My 04 STI has done 12,500 miles and had an easy life, couple of months ago had its service and front tyres reported as 4.5mm tread and rear 6.0mm so not too bad, however a couple of thousand (easy) miles later I noticed (on full lock after parking) the inside of the tyre had disapeared - no tread at all - looks like spread butter!!
I checked black circles for some Toyo's proxies - £117 each fitted, but went to my local tyre dealer £215 for two, however had the alignment checked and its towing out 1.5 deg and should be towing in slightly!!
considering it had a service recently and has not had any bangs on the front wheels how can the alignment be so far out? I have std 17 inch wheels and std suspension, are they correct in saying that it should tow in a tad??

My cousin had the same thing with his Evo8 at 9,000 miles although they told him it was completly normal sir - and his tracking was fine!!!

 

Can't imagine why there would purposely be 1.5 degrees of toe out on the front, unless you wanted it to understeer more than it normally does LOL

Don't know the settings for your model though so I can't say for sure. You'd want toe-in or dead ahead if anything. Inside edge wear could be a result of excessive negative camber in everyday driving - a lot of neg camber is handy when you're flinging it around the corners all day long, but when you're straightline cruising or commuting it's just gonna wear your inner edges.

 

I ASSUMED IT WAS THE FACT THAT THE CAR GETS SUCH AN EASY LIFE AND IT WAS THE NEGATIVE CAMBER WITH MINIMAL LOADING DOING IT - THAT'S WHY THE TRACKING SEEMED A STRANGE ONE.

 

When you ask a Tyre place to check the tracking they ALWAYS say it needs adjusting (chargeable, of course!)

Thats why I NEVER get my tracking done at those places ...... I want the place I go to to say it's OK if it is!!

Pete

 

So where is that pete?

 

You need to go to somewhere with good laser alignment equipment and properly trained operators. My local tyre fitter is great for fitting tyres, although I have seen him checking alignment on cars using... a piece of string and a few plastic gauges.

Don't spend ANY money on a bad alignment check as they could make things worse!

 

Do they check the tracking at service time? wouldn't have thought so myself.
£215 for 2 17" tyres You need to shop elsewhere mate. I get 4 proxies fitted for £320

 

I thought £215 for two was a good price (inc VAT balance and tyre disposal etc.) - best price on internet was £117 each fitted.
The ones I had fitted were the top Toyo's with reinforced shoulder etc.

Where do you get them at that price?
how does my mileage to change relate to you guy's experience?

 

I paid £320 for four Toyo T1R same size as yours mate!! Do a search on here for a company called "BITS" they are based in Bristol and someone got a great deal sorted out for scoobynetters. I live close so can pop down there, but they will post them to your house!!

As for the alignment, all Scoobies come out the factory with shocking cambers / casters, etc. I had (on my RB5) positive camber on one front wheel, and negative camber on other when I went to power station. All good now though.

A normal tyre place won't have the equipment (or if they have equipment the skills) to set your car up properly. Get yourself along to someone that knows what they're doing. Post where you live, and I'm sure someone can recommend someone that's close to you

BTW 12000 mile from a set of tyres is very good mate

Cheers Phill

 

I drove my car for the first time last night after having the Toyo's fitted and alignment corrected and it has transformed the car, the Toyos seam quieter and not so thumpy over bumps, but most of all the viscious tracking of every white line and dip and imperfection of the road was missing. I am guessing the tracking must have always been a bit wayward as the car was a real handfull diving around the road with steering wheel kicking in my hands, particullarly when braking on very bumby b roads. My wife normally has the car but hates driving it, but even she noticed its a lot smoother and easier to keep on line. (maybe she will like it now - now to work out how to get 40 mpg)
I always assumed it was normal behaviour for the STI - now its still exciting and never gonner be comfortable, but not so likely to take its own lines down the road.