. A well respected tire and suspension specialist, WIM (Wheels in Motion) come across this quite often.

A combination of camber, tyre stiffness and pressure, allow extreme distortion around the tyre junction of wall and crown, marked on the drawing (A). Once the structural tread 'bridge' begins the wear the tire is weakened, distorts even more, and the wear accelerates.



The stiffened sidewall cannot distort enough to share the load, so the load is very local to the junction.

HighlandPete

Had tire wear as indicated in the picture.
Now running higher pressure on the new tires AND got an alignment.