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Scalloped tire wear, what to do?


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I have a '96 OBW, 2.2L, 5 sp manual transmission. I recently put on my snow tires for the winter and found my right rear tire had excessive wear on the inside edge. The wear was uneven, and on only about 1/3 of the circumference of the tire. The wear was so bad the ply's are showing.

 

I have been reading the threads on the viscous coupling and am worried this may be the cause. I should also mention I am not noticing binding when in tight turns. Note: The car is new to me, I do not know if all 4 tires were within 1/4" in circumference.

 

1. How can I functionally check the viscous coupling?

 

2. If the VC is bad can I drive it for a couple of weeks without ruining my snow tires?

 

3. Any other ideas on what to look for?

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I have a '96 OBW, 2.2L, 5 sp manual transmission. I recently put on my snow tires for the winter and found my right rear tire had excessive wear on the inside edge. The wear was uneven, and on only about 1/3 of the circumference of the tire. The wear was so bad the ply's are showing.

 

I have been reading the threads on the viscous coupling and am worried this may be the cause. I should also mention I am not noticing binding when in tight turns. Note: The car is new to me, I do not know if all 4 tires were within 1/4" in circumference.

 

1. How can I functionally check the viscous coupling?

 

2. If the VC is bad can I drive it for a couple of weeks without ruining my snow tires?

 

3. Any other ideas on what to look for?

 

I think scalloped wear is most commonly associated with out-of-balance wheels and/or weak strut issues. I'd try to confirm the wheel hasn't thrown a weight and is true and balanced. The car is old enough it seems to possibly have a bad strut as well, so see if that corner seems 'bouncy' or has other problems.

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Sure could be the strut, but the fact that its not all the way around the tire makes me think its an unbalanced or bent wheel. Could also just be a bum tire, I've had tires damaged from an impact that didn't blow at the time, but failed just as you described months later.

 

Gary

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I have a '96 OBW, 2.2L, 5 sp manual transmission. I recently put on my snow tires for the winter and found my right rear tire had excessive wear on the inside edge. The wear was uneven, and on only about 1/3 of the circumference of the tire. The wear was so bad the ply's are showing.

 

I have been reading the threads on the viscous coupling and am worried this may be the cause. I should also mention I am not noticing binding when in tight turns. Note: The car is new to me, I do not know if all 4 tires were within 1/4" in circumference.

 

1. How can I functionally check the viscous coupling?

 

2. If the VC is bad can I drive it for a couple of weeks without ruining my snow tires?

 

3. Any other ideas on what to look for?

 

yeah, i'm sure it's not that big a deal.

 

get some new rubbers, keep then balanced, get an alignment, and keep them rotated

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Nipper,

 

When you refer to a bushing for the rear strut are you talking about the bushing in the strut mount?

 

Thanks.

 

could be a bushing not in the strut, but on one of the control arms .. just something else to look at, as i like to list all the possabilities.

 

nipper

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