Technical Excessive Inner Front Tyre Wear

[Lead]

Re: Tyre Wear

...They did the front suspension modification under warranty (third year) without any question...

Just wanted to double check - the work was done in the third year, i.e. dealer warranty period?

I plan to confront my dealer on the tyre wear issue and I am now in my 3rd year of ownership (2nd service done a few weeks ago). Just wanted an idea if they may try and wriggle out of it and charge me a fee to inspect/repair.

tafanx

 

[Lead]

Re: Tyre Wear

I have just called the dealer and he says the tracking was checked at the last service, when they changed the wheels around, and found to be ok. Furthermore, the problem is only on a certain chassis range and mine is not one of those effected.

Still doesn't explain why the inside edge is so worn compared to the rest of the tyre.

 

[James Abarth]

Re: Tyre Wear

Well, Tuesday Ancasters replaced the 2 front tyres, checked and adjusted the tracking and did the "Fiat suspension thingy" - something to do with the elongated bolt holes in the wishbones At the same time they found that my front brake pads were down to 3mm so they also replaced those. Only charged me for the pads - no labour which I thought was very decent.

I'm off to the Highlands in 2 months so needless to say I will be keeping a close eye on tyre wear

 

[cmc]

Re: Well................................

i find that amazing when they say it's a little know problem. Why don't you ask why Fiat have released a technical bulletin to their dealers on it then? (although there are suspicians that it doesn't fix it anyway!) it's so little known that they are telling their dealers how to fix it!

Fiat UK are a joke but the dealer network are worse. The Stilo came 120 of 124 of the JD Power survey this year and I'm sure much of that was down to dealers simply not knowing how to fix problems and general poor customer service.

Keep fighting TC I eventually managed to get my dealer to get the area rep for Fiat involved who conceded it was a know issue. You might want to try another dealer?

cmc

 

[Jojo42]

Re: Tyre Wear

Two phone calls from Fiat head office today, one to ask who i had been dealing with at the dealers and then a second to say they were passing to Fiat Tech services for urgent investigation..

Spoke to Dealer, theyve had three calls from Fiat re my motor, tech services are sending someone to examine the car and are talking about fitting modified suspension struts and lower wishbones. Fiat head office told the dealer i would be in for "compensation" but didn't say what....

Watch this space...

Joe

 

[cmc]

Re: Err..................................

my Service Manager has spoken with the Area Manager and he flatly refused to recognise or compensate me for three sets of front tyres in 17,000 miles!

The Service Manager also pointed out that it was FIAT who were refusing to accept and compensate my complaint and not the dealership which is Stoneacre FIAT Peterborough.

Your thoughts please......................................

TC

I got Fiat UK involved and the area manager. In the end they agreed to pay 50% of the cost of two tyres due to the length of time they were on the car. Did Fiat UK give you a case number? if so get on to them and ask on the progress. The real customer service department are in Italy. The UK are just a call centre who forward cases.

I've spoken to some on the people in Italy (all with flawless English i might add) and i got some progress. It sounds as if you have an unhelpful area manager. I simply fail to see how the area manager can refute this.

The only other thing I can suggest is that you write to whatcar? (like the girl in the link i posted up done) and say you're have having all the same problems and Fiat refuse to accept that it is an issue and that you have exhausted all avenues and see if they can help out. Drop them an e-mail and you might be able to get them involved. I would think they'd love to hear of repeat cases.

Another avenue is asking the SMMT to get involved see link.

http://www.smmt.co.uk/consumeraffai...=20&fid1=&fid2=&CFID=1587942&CFTOKEN=60347600

it really depends how far you want to push it.

Hope this helps.

 

[ostell]

Re: Tyre Wear

The inside edge of the front tyres on my Stilo went at less than 10K. Found by dealer at 1st year service time. According to dealer this wear is normal for the Stilo. I didn't mouth the comments I thought. Thanks to this forum I found that there was a problem.

Fiat replaced the two new tyres at no cost to me. Dealer said it could have been caused by me knocking the wheels on a kerb or something (No chance), which leaves me to believe that the alignment was actually out.

Waiting to see if the problem is truly fixed or tyres still wear out on inners after 10K, so far looks good.

 

[StiloSport]

Re: Tyre Wear

I've had the same problem with tyres wearing on the inside. Went through 3 sets of front tyres within 35k miles! Went to local dealer and they didn't want to know. I've since had some alloys fitted and the car lowered by Demon Tweeks(which included a 4 wheel alignment) and 13k miles on, the tyres still look like new! Definately a problem with mis-alignment somewhere!

 

[Sid]

Re: Tyre Wear

Tyre wear,

Anybody had problems with rear tyre wear? N/S/R tyre on my 27.000 mile 51 reg JTD worn down on outer half to approx 3mm in 6000 miles,
Had car put on four wheel alignment jig and found wheel to be towing in 35 degrees! maximum supposed to be 22, vehicle never been bumped to my knowledge (was Fiat UK demo!!!!!) so presume made like that, front toe in also wrong buts that only needs track rods adjusting
Rang supplying dealer three times including general manager, still waiting for return call (well its the month end you now what thats like was there excuse)
Fiat helpline useless also as car now over three years old, said to write to Fait Uk direct.
Another dealer said bring it in and we will replace parts, what parts? how much? £59.95 per hour.

Stilo 5 door 115 JTD Jet blue

 

[chromegrey]

Re: Tyre Wear

i have an o4 jtd, i'm on my 3rd set of front tyres having only covered 26k - they have worn on the inside edges

i've had a 4 wheel alignment done and nothing can be found wrong, looks like a letter to fiat!

 

[BlueHair]

Re: Tyre Wear

Took my 1.8 Dynamic in to dealer after I noticed wear to front - they have ordered 2 new Dunlop SP 2000s after Fiat gave them permission to replace them, at no cost to me. I asked if this is going to happen again, the very helpful engineer says that he has done a full check on alignment and tracking and it all seems fine. When i asked why they had warn down in that case, he suggested that the tracking may have been corrected when i took the car in recently to have the latest recall performed. I've only done 8k miles, so i'll keep an eye on the situation.

 

[HornetUK]

1.4 tyre wear

My 1.4 Active has done 12k today so checked the tyres. The drivers side front inside edge has worn down more than the rest of the tyre, the passenger side front is fine.

I reckon the inside edge of the front drivers side will be illegal in about 3k.

My father has suggested easy way to get more miles is to swap front for backs....do you reckon I should do this or do I have a case for taking car to delaer and asking why its worn uneven?

Car is 18 mths old and as I said 12k covered to date.

I've read some of the posts on tyre waer has anyone else suffered the problem with just one front tyre? Also are Fiat unlikely to sort out for free at 12k?

Punto did same thing on same side front after 18k so it must be a Fiat thing!

Cheers

 

[Shminkypinky]

Re: 1.4 tyre wear

Mine did this! Its quite common on all Stilos and is a hot topic on this forum.

I solved this by taking it to an independant tyre place (Chemix, Stourbridge) to have the car 4 wheel laser aligned! This has solved the problem. Its a free test and is £40.00 if any adjustmnt is made. I do it every 6 months (recommended) Tyre wear seem fine now (touch wood)

Fiat did not want to know and told me everything was fine but the independant garage told me different so don't trust them!

Good luck hope this helps

 

[HornetUK]

Re: 1.4 tyre wear

Cheers for reply & advice

Took car to Dealer they said very unlikely they would do anything as 12k done and front tyres go anytime between 13 and 20k!

Advised me to take it to the tyre place they use and get tracking checked if out no point coming back, if tracking fine they will pay for geometry test.

Tracking they said out by 4....whats that mean??? He said its usual for state of roads to do this to cars.

Paid £20 to have it corrected they reckon I'll get 6k more on fronts.

Got to take it back in 14 days for free retest.

All this sound OK?

Cheers

 

[chromegrey]

Re: 1.4 tyre wear

mine also go every 10-12k miles, tracking has been checked nothing found wrong, on my 3rd set of tyres at 26k. given up with eagle f1 tyres and fitted some cheap ones

 

[lugoil]

Re: 1.4 tyre wear

I had the same problem! Took the car back to the dealer and after very much to-ing and fro-ing and heated debate, they agreed there was a mod to fix this! Had the mod fitted (sorry I dont know what it was) and got fiat to pay for 50% of the cost of 2 new front tyres. Keep at the dealer mate! depending on your driving tyres should last longer than your 12k!

 

[Deckchair5]

Re: 1.4 tyre wear

If the tracking is out it will usually wear BOTH tyres simliarly. To have just one tyre wearing is odd. Sure you haven't replaced a tyre along the way due a puncture or damage? To have wear on just one tyre is something wrong with just one side like wheel bearing or track rod end etc

Swopping front to back will even the wear but whatever is wrong needs fixing

 

[Big Black Stilo]

Re: 1.4 tyre wear

My Stilo has never had this problem. Must be luck of the draw!

 

[HornetUK]

Re: 1.4 tyre wear

I know they're the original tyres from new.

The tyre guy siad the other tyre was going as well and tried to show me, but too me it looks nothing like the other one! So the tyre place are claiming they are both wearing on the inside, tracking out by 4 (what does that mean exactly? high or low fig?) one side worse than other, but if left still estmate 6k until illegal. So 18k no claim to Fiat!

Offered to put in writing, but no point having tyres OK until 18k in writing for claim against Fiat. My car is driven fine as my 18 month old son is usually in it so no kerbing, skidding for me!

 

[Deckchair5]

Re: 1.4 tyre wear

"tracking out by 4 (what does that mean exactly?"


"Out by 4" could mean they just want to finish early today

Christ knows! Are they talking degrees, milliimetres, fathoms?

The wheels should be pretty close to 0 degrees

Take a looky here http://www.familycar.com/alignment.htm#Toe you could take a degree in steering geometry afterwards

Incidently, if they correct the tracking and still leave the worn tyre where it is then it will track (ie steer) badly as the tyre will be hitting the deck at an angle until it's worn flat and true again