2000 OBW, 4 cyl, automatic, 155k. Left rear tire showing significant and markedly uneven wear on outer edge. Properly inflated. What is the most likely cause? TIA.

Sounds like an alignment issue.

 

What is the vehicle history? Did you buy it like this recently, did you buy the tires, did it develop recently or has it been getting this way over a long period of time, any known accidents or winter slides into curbs, etc?

Have owned the car for 5 years, approx 70K. No accidents of which I'm aware. All tires replaced at the same time about 25K ago.

probably alignment issue as stated. Possibly a bad wheel bearing loose enough to let alignment fluctuate as well.

probably alignment issue as stated. Possibly a bad wheel bearing loose enough to let alignment fluctuate as well.

 

Hitting the curb with that wheel at speed could cause a bent wheel or suspension parts bent.

bent/bad suspension/drivetrain part.

 

Or a bad tire. I've had a coupla tires that were just not built right and one of them statred showing it's belts when it still had tread left.

Have owned the car for 5 years, approx 70K. No accidents of which I'm aware. All tires replaced at the same time about 25K ago.

 

Ok. How many times have you rotated the tires in those 25k?

bent/bad suspension/drivetrain part.

 

Or a bad tire. I've had a coupla tires that were just not built right and one of them statred showing it's belts when it still had tread left.

 

Yes, that is very possible too. I missed that possibility.

Found a used tire and as a temporary measure had the rapidly deteriorating tire on my car replaced with the used one with acceptable tread and of the same brand/model/size. However, when I returned home I noticed that the installer put it on backwards; i.e., these tires (BFGoodrich Traction TA) are directional, and it is on wrong. How big a deal is this? Is it simply an issue of noise from the tread pattern, or does it implicate the orientation of the belts, in which case it may be safety related? TIA.

Edited December 24, 201114 yr by J A Blazer
typo

Found a used tire and as a temporary measure had the rapidly deteriorating tire on my car replaced with the used one with acceptable tread and of the same brand/model/size. However, when I returned home I noticed that the installer put it on backwards; i.e., these tires (BFGoodrich Traction TA) are directional, and it is on wrong. How big a deal is this? Is it simply an issue of noise from the tread pattern, or does it implicate the orientation of the belts, in which case it may be safety related? TIA.

 

 

As a general rule I recall from 'the old days' a tire's rotation direction shouldn't be reversed. Of course, tires may be better/more tolerant of that these days. dunno

 

I'd have it flipped i think. Even if I had to pay for it. But, really, what kinda tire shop doesn't mark direction when they take stuff off, and pay attention when they mount them. That's tire swapping 101 lol!

It can cause hydroplaining and make the vehicle not handle properly. Also, get an alignment, probably needs to have the rear toe adjusted.

The directional tires can usually be run backwards as long as the pavement is dry. Motorcycles ridden on the track often flip the tires to use up the tread on the other side. But if the pavement is wet then it is not so good.