Wear on the internal area

drvai · 01-11-2012, 07:13 PM

My front tires wear more in the internal area, specifically in the internal lip. Is this normal?
I have heard this is usual in rear wheel drive sport cars.

Today I realized that you can see the belt (barely). Will order tires now, but hopefully I won't have any trouble and be able to drive this next few days.

any comments? Should I stop using the car? Will the belt resist a few more miles?

Sleeper519 · 01-11-2012, 07:37 PM

It's usually an alignment problem causing the uneven wear. Exessive neg camber in front and toe out will chew up the inside edge of front tires. Low inflation pressure would wear both inside and outside edges.

I think you'd be fine short term. Order new tires and get a good alignment.

Brentis · 01-11-2012, 09:10 PM

Welcome to BMW. They set the camber to give you the sensation the car is handling better. I think they also own stock in Continental. Jk.

drvai · 01-11-2012, 09:39 PM

Ok thank you so much. I've seen the same issue in other BMW's.
I guess the camber issue was not a joke?

**ben@tirerack** · 01-13-2012, 12:56 PM

Correct. The rear negative camber is and does affect tire wear. If you take corners faster, it will even out. If you do not take a lot of corners at high speed, you may want to have your camber set closer to zero.

Sleeper519 · 01-13-2012, 08:48 PM

I think OP was talking about his front tires, not rear.

drvai · 01-14-2012, 07:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleeper519

I think OP was talking about his front tires, not rear.

Yes, is front tires. In both front wheels, wear is much more pronounced in the internal area. Actually, in the internal "lip" you can see the belt.

Will try to replace those tires as soon as possible. Hopefully they won't perforate while driving!

M3SQRD · 01-14-2012, 07:25 AM

Sleeper519 is correct - agressive front camber and toe will result in increased wear on the inside of the tire. Also, an under-inflated tire wears the inside and outside edges faster than the center of the tire.

If you want to minimize this set front camber at the min factory in-spec value and total toe at 0" (or 0 deg depending on alignment machine).

drvai · 01-14-2012, 05:48 PM

So it's a BMW factory setting or I really need alignment? I have noticed any issues while driving.

M3SQRD · 01-14-2012, 08:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drvai

So it's a BMW factory setting or I really need alignment? I have noticed any issues while driving.

Without knowing your alignment specs it's impossible to say if you are currently in spec and if they contributed to your inside tire wear. My suggestion was the alignment settings you should get after installing new tires to minimize inside treadwear.

frenchM3dreamer · 01-15-2012, 03:46 PM

totally OT, but i'm surprised no one has come up with a racy / dirty joke about this thread title... "wear on the internal area"... "yeah, that's what she said.."
maybe its just me...
sorry guys...
back to topic, i would say alignment issues as well...

bigjae1976 · 01-16-2012, 09:17 AM

Is your car's steering really darty? If it is...that is an indication of a lot of toe out.

Definitely get an alignment check. The front camber is fixed unless you've done some modifications. If you are getting a lot of camber something might be out of whack in your front suspension.

BTW, I'm selling some used front PS2s (245/40R18) if you're interested.

Quote:

Originally Posted by frenchM3dreamer

totally OT, but i'm surprised no one has come up with a racy / dirty joke about this thread title... "wear on the internal area"... "yeah, that's what she said.."
maybe its just me...
sorry guys...
back to topic, i would say alignment issues as well...

**ben@tirerack** · 01-17-2012, 09:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Sleeper519

I think OP was talking about his front tires, not rear.

Yeah, thought I edited that before posting. Used to seeing the issue more in the rear than the front. Consider me shamed

01-11-2012, 07:13 PM	#1
drvai Major 136 Rep 1,274 Posts Drives: E92 M3 AW Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	Wear on the internal area My front tires wear more in the internal area, specifically in the internal lip. Is this normal? I have heard this is usual in rear wheel drive sport cars. Today I realized that you can see the belt (barely). Will order tires now, but hopefully I won't have any trouble and be able to drive this next few days. any comments? Should I stop using the car? Will the belt resist a few more miles?
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

01-11-2012, 07:37 PM	#2
Sleeper519 Captain 68 Rep 869 Posts Drives: 08 E92 M3 DCT Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	It's usually an alignment problem causing the uneven wear. Exessive neg camber in front and toe out will chew up the inside edge of front tires. Low inflation pressure would wear both inside and outside edges. I think you'd be fine short term. Order new tires and get a good alignment. __________________ 2008 M3 Coupe / DCT // StopTech BBK 380/355 / Pagid RS29 / Motul / Apex Arc-8 / BFG R1S / Ground Control / MS filter / Performance spoiler / BPM tune // Road Atlanta 1:39.70 / VIR Full 2:10.87 / Barber 1:42.20
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-11-2012, 09:10 PM	#3
Brentis Second Lieutenant 42 Rep 271 Posts Drives: 2011.5 BMW e90 M3 Competition Join Date: Oct 2011 Location: Frisco, TX iTrader: (1)	Welcome to BMW. They set the camber to give you the sensation the car is handling better. I think they also own stock in Continental. Jk.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-11-2012, 09:39 PM	#4
drvai Major 136 Rep 1,274 Posts Drives: E92 M3 AW Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	Ok thank you so much. I've seen the same issue in other BMW's. I guess the camber issue was not a joke?
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-13-2012, 12:56 PM	#5
ben@tirerack M3Post Supporting Vendor 87 Rep 964 Posts Drives: 740i Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: South Bend, IN iTrader: (0)	Correct. The rear negative camber is and does affect tire wear. If you take corners faster, it will even out. If you do not take a lot of corners at high speed, you may want to have your camber set closer to zero. __________________ _______________________________________________ I have accepted a new position at Tire Rack and am no longer in the sales department. gary@tirerack.com is available to assist with M3 questions.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-13-2012, 08:48 PM	#6
Sleeper519 Captain 68 Rep 869 Posts Drives: 08 E92 M3 DCT Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	I think OP was talking about his front tires, not rear. __________________ 2008 M3 Coupe / DCT // StopTech BBK 380/355 / Pagid RS29 / Motul / Apex Arc-8 / BFG R1S / Ground Control / MS filter / Performance spoiler / BPM tune // Road Atlanta 1:39.70 / VIR Full 2:10.87 / Barber 1:42.20
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-14-2012, 07:25 AM	#8
M3SQRD Major General 2161 Rep 5,548 Posts Drives: E92 M3,G20 330ix,F22 240iX,F82 Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Mid-Atlantic iTrader: (11)	Sleeper519 is correct - agressive front camber and toe will result in increased wear on the inside of the tire. Also, an under-inflated tire wears the inside and outside edges faster than the center of the tire. If you want to minimize this set front camber at the min factory in-spec value and total toe at 0" (or 0 deg depending on alignment machine).
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-14-2012, 05:48 PM	#9
drvai Major 136 Rep 1,274 Posts Drives: E92 M3 AW Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: FL iTrader: (0)	So it's a BMW factory setting or I really need alignment? I have noticed any issues while driving.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-15-2012, 03:46 PM	#11
frenchM3dreamer Captain 8 Rep 784 Posts Drives: 08 Mitsu Eclipse Spyder GTP Join Date: Oct 2009 Location: Edmonton, AB iTrader: (0)	totally OT, but i'm surprised no one has come up with a racy / dirty joke about this thread title... "wear on the internal area"... "yeah, that's what she said.." maybe its just me... sorry guys... back to topic, i would say alignment issues as well...
	Appreciate 0 Quote