R32 rear tyre wear

[jb747]

Yesterday I put a new set of tyres onto the car. The rears were totally shot (after 17,300 kms), whilst the fronts probably have 3 to 5 ks left. Wear on the rears was totally even around the tyre, but more on the inside than the outside (presumably the negative camber). Overall though, the wear strikes me as being caused by excessive toe in (the alignment is good, but I'm wondering about the settings).

Whilst I don't really expect the R32 tyres to last all that long, I would have expected the fronts to wear more heavily, simply because they do most of the driving.

Anyway, as I have a complete spare set of wheels, I'm going to use up the life that's left on the 'old' fronts, by putting them on the rear. That will even up the wear for the next replacement set...presumably this time next year.

What sort of rear tyre life are others experiencing with their R32s, especially without rotating them?

[bazzle]

If its on the inside it will be Neg camber or Toe out.
Toe out will give a slightly feathered feel.
May also be wear in locating arm bushes.

Bazzle

[jb747]

The wear is slightly biased to the inside. It isn't the wear I've seen previously from camber, but is similar to the wear I saw on a '96 MR2, which did carry some toe in combined with a bit of negative camber. Nevertheless, the MR2 tyres lasted longer than this and they were the driven wheels. I can't see why it would be a locating arm issue. This is a new car.

I'd just like to hear what other R32 owners are seeing.

[Treza360]

From an MkIV perspective the fronts are definitely wearing a lot more than the rears. I've rotated them in the last thousand kms and the rears look nearly brand new in comparison to the fronts. In total with rotation I'm expecting probably around 30000-40000 kms from the tyres until the full set is shagged. Wear wise the outside edges have worn a little more than the inside but I suspect this is more due to nice tight corners, an excessively heavy right foot and light that likes to flicker a lot on the dash during said corners. :p
Bring on swaybars and adjustable suspension to rear bias the car up a bit more.

[XHonda]

Just had mine rotated at 15k during service. i thought fronts were worn more, but apparently only 1mm difference between front and rear, am hoping to get another 10-15k but who knows

[jb747]

What tyre brand XHonda? Mine are the Dunlops.

[Golf Houso]

From an MkIV perspective the fronts are definitely wearing a lot more than the rears. In total with rotation I'm expecting probably around 30000-40000 kms from the tyres until the full set is shagged.

Just out of interest, what type of driving do you do? My Mk3 is on like 1/2 tread on the fronts after just 8,000km the rears were completely untouched though.

[Treza360]

Just out of interest, what type of driving do you do? My Mk3 is on like 1/2 tread on the fronts after just 8,000km the rears were completely untouched though.

As the car is my daily drive as well, it does mainly city/traffic driving to and from work everyday (about 20-30kms week daily). Granted this is still a more spiritied drive than the regular "I don't give a **** about driving or cars" commuter, but still for the most part it's a pretty boring drive broken up only by the ignorant idiots who drive in SE QLD. This is also the main reason for my apalling average fuel economy.
Weekends and the occasional evening get a much more spirited drive.

[bazzle]

I think you have an issue that should be taken up with a dealer 1st.
In my experience with vehicles the front should show more wear than the rear on this arrangement.
I would expect to have to swap front to rear every 10k to keep wear under control.

Bazzle

[gtimk5]

My GTI wears out the rears perfectly evenly far quicker than the fronts. I have driven Golfs since 77 and the fronts have always lasted 2 to 1.
I drive reasonbly hard through corners but not crazy. I have a Koni coilover kit these days but its still the same story. I swap mine and customer Mk5's tyres front to rear each service.
I have heard of Mk5 tyres wearing unevenly as in 50 cent shapes too.
I just fitted my 3rd set of tyres in 52000 kms. Yokohama S drives this time as I have had Conti's in the past on the GTI.
Andrew

[Treza360]

My GTI wears out the rears perfectly evenly far quicker than the fronts. I have driven Golfs since 77 and the fronts have always lasted 2 to 1.
I drive reasonbly hard through corners but not crazy. I have a Koni coilover kit these days but its still the same story. I swap mine and customer Mk5's tyres front to rear each service.
I have heard of Mk5 tyres wearing unevenly as in 50 cent shapes too.
I just fitted my 3rd set of tyres in 52000 kms. Yokohama S drives this time as I have had Conti's in the past on the GTI.
Andrew

My Dad never had his tryes rotated on his MkV GTI and by the time the fronts were due for replacement the rears still looked nearly brand new.
As the R is still front wheel drive biased I would expect the fronts to wear much quicker than the rears, which is what is happening in my case anyway.

[Maverick]

My Dad never had his tryes rotated on his MkV GTI and by the time the fronts were due for replacement the rears still looked nearly brand new.

How does he drive it? There are plenty of posts from people saying the rears are wearing faster.

As the R is still front wheel drive biased I would expect the fronts to wear much quicker than the fronts, which is what is happening in my case anyway.

You would expect the fronts to wear much quicker then the fronts? I assume you mean rear.

If the rears are wearing faster then the fronts on the GTI and the standard R's haldex can transfer 60-70% of power to the back under WOT then the rears will definitely wear faster then the front on the R depending on your driving style. Even during normal driving you can have 40-50% of the torque at the back wheels.

[Treza360]

How does he drive it? There are plenty of posts from people saying the rears are wearing faster.
You would expect the fronts to wear much quicker then the fronts? I assume you mean rear.
If the rears are wearing faster then the fronts on the GTI and the standard R's haldex can transfer 60-70% of power to the back under WOT then the rears will definitely wear faster then the front on the R depending on your driving style. Even during normal driving you can have 40-50% of the torque at the back wheels.

Not sure how he drives it the majority of the time. I know he does enjoy a spirited drive though.
Yeah I meant rear. Thanks for picking that up.
My understanding of the Haldex system though is that it only transfers on detection of front end wheel slip. I'm definitely not a big driving miss daisy fan, but that's just the way my tyres have been wearing.

[Maverick]

Not sure how he drives it the majority of the time. I know he does enjoy a spirited drive though.
Yeah I meant rear. Thanks for picking that up.
My understanding of the Haldex system though is that it only transfers on detection of front end wheel slip. I'm definitely not a big driving miss daisy fan, but that's just the way my tyres have been wearing.

Here's the details on the Haldex system and the operation.

http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1072459&highlight=haldex+percentage#post1072459

[Treza360]

Here's the details on the Haldex system and the operation.
http://www.golfmkv.com/forums/showth...ge#post1072459

Some interesting information there and good to see some good quality customer service from Haldex as well.
I know there's also information hidden away on Vortex somewhere about the Haldex system as well.
I'm not sure what the real differences between the gen 1 system that's in my R and the gen 2 system that's in the MkV, but I think the MkV has a slightly higher rear bias there and the reaction times they discussed there are also increased.

On a side note it was mighty interesting to note that Jester_Fu can make an informative coherent post without abusing other members as he did when he used to post on here and the MkIV drivers dared to say we preferred our R to the MkV R.