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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: Snooze on 20 February 2017, 21:04

Title: Four wheel alignment
Post by: Snooze on 20 February 2017, 21:04: So I'm told I have some saw toothing to my rear tyres and need a four wheel alignment doing. Question is, should I wait till I get new rear tyres or am I gd to get it done now?
Title: Re: Four wheel alignment
Post by: I wanted a GTi on 20 February 2017, 22:41: Quote from: Snooze on 20 February 2017, 21:04
So I'm told I have some saw toothing to my rear tyres and need a four wheel alignment doing. Question is, should I wait till I get new rear tyres or am I gd to get it done now?

Depends on when you're getting new tyres. When are you getting them?
Title: Re: Four wheel alignment
Post by: fredgroves on 21 February 2017, 07:35: How many miles have the rears done?

I ask this because mine lasted for something like 46k and still had tread but they had feathered on the insides...
Title: Re: Four wheel alignment
Post by: Talk-torque on 21 February 2017, 07:45: You can get it done now. The alignment is of the wheels, so changing the tyres later will change nothing. However, the wheel alignment correction, if any, will not fix the noise from the tyre wear. That will need new tyres. How many miles have yours done?

Saw tooth wear of rear tyres seems to be a common result of current suspension setups. You may well find your alignment is within limits. 4-wheel alignment, done properly,is not cheap.
Title: Re: Four wheel alignment
Post by: Sootchucker on 21 February 2017, 07:46: On a more general note, has anyone found a GTD/GTI or R coming from the factory with the geometry not set up correctly ?

I noticed when swapping my tyres front to rears a few weeks ago, that whilst the tyres are wearing pretty much evenly, there is about 0.5mm difference in wear on all 4 tyres going from the inside to out (inside being least). Is that just typical of how a performance 19" tyres wears, a Pirelli thing, or could my geometry be out as well - they had done about 7,500 miles when I swapped them ?

Also, just so I know what I'm looking for, does anyone have a photos of what "sawtoothing" looks like please ?
Title: Re: Four wheel alignment
Post by: lemski on 21 February 2017, 08:07: Sawtoothing looks like saw teeth. So the inner edge will be lower and look like rubber is down slightly resulting in the pattern.
Inner edge wore more thsn outer is down to the camber on the car from the factory. It doesnt hurt to get an alignment and if you know someone in the trade itll be alot cheaper. Alternativly quickfit give free alignment checks but charge to adjust.

They also you laser alignment which is hard to mess up.

Without seeing a picture of the tyres i wouldnt want to say ots normal wear or not though
Title: Re: Four wheel alignment
Post by: SRGTD on 21 February 2017, 08:14: There's some pictures at the bottom of this article that show the 'stepped' tread that's characteristic of sawtooth wear;

http://www.racingdistrict.com/volkswagen-scirocco-sawtooth-tyre-wear/
Title: Re: Four wheel alignment
Post by: Talk-torque on 21 February 2017, 09:48: The give away is, if you draw your hand one way round the inside shoulder of the tyre, you will feel the edges of each tread block, whereas, if you draw it the other way, you won't feel as much. It's as if the tyre is notched.

I had a bad case of this with my Mk5. :undecided:
Title: Re: Four wheel alignment
Post by: fredgroves on 21 February 2017, 10:19: This thread is interesting:

http://www.vwaudiforum.co.uk/forum/showthread.php/16627-Passat-Rear-Tyres!!

Its mainly about Passats but does mention Golfs too but it has some answers as to why this happens...
Title: Re: Four wheel alignment
Post by: corgi on 21 February 2017, 18:23: Quote from: lemski on 21 February 2017, 08:07
Inner edge wore more thsn outer is down to the camber on the car from the factory.

Unless the camber is really aggressive, then it has little effect on tyre wear; however, in combination with toe-out it has a dramatic effect.

My first Integra Type-R would wear all four tyres on the inside edge in 8,000 - 9,000 miles... the lease company wouldn't pay for a 4-wheel alignment for ages... until I pointed out that they were buying new tyres every 6 weeks... Once checked and adjusted (set-up from the factory with toe-out and too much camber) the tyres lasted twice as long... Also made the car much better to drive :smiley:
Title: Re: Four wheel alignment
Post by: Snooze on 23 February 2017, 19:40: Don't think I'll be getting new rears anytime soon. They've done 27k and have loads of tread left,(bloody bridgestones!). On a more positive note I've found a garage offering 4 wheel alignment for a reasonable price.
Title: Re: Four wheel alignment
Post by: willni on 10 August 2021, 16:59: Reviving an old one.

What was the consensus on this then? I need to get an alignment as my wheel isn't straight and it's quite annoying not sure what to do whether go VW or just go for a Hunter 4 Wheel Alignment?
Title: Re: Four wheel alignment
Post by: joe6 on 10 August 2021, 22:25: If there is uneven tyre wear sawtooth on the rear as I had on my mk6 then it needed the Hunter treatment as normal 4 wheel laser alignment did not work. Costs a bit though. It is the same process used to check chassis alignment after accident repairs.

If it is just the steering wheel that requires sorting a normal wheel alignment check should work.
Title: Re: Four wheel alignment
Post by: mcmaddy on 10 August 2021, 22:38: Always go for the Hunter 4 wheel alignment. You're only checking half the geometry if you get the fronts looked at. No point in skimping when the tyres are your only contact with the road.
Title: Re: Four wheel alignment
Post by: willni on 10 August 2021, 23:08: Last hunter 4 wheel alignment cost me £25, but good to know I can get one without needing the ACC done.
Title: Re: Four wheel alignment
Post by: willni on 23 August 2021, 16:21: Got the four wheel alignment today £50, no issues with the ACC.