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

[Squadrone Rosso]

Good conversation with ARUK's Nick Jackson today. To cut a long story short, once they speak to Guest's regarding the geometry, they'll authorise me a new pair of tyres Now, that's what I call a service

All you need do is involve your dealers to evidence the issue & provide geometry reports. Then call Nick and get a case number. If the wear is deemed excessive (each case treated individually), they'll help you out.

It's VIP that the dealer / ARUK are involved as ARUK will do some sore of claim back off Alfa Italy.

Cheers,

[David C]

Originally Posted by Squadrone Rosso

It's VIP that the dealer / ARUK are involved as ARUK will do some sore of claim back off Alfa Italy.

I can see an official front toe setting change coming soon.
Exactly like the 156 had in 1999...

[Squadrone Rosso]

Originally Posted by David C

I can see an official front toe setting change coming soon.
Exactly like the 156 had in 1999...

Possibly but it's good news they are listening & willing to assist

[David C]

[AlfaStealth]

Makes me feel better when people get a result After all the will impact on many people here.

[Hunter]

Good work Simon and thanks for the update!

As David says, time for an across the range alteration. Better late than never. Im not far off another set of fronts on my TI. Not sure when the were put on, but will monitor the next set

[zulu ferret]

As David C said, a simple case of tracking correctly. Now how complex is that, car pickers?

[Squadrone Rosso]

Major result

Got all the data I need so just about to send the tyre invoice off with a letter of thanks and in return the will reimburse me the £420 direct

Excellent work by ARUK's Nick Jackson, Paul the Service Manager at Guest's and Darren the Service Manager at Variava's

IMVHO, The worm has turned a very big corner

[AlfaStealth]

Well Done

Havn't got enough miles on mine to tell at the mo

[Alfa 4eva]

4000 miles on the Spider and the inner edges are looking very low looks like i might have to visit the dealer hoped they would have sorted this by now had the same problem with my ti i was lucky that i was swapping it in for the Spider when the tyres needed changing

[Stevie28]

My p zero neros worn out but evenly after 10k, i drive it hard despite being a 1.8. Does tracking inevitably go out, or can it stay fine for 'ever', i just dont trust the voodoo that goes on in regard to tracking at garages and always say no, when they ask if i want it doing....

[David C]

Originally Posted by Stevie28

Does tracking inevitably go out

No

Originally Posted by Stevie28

can it stay fine forever

Yes

[alfaredthegreat]

Originally Posted by Alfa 4eva

4000 miles on the Spider and the inner edges are looking very low looks like i might have to visit the dealer hoped they would have sorted this by now had the same problem with my ti i was lucky that i was swapping it in for the Spider when the tyres needed changing

I went thru the front pair in 12000. The inner edge on the offside front was down to the canvas!!!

The dealer adjusted the tracking which had been set at the maximum allowed toe-out, to the maximum allowed toe-in.

Two months later they determined that the edge wear, although even now between inside and outside edges was too high and increased the front tyre pressure to 2.8 (same now as the rears).

(I have the 18" teledials)

In summary - make sure the tracking is adjusted tending towards toeing in, if you see the same wear on the inside edge. Also consider increasing tyre pressure.

[Cannavar]

Originally Posted by Squadrone Rosso

Possibly but it's good news they are listening & willing to assist

I'm sorry but I have found AR to have worst spin than Campbell. They ignore complaints...blame the owners for problems they know full well are happening across nearly all their cars.

Customer service is non existant.

[alfaredthegreat]

Originally Posted by Cannavar

I'm sorry but I have found AR to have worst spin than Campbell. They ignore complaints...blame the owners for problems they know full well are happening across nearly all their cars.

Customer service is non existant.

Whereas my experience is almost exactly the opposite.

A very happy owner.

[Cannavar]

Originally Posted by alfaredthegreat

Whereas my experience is almost exactly the opposite.

A very happy owner.

It helps that your tyres lasted an amazing 12k. Wish mine could do half that. But thats my fault, not Alfas apparently.

It must be all that street racing I do against Vin Diesel.

[Paul J]

My fronts have done 8k, but are starting to look rather dodgy on the inside edge. I doubt they'll make it to 10k.

[alfaredthegreat]

Originally Posted by Cannavar

It helps that your tyres lasted an amazing 12k. Wish mine could do half that. But thats my fault, not Alfas apparently.

What I mean is that, whenever I have had cause to complain, they have always come good. Eventually.

My only advice is to be on first name terms with your ARUK customer support person and, no matter how mad you are, always stay polite and friendly.

[alfaredthegreat]

Originally Posted by Paul J

My fronts have done 8k, but are starting to look rather dodgy on the inside edge. I doubt they'll make it to 10k.

Get the tracking checked at your local tyre place, it only takes a minute. Maybe also look at increasing the pressure to 2.8, as my garage recommended.

[Paul J]

Originally Posted by alfaredthegreat

Get the tracking checked at your local tyre place, it only takes a minute. Maybe also look at increasing the pressure to 2.8, as my garage recommended.

I forgot to mention I had the tracking checked and adjusted at the dealers after about 4k as the tyres seemed to be wearing pretty quickly. Apparently it was at the extreme of the toe out setting, so they adjusted it to the middle of the spec (don't know why they didn't set it to the minimum). This seemed to help a fair bit, but I should probably get it checked elsewhere.

[Cannavar]

Originally Posted by alfaredthegreat

What I mean is that, whenever I have had cause to complain, they have always come good. Eventually.

My only advice is to be on first name terms with your ARUK customer support person and, no matter how mad you are, always stay polite and friendly.

Tried all that, believe me. ARUK have visited my car twice at the local dealer for several issues.

I gave up on them a long time ago....it doesn't matter how good looking the car is....its a money pit that wears out a pair of £200+ tyres every 4000 miles. Hiccups down the road at 1,800 revs and squeeks constantly, whether its the seat, the clutch pedal or whatever and all ARUK will come up with is its all my fault.

I might try taking my driving test again.

Excuse me if I get more than a little angry about just how crap ARUK are!

Oh, and I am nothing but polite, friendly and very very patient.

[Northern Spider]

To my mind the main problem with ARUK is that they abdicate responsibility for PDI with the importer. Dealers have no input to the quality or set up of the vehicle.

The cars are delayed in the docks, PDI'd by a company that is not customer facing and the dealers can wash their hands regarding quality and set up. This must change.

I'm lucky. My spider did 20k on it's first set and is 16k into it's 2nd set with 6mm remaining. This shows it IS possible to get good set up and good tyre wear.

It's time imported cars were dispatched direct to the dealers. That dealers check quality and set up of each vehicle, perform FULL PDI and take ownership of the car and the customer. It's not difficult, intact most Technicians take pride in their work and would welcome the fact that they look after a car and it's owner from delivery to ownership cycle.

I've tried talking to ARUK at a senior level, but their 'we are right' arrogance is failing them, their customers and damaging the brand. Alfa have a superb range of cars and a growing chain of improving dealers, but this 'middle man' no responsibility approach to importing and delivery is seriously damaging their already tarnished reputation.

[AlfaStealth]

I wonder if the Brera S tyres will show any signs of early wear, given that they have a Prodrive set up. I haven't done many miles yet so can't tell, but will be watching very closely, any other S owners out there with a few K on?

[Northern Spider]

I may be wrong, and please correct me if I am, but the Pro-Drive mods are done by the same guys that do the standard PDI's when they enter the Country.

[AlfaStealth]

Originally Posted by Northern Spider

I may be wrong, and please correct me if I am, but the Pro-Drive mods are done by the same guys that do the standard PDI's when they enter the Country.

Yep thats right but its a different set up, I would hope that Prodrive would have spec'd up changes for them to follow, when I had my VXR spring replaced (lowered) they had to adjust all the settings to avoid tyre wear