G'day all
This one is for AWD owners. Does anyone have problems with the outside of the front tyres wearing a lot more than the rest of the tyre? My TL AWD has always worn the outside of the fronts. Had the alignment checked and it's within spec. I usually have to have the tyres removed from the rims and flipped once through their life to try and even out the wear a bit.
Anyone else have this problem? or is it common to the AWD?
I really can't see why it should be a problem. I'm not going to the trouble and expense of adjustable strut top plates etc.

thanks
bollie7

Nope, never had the problem, I get my rims rotated often, I'm running 19's too. Are you running standard rims or aftermarket. I found the standard rims/tyres were more prone to the outside tyre wear. But keeping them rotated and aligned will help reduce the wear.

stock rims and I keep them rotated.

bollie7

I suppose it depends on what sort of life your getting out of your tyres.
I've worn out the outer edges of my fronts, especially the left front which is now under the wear indicators. The rest of the tread is roughly 50%.
Still have the standard LS suspension and wheels. I also run the pressures at factory specs. The wife has been pretty sick of late and i've found this to be the most comfortable setup for her.

I might add that i've gotten 65k out of the original tyres though.

same issue here. just like the clunk! Stock 16's. maybe a sway bar upgrade will bring the weight back off that corner a bit, maybe all the local wheel aligners here are hopeless too.

Same issue the front outside seem to wear a lot quicker then the centres. I rotate and have wheel alignments every 7500-10000kms. All stock suspension and tyres, maybe a better sway bar could fix the problem? OR another little theory is they are doing the wheel alignment for the Magna (aka FWD Magna) and the AWD is a slightly different set up? Will ask next time I'm at the tyre shop. When I do rotate the tyres the to the rear the wear is a lot more even.

Should do a search on my previous post about the standard tyre/wheel combination for the AWDs. Its horrible. The wheels, at 6" is not wide enough for the 215 tyres and hence it buldges excessively, causing premature wear on the shoulders. Excessive wear also happens on the outside shoulders as the car turns. So my Bridgestone Grid II 215/60R16 tyres only laster ~25000 kms. I've since fitted 17x7" wheels with 225/50R17 and then later 225/55R17 tyres (cheaper then 225/50R17, see my other post about tyre recommendations for 17" wheels). the 225/50R17 tyres lasted 35000kms and wore evenly.

the 225/50R17 tyres lasted 35000kms and wore evenly.

Wow, as a comparison on mine, FWD, same tyres are on 40+ and good for another 5K+ with even wear, and I drive like I'm on the race track. Regular Tyre rotation is a must though. We could compile a database of everyones tyres and what they got out of them.

Wow, as a comparison on mine, FWD, same tyres are on 40+ and good for another 5K+ with even wear, and I drive like I'm on the race track. Regular Tyre rotation is a must though. We could compile a database of everyones tyres and what they got out of them.

Depends on type of tyres, my 225/50R17s were hankook optimo HQ performance tyres and I tend to go around corners very fast and sometimes with the rears power sliding. I rotated mine every 10000kms. However, with the 225/55R17, I rotate them every 5000kms. In addition, my car has a kerb mass of 1700kgs.

The wheels, at 6" is not wide enough for the 215 tyres and hence it buldges excessively, causing premature wear on the shoulders. Excessive wear also happens on the outside shoulders as the car turns.

Agree with this. 6" width is permissable for 215 tyres, but 6.5" would be optimum. I now run 225/55 R16 on 7" rims and this seems to give (to me at least) a perfect ride / handling compromise.

Front left tyre is bound to wear first because (a) the roughest bits of road are usually at the edge and (b) driving through roudabouts always stresses the left tyres the most, especially the front.

I also rotate the tyes, including the spare, every 5000 km or so.

only one of my tyres has started to wear more on the outside edge - the passenger front.

iv NEVER had a wheel alignment in the ~55ooo km iv driven the car, and they are the same tyres that it had when i got the car - they still have another easy 15+ in them i think.

im planning on a wheel alignment... and a rotation as well.. as iv never done one of them either on this car....

only one of my tyres has started to wear more on the outside edge - the passenger front.

iv NEVER had a wheel alignment in the ~55ooo km iv driven the car, and they are the same tyres that it had when i got the car - they still have another easy 15+ in them i think.

im planning on a wheel alignment... and a rotation as well.. as iv never done one of them either on this car....

What sort of driving do you mainly do?? a lot of straight road highway and a little urban? I so wish I could get that sort of wear. May have sometihng to do with the twisty mountain highways I travel a lot on, not my driving style :shock:

Had the same tyre problem with my AWD with the original tyres. The left hand front particulary with the edges rounded off and illegal but the centres still with 50% left, that was with the factory recommend pressures. The rear tyres wore very evenly and outlasted two sets on the front.
The lastest tyres on the front are now run at 38/40psi and are wearing a lot more evenly.

.
The lastest tyres on the front are now run at 38/40psi and are wearing a lot more evenly.

I am now running similar pressure (last 5000k's) and have noticed a improvement in wear as well. Albeit the fronts are only 5000k new, will keep not.

only one of my tyres has started to wear more on the outside edge - the passenger front.

iv NEVER had a wheel alignment in the ~55ooo km iv driven the car, and they are the same tyres that it had when i got the car - they still have another easy 15+ in them i think.

im planning on a wheel alignment... and a rotation as well.. as iv never done one of them either on this car....

What sort of pressure do you run and how often do you check it?

Also what is the size and brand of the tyre please

What sort of pressure do you run and how often do you check it?

Also what is the size and brand of the tyre please


factory offerings - the KL (they are ment to be Xi mags - but i see a lot of AWDs with em on) rada mags
bridgestone turanza (spelling?)

i run them at 38psi, i used to check them frequently - like every week, but for the last few months they are been lucky if it got checked once a month... i did notice a change in the way the car handled when the pressures had dropped to 35psi (they all drop evenly to the same pressure) when i jumped it back up to 38psi.

driving, i do a fair bit of both - easy 5 - 600kms a week just around town, then i have weekend kms as well (around 200+) - which are moreso highway - esp when i travel to townsville for a cruise.

EDIT - town driving is a lot of turn this way, then that then 'roads' that have been 'repaired' etc. unfort with the wonderous nature that is Mackay, there is no straight road to where i need to be everyday with doing everything i have to do on the way to work (get the post etc) so im constantly changing direction. i push the tyres hard too - i quite enjoy trying to load them up to the point where they want to squeel/slip.

factory offerings - the KL (they are ment to be Xi mags - but i see a lot of AWDs with em on) rada mags
bridgestone turanza (spelling?)

i run them at 38psi, i used to check them frequently - like every week, but for the last few months they are been lucky if it got checked once a month... i did notice a change in the way the car handled when the pressures had dropped to 35psi (they all drop evenly to the same pressure) when i jumped it back up to 38psi.

driving, i do a fair bit of both - easy 5 - 600kms a week just around town, then i have weekend kms as well (around 200+) - which are moreso highway - esp when i travel to townsville for a cruise.

EDIT - town driving is a lot of turn this way, then that then 'roads' that have been 'repaired' etc. unfort with the wonderous nature that is Mackay, there is no straight road to where i need to be everyday with doing everything i have to do on the way to work (get the post etc) so im constantly changing direction. i push the tyres hard too - i quite enjoy trying to load them up to the point where they want to squeel/slip.

Thanks for the reply. Do you know what size Turanza's they are?

I have the factory 215/60 R16 and run them at 34 PSI (Checked once a month) I get easy 40,000 km out of them with *almost* even wear.

I find 36 PSI too bouncy, have never tried 38 PSI but will give it a go.

I might try 2 PSi more on the fronts or is it advisable to run even in all 4?

To the OP, sorry not trying to hijack this thread but this info is pertaining as well

just ran out to have a look - they are:
215/60 on 16in diam rims.

i use 38 in all 4, i tried 40, its bearable on smooth roads and ok for long road trips, but arond town i find it just too hard.
when first got the car, it had the 32psi in them (or whatever the tyre placard says) but i upped it one day to 34.. then 36 and now i keep it at 38.
its all to do with your ride comfort and what you can bear - i dont mind the lil harder ride, as handling improves with that (well it feels like that)

Awesome, same as mine.

I will up the pressure.

never ever had a problem.
stock 16x6"

done 40k on this set of tyres, always between 35-40psi, been rotated/aligned once in 4 years.
All 4 have worn dead-set evenly same-same.

got a little bit of scrubbing on the front outsides....but thats from going into corners way too fast and is a totally different story.

To the OP, sorry not trying to hijack this thread but this info is pertaining as well

No problem, I'm interested as well

bollie7

never ever had a problem.
stock 16x6"

done 40k on this set of tyres, always between 35-40psi, been rotated/aligned once in 4 years.
All 4 have worn dead-set evenly same-same.

got a little bit of scrubbing on the front outsides....but thats from going into corners way too fast and is a totally different story.

Yours is an Awd? what you are describing is what I reckon they all should be like. With the technology available these days, I can't understand why the Awd should wear the fronts any differently to a std Fwd. If any thing I would have though the Fwd would have worn the tyres worse than the Awd as all the power is going to the front. Before I bought the TL I had a 4 cyl TR wagon that my Dad bought from new. When he died I kept the car. It had 60K on it at that point . All the tyres on it wore evenly. I know the V6 is heavier in the front but even so?

bollie7

Just fitted new tyres and got a front and rear alignment. The toe on the front left was +3mm, is now 0.1mm.
right rear toe was -1.8mm, now +1.6mm. Way out; it pays to find a good aligner. My tyres might have half a chance now.

Hey guys

In new here. Got a 04 Vrx awd with a few suspension mods. I also have a xr6t and im a mod on that fordxr6turbo.com.

Got a few questions about the awd.

Is power to the front and rear 50-50. Does the rear dif and transfer case need to be service often.

What sort of mods can be done. Mine has a filter and thats about it. Do they do a flash tuner like the falcons??

Hey guys

In new here. Got a 04 Vrx awd with a few suspension mods. I also have a xr6t and im a mod on that fordxr6turbo.com.

Got a few questions about the awd.

Is power to the front and rear 50-50. Does the rear dif and transfer case need to be service often.

What sort of mods can be done. Mine has a filter and thats about it. Do they do a flash tuner like the falcons??
Drive is split 50/50 and yes the ECU can be flashed, check out Zeros thread Re-Flash in Tech Torque.
Transfer and rear diff need to be serviced aswell. But not that often.

Hey guys

In new here. Got a 04 Vrx awd with a few suspension mods. I also have a xr6t and im a mod on that fordxr6turbo.com.

Got a few questions about the awd.

Is power to the front and rear 50-50. Does the rear dif and transfer case need to be service often.

What sort of mods can be done. Mine has a filter and thats about it. Do they do a flash tuner like the falcons??

Welcome from one AWD owner to another.

Torque split is 50/50 under normal circumstances. Can be as much as 100 to the rear or 60 to the front (from memory). The rears are also 50/50 left/right and again can be 100/0 or 0/100 under certain circumstances.

The front is an open diff.

You can get a high-flow cat and extractors as well. EzBoy has a flowed TB. There are also other mods for NA.

As far as flashing. From what I've read (you can do a search on here), there are a few people who can do it, but you'll lose some of the BEM functionality like immoboliser etc.

No thats just a rumor, you don't lose anything!

G'day Revheadrobbo and WELCOME!!!
The Centre & rear diffs need servicing (fluid changes) when the trasmission is done. (aka every 45k) doesn't cost all that much extra (I think about $40 extra at Mitsubishi) Otherwise they are pretty good as they are out of the Lancer EVO's.

hope this helps.

Yeah my tranny will be getting flushed and diff/ transfer serviced to. How much did yours cost Blue Lightning

Yeah my tranny will be getting flushed and diff/ transfer serviced to. How much did yours cost Blue Lightning
Found the receipt, For the Transmission (flush & fill) transfer case and rear diff (drain & fill) service, the parts and labour came to $265. This was done in September 07. Not ever owning a auto before thought it was ok (and still do). This was done at a Mitsubisihi dealer in Sydney. Hope this gives you some sort of a guide, I rang around and was quoted around the $270 to $300 mark. (me thinks they guesstimate over the phone). Hope this helps! :)

Thanks for the info fellas. Didnt realize the AWD system on them was so hi tech

Thanks for the info fellas. Didnt realize the AWD system on them was so hi tech

Its not really. There are no electronic sensors as in the later evos and the GTR etc. Its all mechanical based via the use of limited slip diffs rather than open diffs.

SO do they have any common problems??

Whats the go with tyres. Should you run the same tyre front and back. Mine seems to have a bit of tyre noise

SO do they have any common problems??

Whats the go with tyres. Should you run the same tyre front and back. Mine seems to have a bit of tyre noise

It is best to run they same tyres, all round, but at least the same type on each axle. Tyre wear can be a little excessive, but regular rotation is the key. (about every 5-7500km). Also driving style can play a part if you love round abouts etc then tyre wear can be affected. I have just got 35k out of a pair of GIII's could have got 40 but I like to change mine before they wearout. Make sure you keep the correct weight loading on your tyres (must be 95 or higher) This is on the sidewall i.e. 215/60/16 95V . With regards to noise number of factors, tyre type, pressure, and wear are common. AWD's are generally a little louder but not anything dramatic.
Otherwise I've had mine for 18 months and 40k of fault free motoring. Just service them when they need it and use quality parts and it will love you :)

tks

Only had it for around 3 weeks and so far so good. They are a very comfortable car

tks

Only had it for around 3 weeks and so far so good. They are a very comfortable car

Done much wet weather driving in it yet?

bollie7

Tyre pressure and a bigger rear sway bar.
TJII AWD rear bar is WAY too small in diameter. TL/TW have a bigger diameter as standard.

Basically go out and get the Whitlene HD adjustable bar and set on the middle hole until you do more work on the suepension.

Competely agree with type pressures with the standard tyre, however the rins are way too narrow for the tyre width.
Best thing is to go the 17's and 8 " rim width with 234/45/17's.
Keep the pressure up.
And you will get 30,000 from a set of tyres.
Gerry

Done much wet weather driving in it yet?

bollie7


Yeah its been pissing down all weekend. Very well planted car in the wet

Yeah its been pissing down all weekend. Very well planted car in the wet

Once you get use to the AWD in the wet it will certainly bring a smile to your dial :D

Yeah they are great. Ive had a few goes at trying to find the "no grip" point but it still stick to the road like ***** to a blanket

My AWD had nearly new Bridgestone Grid III when I bought it a few months back but the shoulders were badly worn, particularly left side; roundabouts? Tread depth was 7mm in middle and half that on the outside shoulders!

The basic issue seemed to be that on the twisties you are inclined to drive harder and cane the front tyres, plus the wheels are too narrow.

Also the rear LSD can push at the beginning of turn in if you lift off, so you use more lock to get the car into the corner. With FWD models lifting off makes for more load to rear tyres, thats why they can be more oversteery with lift off or trail braking.

Mine is a VR with 7" width standard x 16'', so those with the narrow 6" wheels must have a real problem. On a heavy car you need at least 1" of wheel for every 1" of tread. Some cantilevered race tyres don't need so much wheel width but soft wall road tyres do. The Bridgestone Turanza's tread is about 6.25" wide when new, Grid II and Grid III are 7.12" tread width so this could be another reason why some seem to have no problem with shoulder wear.

I've gone for zero toe front and rear, plus progressively increased tyre pressure. I find 39.5 front, 36 rear about right for my driving style. Plus I've got custom front springs and rear bar made.

Next change is 17" x 7.5" wheels. Got the wheels, but yet to decide on tyre size.

Cheers, Alan