Uneven tyre wear
Discussion
I’ve just noticed my front tyre is wearing more on the right than the left. Bike is used for a 50 mile round trip commute daily, pressure is 36psi which I check regularly. Do you think this indicates a problem with my suspension (i could probably do with changing the fork oil) or geometry? Thanks in advance! 
I've seen this question asked several times in the past and the same answers as above given as possible reasons but I don't think that's the full story. The amount of wear that's showing would take a lot of roundabouts or off camber roads, 1000s of miles to cause that amount of wear.
I think it's either defective tyre (did the last tyre do the same thing ?) or possibly suspension issue. Or do you ride round a lot of roundabouts every day ?
My tyres have never worn unevenly like that, the front is always even, apart from a Metzeler Roadtec 01 which wore like a 50p piece for some reason but the Michelin that replaced it wore perfectly.
I think it's either defective tyre (did the last tyre do the same thing ?) or possibly suspension issue. Or do you ride round a lot of roundabouts every day ?
My tyres have never worn unevenly like that, the front is always even, apart from a Metzeler Roadtec 01 which wore like a 50p piece for some reason but the Michelin that replaced it wore perfectly.
Recently noticed a similar thing on t'other half's front tyre. Her's is a thirty five year old Harley with a rubber mounted engine/trans. I found that the front engine mount had started to collapse, meaning the whole driveline was out of alignment - when the rear wheel was vertical, the front was out of vertical by a few degrees.. Obviously, this wouldn't apply to a non-rubber mount bike, but many other faults could cause similar.
One sportsbike I owned years back used to "blister" the offside edge of the front tyre - I put that down to over enthusiastic roundabouts, I rarely leant it as far to the left.
One sportsbike I owned years back used to "blister" the offside edge of the front tyre - I put that down to over enthusiastic roundabouts, I rarely leant it as far to the left.
Thanks for the suggestions. The tyre was on the bike when I bought it so I’ve no idea how many miles are in it. I’ve dine about 4000 so it hasn’t done too badly but Michelin PRs (like wot this is) last longer than that in my experience.
I’ll get the tyre changed, check alignment and replace the fork oil and see how I go from there.
I’ll get the tyre changed, check alignment and replace the fork oil and see how I go from there.
What bike is it and how many miles in total? What makes you think the fork oil needs doing? Not saying you shouldn't do it, but if it's a relatively new bike it may not need doing.
I'd start by getting the tyre replaced and checking forks and rear wheel are all aligned, then see how it goes. Replacing fork oil isn't a massive job but it can be a bit of a pain in the balls.
I'd start by getting the tyre replaced and checking forks and rear wheel are all aligned, then see how it goes. Replacing fork oil isn't a massive job but it can be a bit of a pain in the balls.
SteveKTMer said:
I've seen this question asked several times in the past and the same answers as above given as possible reasons but I don't think that's the full story. The amount of wear that's showing would take a lot of roundabouts or off camber roads, 1000s of miles to cause that amount of wear.
I think it's either defective tyre (did the last tyre do the same thing ?) or possibly suspension issue. Or do you ride round a lot of roundabouts every day ?
My tyres have never worn unevenly like that, the front is always even, apart from a Metzeler Roadtec 01 which wore like a 50p piece for some reason but the Michelin that replaced it wore perfectly.
Every front tyre I have ever seen in wears like that. I think it's either defective tyre (did the last tyre do the same thing ?) or possibly suspension issue. Or do you ride round a lot of roundabouts every day ?
My tyres have never worn unevenly like that, the front is always even, apart from a Metzeler Roadtec 01 which wore like a 50p piece for some reason but the Michelin that replaced it wore perfectly.
fred bloggs said:
SteveKTMer said:
I've seen this question asked several times in the past and the same answers as above given as possible reasons but I don't think that's the full story. The amount of wear that's showing would take a lot of roundabouts or off camber roads, 1000s of miles to cause that amount of wear.
I think it's either defective tyre (did the last tyre do the same thing ?) or possibly suspension issue. Or do you ride round a lot of roundabouts every day ?
My tyres have never worn unevenly like that, the front is always even, apart from a Metzeler Roadtec 01 which wore like a 50p piece for some reason but the Michelin that replaced it wore perfectly.
Every front tyre I have ever seen in wears like that. I think it's either defective tyre (did the last tyre do the same thing ?) or possibly suspension issue. Or do you ride round a lot of roundabouts every day ?
My tyres have never worn unevenly like that, the front is always even, apart from a Metzeler Roadtec 01 which wore like a 50p piece for some reason but the Michelin that replaced it wore perfectly.
SteveKTMer said:
Very slightly unevenly or very much unevenly, like the example above ?
Some more than others, its pronounced if run with low pressure. I don't know how many front tyres I've looked at, but its a lot in 20 years of MOT testing bikes.
Its a combination of the camber ,and the fact an awful lot of bikes are not 100% aligned, from factory.
The example above is perfectly normal for a worn front tyre.
Edited by fred bloggs on Tuesday 30th August 16:10
The amount of wear was even more apparent after I got the wheel out, there's a section of the profile which was flat. Like when your rear tyre gets squared off, but this was off to the right hand side.
Happily I've now got a new tyre fitted, unhappily the threads on the wheel spindle seem to be buggered so I can't get the spindle back in - it screws in so far then starts needing a lot of force. I don't want to knacker the thread in the fork leg (I hope I haven't already) so I've bought a SH spindle in the hope that that one will go in.
I'm commuting by train until it arrives because my car is also in for a new radiator. Should have waited until the car was back before messing with the bike!
Happily I've now got a new tyre fitted, unhappily the threads on the wheel spindle seem to be buggered so I can't get the spindle back in - it screws in so far then starts needing a lot of force. I don't want to knacker the thread in the fork leg (I hope I haven't already) so I've bought a SH spindle in the hope that that one will go in.
I'm commuting by train until it arrives because my car is also in for a new radiator. Should have waited until the car was back before messing with the bike!
The new spindle from the breakers was in much better condition than the original one but it still wouldn't screw in, so I cut some slots in the original spindle to make a chaser - after using this to clean up the threads in the fork leg it all went back together no problem.
I've just been out for a test run and the combination of new tyre and new fork oil is a big improvement, I just have to do something about the rear shock now. Thanks all for the advice.
I've just been out for a test run and the combination of new tyre and new fork oil is a big improvement, I just have to do something about the rear shock now. Thanks all for the advice.
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