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

[Squadrone Rosso]

Originally Posted by ip75

OK, I've had a very good outcome. Following my geometry check yesterday, Alfa UK say that my camber settings were wrong in a way that could only have happened from the factory. The camber settings were corrected yesterday, and Alfa UK are sending a cheque to cover the complete cost of my new tyres. They're also refunding the cost of the geometry check (to the dealer, since the dealer paid).

Both Fish Brothers in Swindon and Alfa UK have been excellent in dealing with this issue. - it really was handled very well. As an extra bonus the car now handles significantly better (much less twitchy on the motorway).

Excellent Mind sending me your name etc. via PM?

[159er]

Left my 159 to dealer to get a rattle sorted. they told me front tyres needed changed ( 8k miles) due to bald on the inside. Dealer mademe sign a form before releasing car without tyre change.Took to kwikfit to get changed under contract, they said the tyres were still very much legal and wouldn't be changing them under contract !!!

[159er]

Left my 159 to dealer to get a rattle sorted. They told me front tyres needed changed ( 8.5k miles on new car!!) as worn on inside, they also suggested a needed the tracking fixed but said they couldn't do it!! Took to Kwikfit to get the tyres changed under contract but they said they were still very much road legal and wouldn't be changing them as my leasing company wouldn't authorise !!!

[ally]

I didn't realise the camber was adjustable. I think that will mean when the lower wishbones need changed, the camber and tracking will need done. In the meantime, my earlier post will then not be valid, and it is simply camber.

[popdog76]

Originally Posted by ip75

OK, I've had a very good outcome. Following my geometry check yesterday, Alfa UK say that my camber settings were wrong in a way that could only have happened from the factory. The camber settings were corrected yesterday, and Alfa UK are sending a cheque to cover the complete cost of my new tyres. They're also refunding the cost of the geometry check (to the dealer, since the dealer paid).

Both Fish Brothers in Swindon and Alfa UK have been excellent in dealing with this issue. - it really was handled very well. As an extra bonus the car now handles significantly better (much less twitchy on the motorway).

Great news

Out of interest do you have a copy of the geometry report (or could you get a copy?) as that could be useful for the rest of us to compare and use against AlfaUK........

[MiniC]

Any update on this? Im about to buy a 159 that is 10months old so want to know if I can get this sorted at its 1 year service?

[nello]

OK 1.9 JTDm SW with 18" Horseshoes - just hit 20K and the 2nd set of fronts need changing desperately?!?! Thats excessive surely?!?
Think I'll ask the local dealer...............

[Hunter]

Originally Posted by nello

OK 1.9 JTDm SW with 18" Horseshoes - just hit 20K and the 2nd set of fronts need changing desperately?!?! Thats excessive surely?!?
Think I'll ask the local dealer...............

Think you're lucky!!!

[Commanderfish]

Originally Posted by Hunter

Think you're lucky!!!

I'd say his tyre wear is similar to the rest of ours since he has the 1.9JTDM lasting 10,000 miles per set. My 2.2 lasted somewhere less than 9000 miles (inside edge worn only, rest of tyre fine). The 2.4JTDM people seem to get 6000-8000 miles. It's all appalling of course.

[nello]

So what can be done here guys? Have Alfa admitted theres an issue or is it just the 'feature of the car' response? I'm popping back to the dealer later this week to get my faded badge replaced. Can I genuinely get this looked at under warranty? I'm getting a set of front Vredesteins fitted tomorrow on reccomendation from here......

[zulu ferret]

Just need shim'able, steering geometry components, and a set of Kismet gauges to be spot on, once more? Modern production motors? So how was the camber altered, after it had left the factory?

[scott]

i have got 2.4 brera it was in at the dealer last monday for a problem
with the car they did a visual safety check they said i need 2 front tyres the inner edges are bold

[jessie]

I am reading all this with the intention of buying a 2.4 Brera. Tyre wear of the type mentioned on this forum is almost certainly caused by camber angles and not alignment. Alpa produce different components for various camber angles depending on the usage of the car. I do do not think you can adjust the camber angle. This comes from a friend who had a Spider wrongly supplied with raceing suspesion components, front tyre lasted 3K on the front. Alfa replaced all the suspension, then all the brakes and discs, then the soft top and then gave her a new car. Why am I thinking of buying a Brera?????

[kevski]

Originally Posted by jessie

I am reading all this with the intention of buying a 2.4 Brera. ................. Why am I thinking of buying a Brera?????

....probably coz they are just brill....

[Pud237]

Originally Posted by kevski

....probably coz they are just brill....

Well, they are if you own Michelin, Bridgestone, Pirelli shares..

[nomad]

Originally Posted by jessie

I am reading all this with the intention of buying a 2.4 Brera. Tyre wear of the type mentioned on this forum is almost certainly caused by camber angles and not alignment. Alpa produce different components for various camber angles depending on the usage of the car. I do do not think you can adjust the camber angle. This comes from a friend who had a Spider wrongly supplied with raceing suspesion components, front tyre lasted 3K on the front. Alfa replaced all the suspension, then all the brakes and discs, then the soft top and then gave her a new car. Why am I thinking of buying a Brera?????

I'd stick to your 'Masda' if I were you

[RicksAlfas]

Just replaced my front Bridgestones this weekend. They'd done nearly 11,000 miles of hard work and the insides were the most heavily worn but nothing alarming. The rest of the tread was evenly worn down to the wear indicators. Trying some Sessantas - so far they seem very good but for once it hasn't been raining!

[zulu ferret]

A wheel at each corner? Preferred desired trajectory? Straight ahead? Bends,curves, and corners? Geometry to ensure grip? Net result? The soft black stuff wears away.: OK, in some vehicles this may appear excessive, but don't they stick to the road?

[David C]

Originally Posted by jessie

I am reading all this with the intention of buying a 2.4 Brera. Tyre wear of the type mentioned on this forum is almost certainly caused by camber angles and not alignment.

In 99.9% of cases, excessive wear on inner edges is due to too much toe-out, not -ve camber.

[zulu ferret]

David C makes that much overlooked, and often incorrectly adjusted point, and quite rightly so.:

[147 girl]

Have been reading this thread with interest and have my own experience to add. Own a Brera v6 Q4 and recently had to have my front tyres replaced on 10,000 miles. Both front inner edges of tyre worn completely away, rest of tyre width showing 3-4 mm. Rear tyres even wear across width and showing 4mm. Tyres cost £185 each - afraid I went for cheapest option. ARUK listened to my complaint but only provided compensation based on the issue that the dealer did not tell them the truth i.e. that they had worn on the inner edges to 0mm. As a further compensation measure they agreed to carry out a full tracking and alignment test to the car. The dealer informed me that the wheels were re-setting themselves after being corrrected - I would love to know what that actually means. Anyway, supposedly corrected the wheel alignment but couldn't correct the steering wheel due to a faulty diagnostic machine. Sorry for not being concise but this issue is still rumbling on from July 08.

[David Jarrett]

Originally Posted by RicksAlfas

Just replaced my front Bridgestones this weekend. They'd done nearly 11,000 miles of hard work and the insides were the most heavily worn but nothing alarming. The rest of the tread was evenly worn down to the wear indicators. Trying some Sessantas - so far they seem very good but for once it hasn't been raining!

I put new Sessantas all round on my 2.4JTD at 13k,

They were we excellent value and the dreaded tramlining snatch I suffered from when the original Bridgestones when new has not occured this time.

Up to 21k and wear seems about 50% on the front.....so far so good

[Graham_Brera]

Pleased to say i have just got two new front tyres, i paid for one and Alfa paid for the other one. fairly happy outcome.

[Ken 1]

Tyre wear was discussed with the tramlining problem some time ago, and 10,000 to 12,000 seems about the norm, or even good, I have not worn tyres at such a rate for about 35 years when I had a Triumph Stag, I remember ragging all four of them in under 10,000 miles, I was a lot younger then though! Keeping to the thread, I replaced the Pirellis with Dunlops, a lot lot cheaper, and better, read the tramlining thread.

[kevski]

Originally Posted by Ken 1

Tyre wear was discussed with the tramlining problem some time ago, and 10,000 to 12,000 seems about the norm, or even good, I have not worn tyres at such a rate for about 35 years when I had a Triumph Stag, I remember ragging all four of them in under 10,000 miles, I was a lot younger then though! Keeping to the thread, I replaced the Pirellis with Dunlops, a lot lot cheaper, and better, read the tramlining thread.

Hehe...ragging tyres on a Stag ...been there !!! Luv it ...and petrol was cheaper tooo!...

Changed my two fronts on my 2.4 after 13.5 k ...got Nexen 3000's cheap ...so far so good...