Ok, (sorry long post, I want to be thorough)

so I had some issues with my camber back last spring. My car was lowered 1.5'' since I had bought it and I was on 20''.

Obviously I had to get it cambered cuz it was eating the inside of my Toyo's (overall they lasted 19K mi). I saved up for a brand new set up for like 6 mos.

In sept 09 i got new Michelins Piolot A/S @32K mi, installed a camber kit from SPC (front and rear), got the car aligned at Alignment Plus in November.

The alignment was all in the green, not quite back to -.5 but close enough for camber. The rear toe was still off tho, cuz since I have RAS on my G35 I cannot drill the extra needed slot for a new toe bolt. So it was a bit pigeon toed in the rear, nothing major.

Now its february, 37K miles (only 5k on brand new top of the line Michelin tires) and the rears were stripped bare.

Outside bald, inside almost bare, center the thread was shredded away.



I don't drive like a maniac, I don't burn out (seriously roud cuz I figured the tires need to last me.

What's wrong with them?? Is the off toe enough to shred it away that much???

my car was better off without a camber kit, honestly.

Any input will be helpful, as I had to get the tires replaced today but seem likely to happen again!!!

thanks guys

 

This was difficult to look at....and harder to read. You need professional help and I would not take it back to where it was aligned. I've said this so many times, find a independent brake/alignment shop in your area. Explain the situation and have them elongate the holes for the toe bolts so that's corrected. You did have upper a-arms installed, you weren't specific on all you had done? Have them check out the rest of your suspension and get a four wheel alignment. Now you should be back to OE specs and your next set of tires should last 30K miles. The way your Michelins wore the alignment couldn't have been done correctly....
Gary

 

In the back, negative camber is FAR better than toe in or out because if your toe is out of range it will "scrub" the tires on the road while a good toe alignment with negative camber will slowly wear the inside much less. My rears last twice as much as my fronts and they have MEAN amounts of camber.

 

A little but of over inflation too.

 

I did get a four wheel alignment done as close to OE specs as possible (all green for camber, rear toe was still red though).

The toe slot cannot be extended (so SPC told me - the camber kit manufacturer) because of the Rear Active Steering system. The spring bucket that houses the toe bolts links onto a steering part, so it should not be messed with, so I was told.

If anyone's done it, I would like to hear some feedback.

 

good point, I really think it's the toe in. Having a car that is pigeon toed should definitively have a negative effect on tire wear, because like you said, the car is dragging across the pavement while pushing forward.

The guy from alignment plus here in Vegas insisted, on his 25 years "alignment" experience that's not possible...right ... maybe he gave me that I asked him to redo my alignment for free.

 

If the car was aligned properly then you would not have the tire wear you have.
With the parts out there you should be able to align that well with in specs.
I run the kuhmo ku31 asx sports about half of the mich. With really good results.

 

The car had toe in and it cannot be solved due to him having RAS.

 

my porsche's tires used to last 5k too..and those are expensive...i drove it like a maniac!!! though

 

Take it to the dealership man, its not that expensive, i had a 4 wheel alignement done at the local Nissan dealer for 65$ and he gave me the printed sheet of the before and after alignement,

I mean 65$ is still a good investment when you compare the set of 4 michelin going for over 1000+

P.S $ is in Canadian money

 

If this from Alignment Plus is so good ask him why your Michelin's only lasted 5K miles, that's NOT acceptable! From the way your tires appear they were over inflated too, that's the very first thing a mechanic does once your car is on the alignment rack....checks the tire pressure. 35 PSI just like it says on your drivers door/manual. This situation is frustrating without any definite answers, hope you find the solution!
Gary

 

bump for help

 

yeah, hella frustrating

possible solutions suggested here and on another forum:

1- bring the car up with OE springs to OE ride height (that should eliminate any extra stress on the tires -- but the 20'' are pretty wide and they might rub)

2- drill through the RAS and put some new longer toe bolts that would bring toe back to specs (easier said than done, anybody dunnit?)

3- go to a smaller rim & fatter tire set up (would that bring the car closer to spec on an alignment?)

4- sell my car and get a truck

 

Just live with negative camber in the rear and keep toe at zero. Negative camber isn't that bad when it comes to wearing the tires in the rear.

 

do you have pictures of the car with the Michelins installed? Preferably from the back. How wide are your wheels/tires? Offset of your wheels? (would that be a factor?)