Tyres scalloping @ 23,500km???

[tryingavw]

G'Day

Brad, I like your ideas about rotating etc. The back tyres clearly have less wear than the front, so I might rotate them front to back and side to side as well.

based on reading threads here, i got the passat wheels aligned and balanced a couple of weeks ago at 11000 klm, also rotated. ( precipitated by a puncture )

the tyre guy said he did need to adjust the alignment a bit, wear was OK.

for $100 is was a good invesment to know they're all ok.

[snodrogs]

I wonder if I should be "pushing back" on the dealer for this to take place rather than fork out my $$ for something that should have been undertaken/checked before/during the PDI stage.

[brad]

I wonder if I should be "pushing back" on the dealer for this to take place rather than fork out my $$ for something that should have been undertaken/checked before/during the PDI stage.

it only takes 1 unlucky hit for the alignment to go out of whack.

Most tyre places will recomend a rotation, wheel balance & alignment every 10,000km so i think your "warranty" period is well & truly shot.

[snodrogs]

You're right...

Anything special with the alignment etc? Bridgetsone Tyre Centre? Anybody recommend anywhere in Perth they have had good experience with?

Andrew

[brad]

You're right...

Anything special with the alignment etc? Bridgetsone Tyre Centre? Anybody recommend anywhere in Perth they have had good experience with?

Andrew

Sorry, don't know anywhere in WA. In fact, I have trouble recommending anywhere in Sydney.

It's hard to pin down where to look. Generally tyre places aren't brilliant as they turn over their staff a fair bit - unless you can find an independent where the owner does the alignments. Either that or find a specialist suspension shop - again, the independents are often better.

One sign of a good aligner is they like to see the worn tyres so that they can align the car to fix the wear pattern rather than just using factory settings.

[Transporter]

You're right...

Anything special with the alignment etc? Bridgetsone Tyre Centre? Anybody recommend anywhere in Perth they have had good experience with?

Andrew

I would try Pedders.

http://www.pedders.com.au/storeFinder/6

[brad]

I would try Pedders.

http://www.pedders.com.au/storeFinder/6

Your kidding?

Their franchise system almost guarantees mediocrity.

[vanDub]

My past experience is with my 97 camry V6 and the following is based on that.

I get a decent alignment when I get a new set of 4 tyres that cost about $450 for 4 (yes I know one 17" for passat can cost that). That's it, I still get 60K and regular alignments every 10K @ $100 per time might get me another 10K wear which is worth $75 in tyre cost. I always buy in sets of 4 and arrange my tyre rotation every 10K to achieve this.

The sums just don't add up. Even with Passat tyres costing $200 - $250 for my needs and only getting 40K wear, spending $400 for 4 alignments in the tyres life to get an extra 5-10K wear is still not economical.

Some of us drive easy on tyres. It's only those who punish them that need extra tyre servicing and most of those actually seem proud to get so little wear out of a set as if it somehow reflects well on their driving machismo. I speak of course about posts in the Polo threads.

[Transporter]

Your kidding?

Their franchise system almost guarantees mediocrity.

Not at all. I don't have the equipment, so I can't do it myself and when it need to be done, you have to find somebody who you can trust.
And so far I have only good experience with Pedders. Of course I can’t say that all of them are good. But as I said “I would try”.

[snodrogs]

I used to know the WA franchise owner of Pedders in WA, but this was 15 years ago, so as more operations have popped up, not sure if Reg is still the only owner. Back then they did know their stuff and they were very focused on quality service. Been many years now... so unknown quantity to me here.

Might talk to the dealership when they replace the mechatronic unit and see if they have any preferred businesses...