Uneven tyre wear

[m8internet]

My car has started to exhibit uneven tyre wear
I noticed it on the last tyre change, with the nearside had worn slightly more than the offside (but it was only about 1mm)
However, it has accelerated such that the nearside is down to the legal minimum and the offside still has 4mm on it
Equally, the nearside has worn out in just 4500 miles since the last tyre change, the offside has the normal amount remaining (typically 7000 to 8000 miles)

This suggests either :
the nearside rear suspension is at fault
or
the nearside front suspension is at fault

However, this was inspected yesterday and no problems could be found
The tyre fitter agreed that the nearside front was clearly showing signs of unusual wear, knowing that I fit new tyres to the rear and swap to the front as they wear, "We weren't expecting to see you for another set of tyres until mid-March"
The tracking was then checked, but also found to be correct

Therefore, does anyone have a copy of the CORRECT tracking angles for :
2004MY 3.0 V6 CDTI SRI, sports suspension, 17" wheels
I've now phoned three (different) VX dealerships and they refuse to release the details

[Big Sig]

It could also be the tyre itself.

[gtr1000]

Front wheel adjustment
Saloon
Saloon with "Sport" equipment
Saloon with "Bad Road Surface" equipment
Difference right/left maximum
Camber
-1° 02' ±45'
-1° 05' ±45'
-0° 55' ±45'
1°
Caster
2° 54' ±45'
3° 08' ±45'
2° 54' ±45'
1°
Toe-in1)
0° 00' ±10'
-
Toe-in variation with inner wheel deflection of 20°
1° 38' ±45'
-
Outer wheel deflection for 20° inner wheel deflection
18° 22' ±45'
-


Rear wheel adjustment
in accordance with trim height2)
Saloon
Saloon with "Sport" equipment
Saloon with "Bad Road Surface" equipment
330 - 334
Camber
-2° 36' ±15'
Toe-in1)
+0° 28' 30" ±10'
335 - 339
Camber
-2° 29' ±15'
Toe-in1)
+0° 25'30" ±10'
340 - 344
Camber
-2° 21' ±15'
Toe-in1)
+0° 22' ±10'
345 - 349
Camber
-2°14' ±15'
Toe-in1)
+0° 19' ±10'
350 - 354
Camber
-2° 07' ±15'
-2° 07' ±15'
Toe-in1)
+0° 31' 30" ±10'
+0° 15' 30" ±10'
355 - 359
Camber
-2° 00' ±15'
-2° 00' ±15'
-2° 00' ±15'
Toe-in1)
+0°28' ±10'
+0° 10' ±12'
+0° 28' ±10'
360 - 364
Camber
-1° 53' ±15'
-1° 53' ±15'
-1° 53' ±15'
Toe-in1)
+0°24' ±10'
+0° 08' ±10'
+0° 24' ±10'
365 - 369
Camber
-1° 46' ±15'
-1° 46' ±15'
-1° 46' ±15'
Toe-in1)
+0° 20' 30" ±10'
+0° 04' 30" ±10'
+0° 20' 30" ±10'
370 - 374
Camber
-1° 39' ±15'
-1° 39' ±15'
-1° 39' ±15'
Toe-in1)
+0° 16' 30" ±10'
+0° 00' 30" ±10'
+0° 16' 30" ±10'
375 - 379
Camber
-1° 32' ±15'
-1° 32' ±15'
Toe-in1)
+0° 12' 30" ±10'
+0° 12' 30" ±10'
380 - 384
Camber
-1° 24' ±15'
-1° 24' ±15'
Toe-in1)
+0° 08' 30" ±10'
+0° 08' 30" ±10'
385 - 389
Camber
-1° 17' ±15'
-1° 17' ±15'
Toe-in1)
+0° 04' 30" ±10'
+0° 04' 30" ±10'
390 - 394
Camber
-1° 10' ±15'
-1° 10' ±15'
Toe-in1)
+0° 00' ±10'
+0° 00' ±10'
395 - 399
Camber
-1° 03' ±15'
Toe-in1)
-0° 04' ±10'
400 - 404
Camber
-0° 56' ±15'
Toe-in1)
-0° 08' 30" ±10'
405 - 409
Camber
Toe-in1)
410 - 414
Camber
Toe-in1)


1) Positive values = toe-in, negative values = toe-out
2) difference between right and left max. 1 mm


Foreword to Chassis Alignment Values for Model Year 2004

This "Chassis Alignment Values" brochure for Opel/Vauxhall vehicles has been specially created for use on the chassis alignment unit and contains all important information which is required for the correct performance of chassis alignment.

This brochure contains the chassis alignment values for the following Opel/Vauxhall vehicles for Model Year 2004:

Agila, Corsa-C, Combo-C, Speedster/VX 220, Astra-G, Astra-G Coupe, Astra-G Convertible, Astra OPC, Astra CNG, Zafira, Zafira OPC, Zafira CNG, Vectra-C, Vectra-C Estate, Signum, Frontera-B, Movano and Vivaro.

Important: There are several adjustment values for the rear axle of the Vectra-C, Vectra-C Estate and Signum which refer to different vehicle trim heights. The trim height stated here is measured from the centre of the wheel hub to the lower edge of the wheel arch on each side of the vehicle. In addition, the vehicle is to be levelled horizontally by distributing weights in the rear area of the higher vehicle side.
In order to visually emphasize new values and values that have changed since the previous brochure, the values in these data fields are shown in bold with a grey background and the boxes around them are drawn in dotted lines. For information with differing tolerance values the visual emphasis can only be provided for the main information, but the tolerance may be affected by the change anyway, as shown in the following examples:

Display of new or modified values with same +/- tolerance:
Display of new or modified values with different +/- tolerance:

1° 45' ± 45'
0° 00' +30' / -45'



Note: A special adapter is required for vehicles with new lightweight alloy wheels to attach the wheel mirror or measuring unit for chassis alignment.

[m8internet]

It could also be the tyre itself

We had a good look at the tyre, the balancing and pressures on all four were perfect
There is no sign of adverse "abnormal" wear, as a result of failed suspension
This tyre does tend to wear slightly on either the inside or outside edge, but overall the wear rate is normally the same as the offside

There is clearly something wrong as this is the second tyre in a row on the nearside front that has worn before the offside front, but this time it is worse

[wardy]

my 3.0 did this. It turned out to be down to the tyres Goodyear F1s being non-XL rated. Switched over to Falken 912 XLs and never had a problem again

[mattv6diesel]

unless a bump has put the rear out a litttle. upper rear arm play

[Big Sig]

We had a good look at the tyre, the balancing and pressures on all four were perfect
There is no sign of adverse "abnormal" wear, as a result of failed suspension
This tyre does tend to wear slightly on either the inside or outside edge, but overall the wear rate is normally the same as the offside

There is clearly something wrong as this is the second tyre in a row on the nearside front that has worn before the offside front, but this time it is worse

Didn't realise it was the secone one in a row, I was wondering if it was a batch fault with the compound being softer for some reason.

[gtr1000]

No one's suggested that the camber angles might be out? http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/tech-camberbasics.php

[m8internet]

my 3.0 did this. It turned out to be down to the tyres Goodyear F1s being non-XL rated

Apart from some tyre testing between July and November 2008, the car has always been on XL rated tyres, also with the correct tyre pressures (even though VX keep putting them back to the tyre pressures for a 1.9 CDTI at each service!)

The car has been on Good Year F1 225/45 R17 94Y XL since April 2009
08 Apr 2009 - 77626 miles
07 Jul 2009 - 84519 miles
26 Sep 2009 - 92955 miles
16 Dec 2009 - 99680 miles (nearside tyre showing uneven tyre wear)
Feb 2010 - 104000 miles (nearside worn to legal minimum)

[m8internet]

unless a bump has put the rear out a litttle. upper rear arm play

The suspension was fully checked, no worn or damage parts could be found