why do we suffer from inside tyre wear?

Originally Posted by alexGS

I suggest that the 166 wheel alignment specs are WRONG and the 1.8mm toe-out each side is not required - I reckon they should be set parallel. But then, compared with Alfa Romeo, what would I know?

I agree with you, Alex; In fact, I think that Alfa themselves had a re-think on the 166 toe settings, as after a certain chassis number (can't remember which) they recommend revised toe settings of

Front -2.0mm total toe (-00 17')
Rear +3.0mm total toe (+00 25')

Compare these to the earlier settings of

Front -4.0mm total toe
Rear +5.5mm total toe

Then you can see that the toe values are more or less halved.
I reckon that Alfa used so much front toe-out on the initial set-up so that they could impress the motoring press with the quick turn-in.
Seems to have worked, hence the "thinks it's a hot hatch" headlines!

However, back in the real world, where we pay for our own tyres I would recommend using the later (-2.0mm, +3.0mm) settings, then you might get similar stability to your 164.

BTW, Jamie Porter of the Alfaworkshop also recommends the later settings.

My workshop did their own alignment on my 166 yesterday. Just like you said they put it more as the later figures, or even more neutral than that. Now it is much more stable and don't plow with the front wheels as it did before. The only bad thing is that it dowsnät stere in just as good as i used to, but it doesn't matter. It still is the best car around, so I'm happy anyway

just redone my balance after some engine work and used the revised alfa settings..perfect...straight arrow at 140 kms..still have a slight chassis vibration at 110 kms though ..it goes after 120 kms..weird..
I have balanced all four wheels...any ideas ??? all rear bushes are OK.

You will most likely find that the problem is wear in the bushes and or ball joints in the upper wishbones

back to original post - poor alignment is the cause. My 166 had one front inside going fast and the other less so. Good job I swap tyres front to back or I would have killed a brand new pair.

Get the alignment checked and adjusted, once a year at least. my steering certainly feels different, more stable about the straight ahead. Maybe I have lost some of my sharp turn-in?

I am still waiting for an answer to this . My front Goodyear GSD3 V tread pattern were replaced in December 2007 and now both insides are worn again. I have had the tracking done and 4 wheel alignment done twice to no avail. The previous set also laste d6 months and 11000 miles. All this had no effect and Iam also getting a noise from the front like worn bearings which it isnt. £190 every 6 months is simply not affordable

I also had a problem with wear on the inside of the farside front tyre.
The camber on that wheel was also 1 degree out of spec. There are two spacers where the bottom wishbone attaches to the frame. Replaced those with two that where 2mm shorter. This brought back the camber into spec and cured the inside tyre wear.

Originally Posted by Peter S

I have had the tracking done and 4 wheel alignment done twice to no avail.

We established earlier in the thread that standard Alfa early specification (for the wheel alignment) is an excessive amount of toe-out, which leads directly to inside-edge wear. Later specification was for somewhat less toe-out. I think, though, that the consensus to minimise wear is that you should try setting the wheels parallel (zero toe). I doubt that your alignment shop did this, as it's not the specified setting. Why not try it and report your findings? By the sounds of it, it won't take long for any difference to become apparent.

-Alex

My 166 also ripped through tyres every 5000km. I found the tyre alignment people here in NZ didn't have a clue how to set up a Alfa. So I took it to the agents and they suggest 42PSI in the front tyres after the alignment. I'm running Goodyear Eagles and so far I've had 10,000km since the last alignment but they need new front tyres. My rear tyres have lasted 50,000. But the 166 is a heavy car and do wear more than others. Roll on the 169 I say.

This is my first Alfa. Just had bit of a shock with the tyre wear on the front. so wondered if you guys could help with this?

Replaced both fronts in April (because they we completely worn on the inside but 4 mill on the out side) and the day after i had it tracked by the Alfa garage in Derby. All good or so i thought.

My 159 had to go in yesterday for a few bits of warranty work and they phoned me to say that front tyres were illegal. 0mill on the inside fronts and 6 mill on the outside. In that time I've done 7K miles. I do about 25K per year and 80% on the motorway. I'm well past my "drive like a lunatic" stage and now just put on the cruise control at 75mph and let the car do the work.

They checked the tracking and it was out again by a similar margin to what it was previoiusly.

The garage said it wasn't their fault as i could have caused the tracking to go out but did say that alfas are prone to it.

I need to find a permenant solaution for this as I can't afford the time or the money keep getting my tracking checked and or replacement tyres.

Surely there must be a solution out there, to me it's a case of "not fit for purpose" if I can't get solution for this. I've never had any problems with my previous cars, Mercs and a Volvo

Should I raise this Alfa UK?

Hope you can help

Cheers
Mike

Hi Mike

The guys in the 159 lounge might be better placed to help on tyre wear on that model....i think the issues that the 166 has are fairly unique to it and how it's set up and the 159 might have other issues. It does sound like a problem though as tyres should last a lot longer than 7k!

My wife's 156 always eats the inside edges of its front tyres first. I've started running it with only about 0.5mm of total toe-out and although the turn-in isn't QUITE as crisp, it's barely noticeable and the tyres last a hell of a lot longer! I also swap them front-to rear about half way through their lives to get a bit more out of them.

That might be dangerous, you supposed to have the best tyres at the rear - and preferrably the same pattern on all wheels, but at least on the same axle.

They ARE the same make and model of tyre! - I just move the front ones to the back part way through their lives. I also tend to replace them in pairs even if one of the pair isn't quite on the limit. I agree that most current advice is to always keep the newest tyres on the rear axle but I'm not convinced it makes any appreciable difference on a car that (a) isn't driven hard and (b) has ESC anyway!