Just wondering if the AWD's have a different setting / profile for wheel alignments vs the front wheel drives?? I'm due for a wheel alignment soon and just want to check if anyone knew of any differences? If any?

Thanks,

Would like to know this one as well.

I have been to the tyre shop and sometimes the alignment is spot on with no tyre shoulder wear at all and sometimes the alignment is also spot on but i suffer from shoulder wear.
I also was wondering if there is an AWD specific setting which maybe sometimes they do and sometimes not.

Different tyres will wear differently too so that can make it appear that one alignment is good and the next not so good. Even when you fit another set that are the same size and brand there can be unseen changes in the construction of the carcass, rubber compound etc. Manufacturers do this to reduce costs, raw material availability problems and health safety laws, increase grip, increase tyre life, reduce noise, reduce waste and pollution.

Some tyres are more prone to understeer, so wear more on the shoulders. Others can be more taily, so have less shoulder wear.

Tyre profiles vary too. Some are relatively flat across the tread, and others very curved. Some have shallower tread on the shoulders, so they seem to wear the shoulders faster. Others have shallower center tread so don't seem to wear the shoulders so fast.

Tread patterns can affect shoulder wear too. Big chunky blocks with a drain groove well away from the shoulder tend to have less shoulder "shuffle", so wear the shoulder less rapidly. A rain groove close to the shoulder and fine tread get a lot of heat into the shoulder. This can help wet grip but increases shoulder wear.

Then there's dampers. As they get older they don't control the suspension so well so the tyre skips about more and the tyre has to do more suspension work. That increases tyre wear and if the dampers are totally shot the tyres will develop strange wear patterns. Depending on tyre and suspension harmonics the tyre may start to scollop on the shoulders. Or the tread may wear out of round. The tread will be shallow right across the tyre in places and deeper in other places (some poorly made tyres are like this from new).

Cheers,
Alan

I've gone through yet another set of front tyres - uneven wear. I've been on stock Turanza's up to this point. They put on BF goodrich's this time - mechanic said they were better, and I've got a bit trip in a couple of weeks. I'm wondering if its an AWD thing, or just my driving style (it could well be that, its fun on corners)

Turanzas wore quick on my echo

its the tyre

After 2 sets of Turanzas, 40,000k's each set, I've gone to Yokie c drive, better tyre, slightly better shoulder wear though. Although they are directional, so I won't get the full benefit of rotations (D'oh!)
While bob jane are playing around a little tiny bit with each alignment, they keep saying high tyre pressure is the only way to combat the problem. At least when they do an alignment they give you a print out of before and after so you have some idea whats going on.

I agree with Alan above, also I've come to accept that if I want to belt into roundabouts like I do it will roll in the tyre wall and scrub. there are probably a couple of corners/ roundabouts I travel on a lot that contribute to the majority of my tyre wear.

it's a bit like fuel economy: lead foot = high fuel consumption. Fast into corners = scrub tyre.

Well said Vrex.

I have gone to the 225 55 16 tyre being slighly wider but has a stiffer side wall and my tyre wear has dropped greatly.
Still rinning the Turanza ER 300 which is an excelent tyre. I can't recall how my k's i've done on them, over 50k easily and they are prob half worn. But the best thing is that they have worn completely evenly all round. Running high pressures is the key. 38 front, 36 rear.

After 2 sets of Turanzas, 40,000k's each set, I've gone to Yokie c drive, better tyre, slightly better shoulder wear though. Although they are directional, so I won't get the full benefit of rotations (D'oh!)While bob jane are playing around a little tiny bit with each alignment, they keep saying high tyre pressure is the only way to combat the problem. At least when they do an alignment they give you a print out of before and after so you have some idea whats going on.

I agree with Alan above, also I've come to accept that if I want to belt into roundabouts like I do it will roll in the tyre wall and scrub. there are probably a couple of corners/ roundabouts I travel on a lot that contribute to the majority of my tyre wear.

it's a bit like fuel economy: lead foot = high fuel consumption. Fast into corners = scrub tyre.

How does this affect rotation? I'm baffled by the amount of people who only move these tyres from front to back & front again.

How hard is it for a tyre shop to remove/ refit a set of tyres? Then whack them on the other side & you have have a four corner rotation. Or am I missing something & there is actually a valid reason for not doing this?

How does this affect rotation? I'm baffled by the amount of people who only move these tyres from front to back & front again.

How hard is it for a tyre shop to remove/ refit a set of tyres? Then whack them on the other side & you have have a four corner rotation. Or am I missing something & there is actually a valid reason for not doing this?

Nothing stopping them except your permission and willingness to pay extra I suppose. Unless the constant on/off damages the rims/tyres.

I've gone through yet another set of front tyres - uneven wear. I've been on stock Turanza's up to this point. They put on BF goodrich's this time - mechanic said they were better, and I've got a bit trip in a couple of weeks. I'm wondering if its an AWD thing, or just my driving style (it could well be that, its fun on corners)

What sort of BF Goodrich? If they are G Force Sport they are horrible in the wet. The Profiler G was excellent in the wet. But typical of Michelin they decided to drop most of the European BF Goodrich and mainly import tyres designed for the USA market which expects tyres to last 40,000-50,000 miles.

Cheers,
Alan

What sort of BF Goodrich? If they are G Force Sport they are horrible in the wet. The Profiler G was excellent in the wet. But typical of Michelin they decided to drop most of the European BF Goodrich and mainly import tyres designed for the USA market which expects tyres to last 40,000-50,000 miles.

Cheers,
Alan

Its a Sport T/A. Never heard of it myself. Are they any good?

How does this affect rotation? I'm baffled by the amount of people who only move these tyres from front to back & front again.

How hard is it for a tyre shop to remove/ refit a set of tyres? Then whack them on the other side & you have have a four corner rotation. Or am I missing something & there is actually a valid reason for not doing this?

Most tyre shops would end up stripping them all and getting them mixed up anyway. LOL

Also if you do that it will cost $15-25 strip and fitting with an essential balance per tyre so $100 cost. So if you do it every 5-10,000 km it adds up and may cost a lot more than just swapping front to rear and may not guarantee even wear anyway.

I think you would be better off:
a/ ensuring your tyre pressure stays constant - so if your lazy like me and dont check air every tank fill the $60 for Nitrogen gas may pay off in the long run. Apparently it doesn't leak through the rubber as fast due to the gas molecule size (its not just the valves that leak apparently) and keeps the tyre cooler as it doesn't change pressure as much as air under heat/cold;

b/ regular wheel alignment at an expert suspension place at least every 10,000. Even without a big knock or pothole etc wheel alignment can change with just suspension component wear. My old '86 E28 M535i BM is a shocker due to the big 6 weight in a suspension system that was designed for a medium 2-2.8ltre. It chews through front end bushes etc in 20,000 km;

c/ swap front to rear every 5,000 km especially with FWD as it would allow a much more even wear of all 4 tyres so they wear and age equally.

Wheel alignment Specs 2004 TL AWD

Hi Folks.........just thought i'd post these wheel alignment specs from Yesterday, maybe helpful for those still chasing a good set-up,




http://i840.photobucket.com/albums/zz322/72pug/TLAWDWheelalignmentSpecs.jpg