Question about Meriva tyre wear.

Hello Group,

My wife has a Meriva Enjoy 1.6 (petrol) Easytronic (53 plate, Feb 2004)
which she has had from new. The car is used mainly for short, local
journeys (around 1 to 4 miles), with occasional (2 monthly) trips of
around 120 miles (return journey) on a mixture of roads including some
motorway. The car performs adequately and has now done nearly 20,000
miles from new.

What seems strange to me is that the left front tyre seems to wear much
quicker than the other 3. The tracking has been checked and is 'spot
on'. The tyres have been changed around and the left front still wears
faster than the others, ruling out a defective tyre. The local 'tyre
man' tells me that this is now fairly common on modern cars with power
steering, and not to worry about it.

Is anyone willing or able to pass constructive comment on the tyre wear?

Regards,

Roger.

hfvsc-dontspam
@
yahoo.
co.
uk

 

Going around roundabouts tends to load the nearside front tyre and most cars
suffer the same problem but the actual wear pattern may indicate something
else. I assume it tracks straight with no pull either way ?

Gio

 

Hi Gio,

Thanks for the interest. The outside of the tyre wears most.

Tracking has been checked at least twice and found to be correct on both
occasions.

Yes, car tracks straight with no pulling either way.

Regards,

Roger.

hfvsc-dontspam
@
yahoo.
co.
uk

 

I have this problem on an Omega. The only way I can improve the
situation is by setting the tyre pressures to the Motorway value,
usually 4 psi above the standard. It doesn't seem to cause a loss of
grip and is said to improve fuel mileage but the ride on our badly
maintained roads is a little harsher.

 

Hi Demonic,

That's interesting. Do you run all the tyres at the higher pressure;
just the fronts; or just the front left?

And does it remove the 'problem' or just improve it?

Regards,

Roger.

 

My Volvo is the same. One explanation is overenthusiastic left hand
cornering tends to throw the car weight that way due to the road camber.

Rotating tyres front to back may make the tyres left hand tread last
longer

Steve

 

I run all all four tyres at 4psi above the general figure and a bit
higher if it is fully laden.

I wouldn't advise raising just the front left?

It improves it but the Omega is a fairly heavy car so perhaps I should
corner a bit slower

 

Hi Demonic,

Thanks for the info.

Nor would I suggest that just the front left pressure were increased
(it's what I was going to say to you if you were doing that).

Bearing in mind that there is a difference in pressures between fronts
and rears anyway, I would wonder if vehicle 'handling' would be
seriously degraded by changing just the front pressures - or by changing
fronts and rears by different amounts?

Does anyone know the legal position regarding running with the tyre
pressures 'outside' - specifically over - the recommended figures?

Regards,
--

Roger.

hfvsc-dontspam
@
yahoo.
co.uk

 

I have always treated the owners manual pressures as a good starting point.

The standard figure is usually for lightly loaded urban driving.

If a lot of motorway driving is anticipated then there is usually a +4
psi recommendation.

And again if the car is fully loaded another +4 psi is recommended.

I've always assumed that they can be additive.

The sidewall of my current boots says 58psi max !!!!!!!!

 

what are the type of your tyre?
This tyre hit any pavement or a large hole?
OPEL PARTS GREECE
E-mail:
Online:
Skype: Opelparts

 

Falcons.

And no. I wouldn't run them at anything like 58psi but I guess that is a
warning to tyre fitters who just keep inflating until they pop (bang!!!)
on to the rims.