Front tyres have no more profile on the edges, but still enough in the middle. Replace?

Forums › Transport (cars, bikes and boats) › Front tyres have no more profile on the edges, but still enough in the middle. Replace?

boland

310 posts

Ultimate Geek

#273060 2-Aug-2020 12:46

As per the title, in the middle of both front tyres there's still enough profile, but on the side of the tyres there's a small part that has no profile left. See photo. Should I replace them now or can I wait?

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#2533041 2-Aug-2020 12:48

tread needs to be 1.5mm across 3/4 of the tyre face for WOF standard

From the photo I would keep driving on them no issue

PolicyGuy

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#2533057 2-Aug-2020 13:20

Linux:

tread needs to be 1.5mm across 3/4 of the tyre face for WOF standard

From the photo I would keep driving on them no issue

Apart from the WOF / safety issue, there's a couple of possibilities here ...

Are both edges of each front tyre worn or only one edge?
If both edges are worn and the middle not, then it's probable that the tyres have been under inflated.
If only one edge then you probably have a wheel alignment problem.

How new are the tyres in terms of kilometres driven? If this damage has happened over only a few thousand (or less) kilometres, then IMHO it's Suspension & Tyre Shop Time

boland

310 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2533061 2-Aug-2020 13:33

Don't know how old they are, bought the car a year ago.
It's on the outside only of both tyres.
Safety is very important to me, so guess I'll replace them.

tehgerbil

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#2533064 2-Aug-2020 13:40

Out of interest, Toyota Corolla? I had the same, but worse - middle wear hadn't even worn to the wear ridges yet but was almost on the belt for the edges. Replaced with a pair of Supercats and I'm a happy chappy.

Wear on outside edges could mean a few things, misalignment and/or under inflation I would replace and get an alignment at the same time.

boland

310 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2533065 2-Aug-2020 13:44

tehgerbil:
Out of interest, Toyota Corolla? I had the same, but worse - middle wear hadn't even worn to the wear ridges yet but was almost on the belt for the edges. Replaced with a pair of Supercats and I'm a happy chappy.

Wear on outside edges could mean a few things, misalignment and/or under inflation I would replace and get an alignment at the same time.

Yes, Corolla indeed, good guess! Will get them replaced and checked.

sqishy

440 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2533067 2-Aug-2020 13:48

Get tyres done and alignment, I suspect someone played with your suspension and camber is out.

PolicyGuy

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#2533136 2-Aug-2020 15:20

sqishy:

Get tyres done and alignment, I suspect someone played with your suspension and camber is out.

Both front tyres feathering on the outside only could be excessive toe-in, or camber badly wrong.

Either way, get a wheel alignment done as well as a couple of new tyres

tdgeek

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#2533258 2-Aug-2020 18:07

sqishy:

Get tyres done and alignment, I suspect someone played with your suspension and camber is out.

Yep toe in /out is wrong, maybe swap wheels to allow more even wear

Bung

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#2533265 2-Aug-2020 18:33

Linux:
tread needs to be 1.5mm across 3/4 of the tyre face for WOF standard

From the photo I would keep driving on them no issue

It's 3/4 of the tyre face OR "The rule now states that a tyre must have a tread pattern depth of at least 1.5mm (excluding any tie-bar or tread depth indicator strip) within all principal grooves that contain moulded tread depth indicators and around the whole circumference of the tyre."

https://vehicleinspection.nzta.govt.nz/virms/in-service-wof-and-cof/tb-general/guidance-tyre-tread-depth

The OP's tyre seems to be similar to example 5 in the guidance notes above.

jjnz1

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#2533319 2-Aug-2020 19:21

I have a 2019 Pathfinder. Done 20k and just put front tyres on back because excessive outside wear on both front tyres.

Dealer and independent tyre shop couldn't adjust toe etc anymore, and it's had a couple of wheel alignments with both being pretty good. Tyres @ 36 psi.

All four tyres still have 5mm, now the (ex-front) back ones just look bald from the side, but still met 3/4 above 1.5mm.

I have been basically told to live with it.

https://vehicleinspection.nzta.govt.nz/virms/in-service-wof-and-cof/tb-general/guidance-tyre-tread-depth#figure713

Mine is fine according to example 5

tehgerbil

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#2533326 2-Aug-2020 19:52

The reason I guessed is my brother and I both have Corolla's with the same issue. He's asked around and it's quite common.

No one has played with your suspension or camber, even with a perfect alignment this will continue to happen.

Something to do with how the corollas have their wheels set?
Anyone else heard of this?

Batman

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#2533399 2-Aug-2020 23:39

all my cars do that!

Involuntary autocorrect in operation on mobile device. Apologies in advance.

Azzura

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#2533407 3-Aug-2020 06:27

Mazda 2 and the Mitsubishi we have used to do it --- According to the alignment guy --- some car manufacturer will set the cambering in to help their vehicles handle better. Could be true idk

Mazda 2 - alignment guy said he couldn't adjust it. But on the Mitsubishi he was able to adjust it so the tyres wouldn't bald on the inside.

Froglotion

109 posts

Master Geek

#2533809 3-Aug-2020 15:07

I'd probably just replace them, they look like they'll not be a spendy size anyway. The rule might be 1.5mm, but I never run my tyres that low.

boland

310 posts

Ultimate Geek

#2533816 3-Aug-2020 15:22

Froglotion:

I'd probably just replace them, they look like they'll not be a spendy size anyway. The rule might be 1.5mm, but I never run my tyres that low.

Thanks, yes I've ordered 2 new tyres via Hyperdrive. They have some good deals at the moment.

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