The front tyres on the five speeder are, I think, the same as I'm running on my vintage trike. Whilst I could understand a bit more wear as it's more powerful, 4200 km and looking worn out is suggestive of a lot of scrub, which you really don't want as it will reduce the overall adhesion. And as said before, a gross tracking error is the simplest way of getting this. Too much too toe in probably, since with too much toe out, the trike will be very nervous and dart this way and that at the slightest provocation.
Now a short life from the back tyre, that I could understand, You Tube is full of folk making oodles of smoke.
Well, given that the factory recomended 2 degs. of toe out on each side, and it is nervous and darts this way and that, it probably is scrubbing out the fronts.
On the other hand, cars seem to come out of the factory with their front tracking all over the place, and leave it to the dealers to set, some do and some don't, apparently?
Given the acknowledged problem with bump steer and the factory efforts at reducing it, fairly unsuccessfully it would appear, I think it is little wonder that front tyres are wearing badly. I should have thought they should last at least 10,000 miles, what's that, about 17,000k?
So with ~4600km (2900 miles) on the car the front tires are completely worn. I was in the middle of a multi day trip and trying to make it home but that isn't going to happen. Will have to get towed the last 160km. Thank goodness for ADAC (best auto club I've ever experienced) as they will cover most of the cost. Don't know what the problem is. The dealer actually owns this car and I am just borrowing for a month while my car is prepared. They will take care of replacing these tires.
Two pictures attached. The first from now and the second from when I first noticed and started to worry about the wear. Only 260km (160 miles) later difference between them.
I usually don't like to end my trips getting towed home but Austria was a fantastic drive anyway. No regrets!
I've known for many years the last little bit of tyre wear seems to occur in rather less distance that one would estimate, but to go from needing replaced soon to utterly worn out in 260km is worrying really.
Wear pattern suggests the toe out is perhaps excessive but were this true, I'd have though the car's handling would have given a clue long before the tyre wear became an issue.
As it's a dealers car, you perhaps won't learn what the cause was, but if you do, please post as I'm sure others are interested! It is to be expected a dealer car will lead a hard life, but conversely, ought to be very well maintained, ho hum.
As it's a dealers car, you perhaps won't learn what the cause was, but if you do, please post as I'm sure others are interested! It is to be expected a dealer car will lead a hard life, but conversely, ought to be very well maintained, ho hum.
