Hi folks,

For a while my VR-X rear end has been humming, and not to the sound of my sports exhaust. Basically the noise is from the rear wheels.

Took it to Mitsubishi thinking it was needing new bearings but they are fine. Went to bob jane who said it was a suspension issue. Had a wheel alignment, all was fine.

Tyres on the VR-X are Yokohamas and directional, so the solution of de-rimming and swapping over cannot be done.

Everything I search up on for Scalloping says to replace all struts, bushes, suspension parts to fix the problem (like I have thousands lol) or get new tyres.

I know when the rears wear out (got arond 5,000km's to go on them but humming has been happening last 10,000 km's) and the tyres are replaced, all will be fine.

But yesterday my wifes magna was services and they said her tyres are the rear are scalloped. I'm like :chainsaw:

Now she runs Xenon Tyres, and I think its more a "Magna problem" than a tyre brand, design, issue.

Given we all have Magnas here, what are your experiences with Scalloping?

VRX tyres are P235/R18/40 and Advance tyres are P235/R17/45.

Help or advice here is appreciated. The only thing the Bob Jane guy said was if you do lots of slow turning such as always going left into your driveway that can cause excessive wear on one side? By this point I was :headbange

Note its actually almost embarrasing taking someone for a drive and hearing that bloody whoop whoop sound making me look like I'm driving an old beat up holden! :)

Sounds like a rear toe-out issue, possibly from a worn bush, which may look fine during static alignment testing.

Personally, I would seek out a specialist, maybe give Light Wheel Alignment (off Franklin St) a try they seem to know their stuff.

Hope it helps.

What is scalloping exactly?

What is scalloping exactly?

Uneven wear causing flat spots usually on the outer lugs of a tyre causing it to make a noticeable drone/howl when travelling at higher speeds due to the uneven surface.

Scolloping happens on 90‰ of front wheel drive cars. While worn components and alignment can make it happen faster, it's main cause is lack of rotations.

You should move your tyres from front to rear approximately every 10,000km or less. Once they are scolloped there is really no way to rectify it without replacing your tyres. Most mechanics and service departments don't do this so when your tyre store gives you a tyre maintenance booklet you should use it.

Scolloping happens on 90‰ of front wheel drive cars. While worn components and alignment can make it happen faster, it's main cause is lack of rotations.

You should move your tyres from front to rear approximately every 10,000km or less. Once they are scolloped there is really no way to rectify it without replacing your tyres. Most mechanics and service departments don't do this so when your tyre store gives you a tyre maintenance booklet you should use it.

Hence why I was concerned given I've actually been to Light Wheel Alignments and they said the car was fine, and I rotated my tyres so stuff knows lol.

When you buy new tyres, try a different brand and tread pattern. See if the problem goes away.

(Guy across the street did a one legger in his commodore station wagon yesterday for about 20 m, did a U turn and planted it to start it off. Lots of lovely smoke. That's one way to fix uneven tyre wear!)

When you buy new tyres, try a different brand and tread pattern. See if the problem goes away.

(Guy across the street did a one legger in his commodore station wagon yesterday for about 20 m, did a U turn and planted it to start it off. Lots of lovely smoke. That's one way to fix uneven tyre wear!)

I was thinking of putting em on the front and doing that (in my driveway on private property lol) to see but with just 5,000 km's left, its hardly worth the effort. Oh well, looks like I'll be working out the sub woofers to mask the whoop whoop noise with some boom boom noise for the interim.

Are you sure the tires haven't been rotated side to side on your wife's car? Unless you've done all the rotations yourself, how can you be sure?

I've had it twice on second hand front wheel drive cars. Was told be suspension places I pretty much needed a complete new suspension.

Put four brand new, good quality tires all round and rotated them front to back every 5k and on both cars it never returned and I got a full and hum free life from the new tires.

My third gen and 380 both have good quality rubber and I rotate myself every 5k - never had a problem.

IMHO scalloping is caused mainly by side to side rotation which stretches the tire and causes scalloping.

I wouldn't generally listen to anyone from Bob Jane, unless you know the person giving the advice is a season professional with your best interests at heart.
Best solution is, the 5K will pass quickly, then go and get new tyres before the wet season starts.

Are you sure the tires haven't been rotated side to side on your wife's car? Unless you've done all the rotations yourself, how can you be sure?

I've had it twice on second hand front wheel drive cars. Was told be suspension places I pretty much needed a complete new suspension.

Put four brand new, good quality tires all round and rotated them front to back every 5k and on both cars it never returned and I got a full and hum free life from the new tires.

My third gen and 380 both have good quality rubber and I rotate myself every 5k - never had a problem.

IMHO scalloping is caused mainly by side to side rotation which stretches the tire and causes scalloping.

Funny I thought when we paid professionals they would know something as basic as that lol I'll just ride it out till they need replacing and I'll rotate them myself every 5,000 kms.

235 45 17 are these on a 7 inch rim? Or are they under inflated?

235 45 17 are these on a 7 inch rim? Or are they under inflated?

Inflation is spot on and they are on 8 inch rims as 235 is the smallest size I can go.

Ok mate, My tyres did something similar when I had 235s on a 7" rim......but this wouldn't be the problem on an 8" rim.

Ok mate, My tyres did something similar when I had 235s on a 7" rim......but this wouldn't be the problem on an 8" rim.

No worries. I wanted once to go to 225 so I would have hopefully stopped scraping the flares but good old Bob Jane refused to sell them given the 8 inch rim size. Funny cause so many people are "The Bawss" which big wheels and undersized tyres which seems all the rage, so I am guessing its considered illegal then to put undersized tyre onto a rim. I digress lol, but yeah hence why I was stuck on a 235.

Is this the same as "lumpy" tyres? Recently had my VRX serviced and the mechanic said the rears were "lumpy" :eek2: They are Federal 595s. Won't be getting Federals again. The road noise is terrible. Since new and worse now. Fantastic grip though.

Yes, "lumpy tires".

Causes excessive road noise or a "hum" which gets louder the faster you go.

Yeah this happens to me. The tread blocks get lifted at their edges. I know it's the toe setting, but I have explained the problem to four different tire suppliers when I get an alignment they always "look in to it" but the problem is never corrected. I've never had anything replaced ('sept the tires :P) because I get it all checked and apparently it's all fine. I don't know if lowering has an impact on the toe angle when the suspension is compressed further or if it just stays static (I often have peeps in the back).

I once tried putting the scalloped ones on the front to get the life out of them, but it felt awful and unsafe under braking. I just lament putting nice tires on it now coz I know how quickly they're gonna get rooted.

I found I got a Lumpy/Scalloped tyre from parking on a paved area at home everyday and there was one paver that was lower than the others and caused my tyre to go lumpy.

My problem was solved with 4 new tyres and all those experts said it was all suspension related etc. BS, both magnas did it and I put it down to lack of rotation. Now I'm doing it every 5,000 km's and she'll be fine. My wifes magna was humming too, I rotated the tyres on the weekend myself, and humming noise gone. And steering was fine, dont know what Bob J was spinning when they said your steering would be terrible. One lap around the block and a few hard take offs and they are fine. They key is to rotate as theres not a huge amount of weight on the rear of the magnas hence the wheels just roll about and that causes the issues.

Its a pain in the butt for a sound though, drove me mad.