159 / Brera / Spider tyre wear issues - VIP - Revised Information

[David C]

Originally Posted by Tango Indigo

Hmmm.........not sure about that. Is that what it should be?
I will have to check, so just to make sure, what your saying is the 159 should be parallel on the front and have a 3mm(or is that degrees?) toe in on the back?

Parallel front
3mm toe-out on the back. Although that 3mm varies slightly depending on the size of wheel fitted.

If the back is also set to parallel the car may be very unstable.

[gtvscott]

Apologies in advance as have not read through the whole thread guys but has anyone actually contacted Pirelli etc...to see what their take is on the fact that huge numbers of their tyres are not lasting even 10000 miles, maybe you could claim against them (goods not fit for the purpose they are sold)

[David C]

Originally Posted by gtvscott

Apologies in advance as have not read through the whole thread guys but has anyone actually contacted Pirelli etc...to see what their take is on the fact that huge numbers of their tyres are not lasting even 10000 miles, maybe you could claim against them (goods not fit for the purpose they are sold)

It is not a tyre problem.
It is a car setup problem.

Exactly the same will happen no matter what make or version of tyre fitted.

Too much toe-out on the front will always scrub off the inner edge very quickly.

[gtvscott]

Originally Posted by David C

It is not a tyre problem.
It is a car setup problem.

Exactly the same will happen no matter what make or version of tyre fitted.

Too much toe-out on the front will always scrub off the inner edge very quickly.

Cheers for that, will keep a close eye on mine, although they seem to have worn pretty even so far after 5000 miles!!!

[Alfa 4eva]

Mine went in to Platts yesterday to have the two fronts replaced paid for by ARUK and also had the broken bonnet pull replaced too usual good service from Platts i asked them to set the front tracking to parallel and this they were happy to do but i have been advised by Ian the service manager that if they do this
they will have to make a note of it and if i have any future claims for tyres etc.. then ARUK will not cover it under warranty he said if i still wanted it done i should go somewhere (non Alfa) and get it done but he did tell me that on the cars that they have done this to they are still getting premature wear on the inside edge so atm I'm undecided whether to do it or not as it only on a pcp and it goes back next May and with swapping the fronts to the back in a few thousand miles the tyres will still be legal when we hand it back as we dont cover many miles per year not sure what to do any suggestions.

[159max]

just had thre fronts on mine changed after 8700 miles, totally ruined, what a waster of two tyres, still 5.5 mm on outside edge, and nothing on the insides. Mine if going back to Alfas this week to have geometry checked. I do 25,000 miles and can't face this every 4 months!!

[Martin G]

I have just changed all 4 tyres this weekend, I put 4 new on last August and have been watching them closely. I have the 18" horseshoe rims.

I dont use the premium brands but I assure you it makes little difference, especially on the front.

The fronts were down to canvas/steel on the inner edge after 15K the outer edges still had 4mm left. Thats bad.

The rears werent quite so bad but worn to almost illegal level on the OUTER edges, a good 4mm on the inner. So they could have gone on a little longer.

So all changed, but then as all four plus fitting only costs me just £260.00 Im not crying as much as others. I guess whether if your paying £180 a corner or £40, your changing them just as often in most cases. Still not convinced?

[alfaredthegreat]

Originally Posted by Alfa 4eva

i asked them to set the front tracking to parallel and this they were happy to do but i have been advised by Ian the service manager that if they do this
they will have to make a note of it and if i have any future claims for tyres etc.. then ARUK will not cover it under warranty he said if i still wanted it done i should go somewhere (non Alfa) and get it done

I don't know what he is on about. As long as the adjustment is within Alfa's spec then the warranty should not be affected. IIRC the spec range is 1.5 toed-out to 2.5 toed-in (or is it the other way round?). Either way, parallel tracking is within spec.

When I last took mine to Whitequay in Reading they adjusted it to the fullest extreme of toe-in in an attempt to minimise the inner-edge wear.

A few thousand miles in, they are still looking good.

[tommy]

I raised this issue in a customer service call I got from JD Power after a recent service. They promised to open a ticket with AR and someone would get back to me within 3 days. Sure enough, I got a call from AR Customer Service in Italy this morning! Anyway, nice as the gentleman was, they still claim it's not a known problem and assured me he'd checked my chassis number against the know problems list. The bottom line is they can't or won't do anything regarding tyre wear unless I can produce a report from a tyre specialist detailing the fault. Unfortunately, I didn't get a report from the fitter who replaced mine so I'm snookered for now but will be getting a check done in a month or so to see what's what.

I asked what to do once in possession of such a report and was advised to call 0800 253 20000 (Option 3) to open another call which they will then follow up.

Incidently, my dealer reckons the excessive wear on my ti is due to the weight of the 2.4 engine. Apparently Lexus have the same problem with the bigger deisel in the is200 but I think this was a fob-off.

[Tango India]

Originally Posted by tommy

I raised this issue in a customer service call I got from JD Power after a recent service. They promised to open a ticket with AR and someone would get back to me within 3 days. Sure enough, I got a call from AR Customer Service in Italy this morning! Anyway, nice as the gentleman was, they still claim it's not a known problem and assured me he'd checked my chassis number against the know problems list. The bottom line is they can't or won't do anything regarding tyre wear unless I can produce a report from a tyre specialist detailing the fault. Unfortunately, I didn't get a report from the fitter who replaced mine so I'm snookered for now but will be getting a check done in a month or so to see what's what.

I asked what to do once in possession of such a report and was advised to call 0800 253 20000 (Option 3) to open another call which they will then follow up.

Incidently, my dealer reckons the excessive wear on my ti is due to the weight of the 2.4 engine. Apparently Lexus have the same problem with the bigger deisel in the is200 but I think this was a fob-off.

Sure is a fob off. Mines a 1.9 and my tyre wear has been dire, its common across the range, I spoke to a former Alfa employee recently who told me that many cars are being sent out without ever having the tracking set!!!! He didn't elaborate but if there is any substance to this story it's very worrying

[Ash44b]

I thought I would put in my experience, been driving and at the last check up from the dealership, I was advised the inner front tyre thread are going to become nearly illegal in another 1000 miles. That would make the car front tyre change on 11000 miles. I have spoken to AR Italy and they say they are not interested in wear and tear and that it is not a known problem to them.

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by tommy

IApparently Lexus have the same problem with the bigger deisel in the is200 but I think this was a fob-off.

Dunno about tyre wear but this surely puts the issues we've had with 159s/Breras into perspective.

[jdrrco]

I've just replaced all 4 of mine after 18,800 miles. The leasing company specified the new ones should be Michelin Primacy HPs (apparently they're supposed to last for 50% more miles) and so far (1,000 miles on) I must say I'm very impressed.

The car is much quieter and the ride is slightly less harsh but without losing grip or speed - in fact precisely because it is quieter and smoother I've had to rein it in a bit as I've found myself going much faster than I realised on a few occasions.

Grip-wise I have thrown it round a few familiar roundabouts at speed and it holds on as impressively as ever. And since the white stuff arrived, it's also holding its own better than my last 3 cars and nearly up there with the Scooby Outback, which was 4WD after all!

All in all, I'd happily recommend them.

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by jdrrco

I've just replaced all 4 of mine after 18,800 miles. The leasing company specified the new ones should be Michelin Primacy HPs (apparently they're supposed to last for 50% more miles) and so far (1,000 miles on) I must say I'm very impressed.

The car is much quieter and the ride is slightly less harsh but without losing grip or speed - in fact precisely because it is quieter and smoother I've had to rein it in a bit as I've found myself going much faster than I realised on a few occasions.

Grip-wise I have thrown it round a few familiar roundabouts at speed and it holds on as impressively as ever. And since the white stuff arrived, it's also holding its own better than my last 3 cars and nearly up there with the Scooby Outback, which was 4WD after all!

All in all, I'd happily recommend them.

What wheels are you on?

I'm running vredestien ultra sessantas on 18" wheels and 3,000 miles in they are looking pretty good too.

[jdrrco]

Originally Posted by Fraser

What wheels are you on?

Standard wheels - 225/50/17

[k3lvc]

Originally Posted by Fraser

I'm running vredestien ultra sessantas on 18" wheels and 3,000 miles in they are looking pretty good too.

Likewise but I've got to say their snow grip leaves a bit to be desired

[telfordsteve]

Just changed all 4 corners at 18500 miles, they were the original potenzas. I've replaced them with Pzero rosso's at £ 133 per corner and had the tracking sorted whist having my 18K service. I'l see how these last.

[Fraser]

Originally Posted by k3lvc

Likewise but I've got to say their snow grip leaves a bit to be desired

Yeah? Can't say I've noticed any problems. I've been getting up our cul-de-sac when all around have been floundering.

[KPurvey]

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Look at the state of these tyres!!

Swapped them from rear to front no more than 3 months ago, so probably have got 8k ot of them!!

This can't be right!! Have had this up on a hunter and everytime they adjust it it throws the settings right out.

I think I may send these to Alfa UK and see what they say.

[Ash44b]

All

An update, I spoke to ARIT and a chap called Edwin and he said that they are aware of the complaints on the front tyre wear and said they are compiling the data and will be providing a solution in the near future. In short, it is on their radar and I suppose watch this space.

[Pud237]

Originally Posted by Ash44b

All

An update, I spoke to ARIT and a chap called Edwin and he said that they are aware of the complaints on the front tyre wear and said they are compiling the data and will be providing a solution in the near future. In short, it is on their radar and I suppose watch this space.

Seems like its a standard procedure to "deny all knowledge"..

[Mediaman]

Originally Posted by KPurvey

Have had this up on a hunter and everytime they adjust it it throws the settings right out.

KP can I ask you to explain what you mean here? I know you're talking about a Hunter alignment machine (I've had this done myself) but I don't follow the rest of it - what settings go out when they adjust it?

My take on this problem is that Alfa have not been bothering to set up the geometry during manufacture, so it's pot luck whether get a good 'un or a duffer. Luckily, mine seems OK but surely any car can be optimised by setting the geometry correctly?

[KPurvey]

Hi Mediaman,

They guys had it up on the alignment machne and they spent the best part of an hour adjusting bits and pieces and said the best thing to do was to put it back to the setting sthat were originally on the car. ever ytime they played with it the geometry went way off.

I am taking it back to another place for them to have up on another Huntr and see what these guys say.

I will let you know how they get on.!!!

[johngtq2]

Why are you swapping your tyres front to back? The best tyres should always be on the back????

[KPurvey]

The best tyres always on the back.

I replace the shot front tyres and place them on the rear, then put the rears that still have loads of tread on them on put them on the front.