General Worn out tire on DR FRT

[Michaelsfiat]

I bought my 2013 Fiat 500 Sport used with 26000 miles on it
It came with new tires
Antares 195/45/16
I now have 52000 miles on it its been a really good car
So I was filling the Drivers Side Front tire (which began to show it needed air) and I ran my hand over the tire and to my surprise I felt the belts coming throught the tire
on the inside of the tire (see photos)
Is this normal wear?
And I dont think its going hold air
I filled it and am gonna wait and see if it does
I want get new tires during the week
Hopefully the old tire will hold air
I have a spare tire off a Chevrolet Cavalier with wobble bolts to put on my Fiat 500 but to make that fit I have to remove the guide pins that are on the wheel

 

[John202020]

You need the tracking done either you hit something recently or it's been wearing that way over quite some time and not checked/noticed

 

[Michaelsfiat]

Yes I should have looked sooner!
I have been negligent in my duties
By tracking do you mean a front end alignment?

 

[varesecrazy]

Hi

What condition is the other front tire

If the 'track alignment' is wrong you would anticipate the other titre to also wear strangely.. and maybe the steering wheel to be 'off.centre'

If other tire is good.. you may have a suspension problem

 

[jrkitching]

Is this normal wear?

No, it isn't.

There is something seriously wrong with the tracking and/or excessive wear in the steering/suspension.

That tire is unsafe to use; it's not even safe to drive as far as the nearest tire fitting bay. I'd suggest you take the wheel in another vehicle to have a replacement tire fitted, and then get the whole front steering and suspension looked at by a specialist.

 

[RalphM]

That does look a bit like something as been rubbing can it touch anything maybe on full
lock, check you don't have a broken spring, sometimes a bit brakes off the bottom and
can rub the tyre.

 

[John202020]

Yes alignment have you hit a curb or pot hole in the last year say that made you think wow that was hard or something is loose it needs looking at properly

 

[Michaelsfiat]

Thanks for all your replies
First of all I must tell you its my wife’s car
She I couldn’t tell you she bumped a curb she says she doesn’t recall
But she told me the steering has been vibrating lately!
So between that and the TPS showing left front tire LOW I took the tire off
There no damage done to the right front tire just the left front tire
I checked the spring and shock I cant see any damage there
The spring is intact as well as the shock looking at it visually
I would believe I could see it if the shock/spring broke because the suspension would be lower on one side
The tire is leaking air so I wont be putting it back on the car
I think the tire is defective
I will try to get a 195-45-16 used tire to fit on the rim and then find a place to do a front end alignment
Then I will order a set of 4 new tires all around
The spare tire I got from an Chevrolet Cavalier does not fit the middle bore hole is too small (just slightly) and there no holes for the guide pins so I may take it to a machine shop and have them enlarge the bore hole and put holes in it for the guide pins but thats a whole separate problem
Well thats my plan moving on

 

[Ralf S.]

As above;

1) Don't drive on that tyre. Even if it can hold enough air for 40 minutes to get you to the tyre depot, it could deflate suddenly or it can skid, causing an accident. Exposed cords is also illegal, so you could get a ticket. Take the wheel by taxi and get a new tyre put on it.

2) Also check the other front tyre. If it's showing similar wear, even if it's much reduced, then I would swap both tyres at the same time, if you can afford it. Buying a pair of tyres is often better value (price per tyre may be less for two) .. and at least you will have two new matching tyres on the front axle.

3) You need to sort out the tracking (front wheel alignment). It has to be seriously out, to cause that much wear.

4) While the car is getting tracked, check the condition of the suspension control arm bushes. If the rubber bush is falling apart or coming out of the arm, then it's knackered. See new and old below. A saggy bush will cause the arm to sag, which makes the camber too negative (so you get inner shoulder wear).

4b) If your suspension arm bush is worn, you'll need to change the arm (they're bonded in) .. but if you need to replace the arm, do that *before* you have the tracking done, since changing the arm will change the tracking settings.. and anyone fitting a new arm will have to do the tracking (again) anyway.

4c) As with tyres.. if one bush is knackered.. also check the other side. It's had the same miles and lifestyle, so it could be wearing out too.



Ralf S.

 

[jrkitching]

and at least you will have two new matching tyres on the front axle

Unless you are replacing all four, it's bad practice to put the new tyres on the front. Put them on the rear, and swap the existing rears to the front. Reputable tyre fitting centres will do this as a matter of course.

If you take the car to Costco, you won't be given the choice. Unless you agree to have the new tyres swapped over to the rear, they'll refuse to fit them.

 

[Michaelsfiat]

As above;

1) Don't drive on that tyre. Even if it can hold enough air for 40 minutes to get you to the tyre depot, it could deflate suddenly or it can skid, causing an accident. Exposed cords is also illegal, so you could get a ticket. Take the wheel by taxi and get a new tyre put on it.

2) Also check the other front tyre. If it's showing similar wear, even if it's much reduced, then I would swap both tyres at the same time, if you can afford it. Buying a pair of tyres is often better value (price per tyre may be less for two) .. and at least you will have two new matching tyres on the front axle.

3) You need to sort out the tracking (front wheel alignment). It has to be seriously out, to cause that much wear.

4) While the car is getting tracked, check the condition of the suspension control arm bushes. If the rubber bush is falling apart or coming out of the arm, then it's knackered. See new and old below. A saggy bush will cause the arm to sag, which makes the camber too negative (so you get inner shoulder wear).

4b) If your suspension arm bush is worn, you'll need to change the arm (they're bonded in) .. but if you need to replace the arm, do that *before* you have the tracking done, since changing the arm will change the tracking settings.. and anyone fitting a new arm will have to do the tracking (again) anyway.

4c) As with tyres.. if one bush is knackered.. also check the other side. It's had the same miles and lifestyle, so it could be wearing out too.



Ralf S.

I got a used tire to replace the one with the cord showing for $60
Those pictures show the lower control arm —am I right?
I’ll check the suspension components before I put the tire on
I have scheduled a wheel alignment and for new tires later in the week

 

[Michaelsfiat]

Unless you are replacing all four, it's bad practice to put the new tyres on the front. Put them on the rear, and swap the existing rears to the front. Reputable tyre fitting centres will do this as a matter of course.

If you take the car to Costco, you won't be given the choice. Unless you agree to have the new tyres swapped over to the rear, they'll refuse to fit them.

Proably will get all four new ones!

 

[jrkitching]

The wear pattern is more suggestive of a camber issue than a tracking problem. As well as inspecting the lower control arm for wear & bush failure, also check the spring isn't broken or collapsed, as that will also cause the camber to go negative. When viewed from the front, is the car sitting level?

Another possible cause is badly repaired accident damage; worth checking if you don't know the car's previous history.

 

[Michaelsfiat]

I have an appointment for a alignment on Wed 3/14/22 and we’ll see what the problem is

 

[Michaelsfiat]

I thought its looks like a camber or toe in issue
I find out Wednesday

 

[Michaelsfiat]

I got tire issue taken care of
Thx for all your replies

 

[Michaelsfiat]

I got 4 new Haida HD 921 195-45-16
Rear I was told cannot be adjusted
But the front was corrected

 

[vexorg]

Unless you are replacing all four, it's bad practice to put the new tyres on the front. Put them on the rear, and swap the existing rears to the front. Reputable tyre fitting centres will do this as a matter of course.

Still strongly disagree with that, as long as the rear are decent then you'll benefit from new on the front much more.

 

[Ralf S.]

Still strongly disagree with that, as long as the rear are decent then you'll benefit from new on the front much more.

Aye.. I think as a generalisation, it's better to have the new tyres on the back, since then the fronts will limit your cornering and you'll get understeer rather than oversteer... but in bad weather, I would want the extra grip on the front, since the bigger danger (IMO anyway) is aquaplaning, rather than oversteer... especially on a short-arrised car like the 500... but "on the back" is the industry recommendation.


Ralf S.

 

[Michaelsfiat]

Well I had all four replaced so I don’t need to worry about putting the new ones on the back
But to tell the truth I would think when replacing two tires you would put them on the front since the new rubber would grip the road
Basically the rear tires are being dragged down the road on a dead axle
But thats just my opinion.

On the subject of the spare tire
I am going to use the used tire I got originally when this all started and have it mounted on Fiat 500 16 inch steel rim that I ordered yesterday cost me $80 but is well worth it
Also I may get a 2 ton bottle jack to for a jack I have 4 ton bottle jack but its too tall to fit under the car
Hopefully the 2 ton bottle jack will work
I need to look again at diagram of the jack points on the Fiat 500