What’s Tyre Stepping, and how easy to fix?

[Deisel Weisel]

I found this as an MOT advisory on an Almera GTi, I’m looking at buying. I think it’s some kind of tyre wear problem resulting from a misalignment, maybe? I’m hoping it’s nothing serious like a bent chassis, and hopefully a simple alignment correction at a tyre centre will put things right?

[PaulKemp]

Probably toe in issue
Check and reset

[Roadru77er]

Tyres wearing on outside = Too much toe out

Tyres wearing on inside = Too much toe in

[jimbob82]

if you run your hand around the outer part of the tread and it feels bumpy like steps up and down it's most likely a shock absorber pooped. I've seen in more on bigger cars but almost always on the back tyres.

otherwise as said above tracking

[JonnyFive]

Roadru77er said:

Tyres wearing on outside = Too much toe out

Tyres wearing on inside = Too much toe in

Thats uneven wear though, OP is talking about tyre stepping.

[Mr2Mike]

If you are talking about all the tread blocks on part of the tyre wearing at an angle, this seems be related more to the tyre than the suspension, i.e. some seem very prone to to it, and others don't.

[Locknut]

Did the MOT advisory say which wheels are showing the "tyre stepping" problem? The back suspension of the Almera consists of a beam axle which should hold its alignment unless there is major structural damage. If the stepping is on the rear tyres I would suspect the fault is in the tyre but I would have a look at the suspension. The front suspension is independent so it is possible for it to go out of alignment or be mis-aligned by a garage. If the stepping is on the front it could be cured by having the tracking checked. Of course all this advice is pointless if the tyres have been swapped around.

BTW for your info: Stepping is a wear pattern at the edge of the thread. The blocks in the thread pattern wear more at one edge than the other so you will feel a slightly saw-toothed effect if you run the palm of your hand along the tyre.

[Locknut]

JonnyFive said:

Roadru77er said:

Tyres wearing on outside = Too much toe out

Tyres wearing on inside = Too much toe in

Thats uneven wear though, OP is talking about tyre stepping.

Not alone are you talking about the wrong wear pattern, you've also got it the wrong way round. It should be
Tyres wearing on the outside = Too much toe in
Tyres wearing on the inside = too much toe out.

[AWRacing]

Had this on my Leon (common problem) and easily cured with a 4 wheel alignment - just took me 4 years to get around to it!

[andyiley]

I have also come across this with cheap tyres many years ago.