Uneven Tire Wear: Causes and Solutions

Hello,

Yesterday, while I was changing to my winter tires, I noticed that my summer tires are unfortunately worn out.
The inner edges of the front tires (towards the engine) are so worn down that there is no tread left, while the center and outer edges still have a remaining depth of 2-3 millimeters.

The worn area is quite narrow, about 4 cm from the edge. These are Firestone tires, size 195, on a Volkswagen Golf IV, so nothing unusual.

I already used these tires last year, and the uneven wear wasn't noticeable then. I've also been using the winter tires for two years now, and there are no signs of uneven wear on those either.

Interestingly, it's the inner edges that are worn. You would expect the outer edges to be worn if the car were being driven aggressively. With the inner edges, the most likely cause would be an incorrect alignment, right? The car now has 86,000 km (approximately 53,000 miles) on it, and there have been no accidents or any work done on the wheel suspension so far. That's why I'm wondering if the wheel suspension can somehow adjust itself over time?

Does anyone have any ideas?

Best regards,

Holger.

Hello Holger,

It's quite likely that the alignment/camber is incorrect. Nothing should be adjustable, but joints or bushings could wear out, which might have the same effect. Simply jack up the car and wiggle everything to check for play.

Best regards, Rainer.