Have an 08 TL stock with factory 17" wheels and OEM EL42's. Car now has 18K miles and inside shoulders of all 4 tires are gone. ( All 4 tires because they have been cross rotated at 3K, 6K, 10K, 15K)

Other than the inside 1" of tires the tread is still excellent.

Car was aligned at 15K by the Acura dealer who said sorry no camber adjustment possible, need a camber kit to possibly help correct although the before / after indicate the car is in spec. Basically the Acura tech wasn't much help.

I have checked the control arm bushing and they appear uncracked. Nothing else is obvious and the car has never hit anything. I am the only driver of the vehicle which see's 90% interstate driving.

Any thoughts or direction would be appreciated, I love the car but can't bear the thought of tires every 20K miles.

 

Tires worn smooth on the inside or feathered?
If stock suspension, not lowered in any way and with the low mileage probably toe setting is incorrect. Toe is adjustable both front and rear.
Got a scan of the alignment settings?

 

Turbonut was hoping you would reply, everything is bone stock, the shoulders are worn very smooth. I will dig out the alignment printout at lunch and post. Again thanks.

 

With the inside being gone, I'm thinking that it's camber wear that's coming from the rear. Do you have the rear of the car loaded a lot of the time with passenger or heavy items? Also did you replace the tires yet?

 

No, 99 % of the time I am the only one in the car and there is never anything in the truck except the occasional golf bag.

 

No, Tires not yet replaced. Not sure what to go with but most likely will not be EL 42's

 

I had this issue on my 03 Accord that I recently traded for my TL. Turned out that a strut was BENT. Yes, the gas charged solid metal rod inside the right front strut was bent badly. The car never aligned properly and went through a set of Kumho Ecstas ASX in 28k. I replaced all four struts and it fixed the issue.

 

After you get the alignment straight, do yourself a favor and stay away from the Bridgestone's. Look for a 245/45-17 that will fit your needs. The EL 42's only have a wear rating of 260, and although not an industry standard, this is very, very low for an A/S tire and only has a peanut sized tread width of 7.5", small like most A/S BS tires. Also, at $255 a pop, your money can be well spent elsewhere.

 

3G TLs are somewhat notorious for the rear toe to repeatedly go out of spec. First thing to do is to have your alignment rechecked. It's possible that your alignment is and has been fine since the alignment job at 15K and the wear is from before you got it aligned.

Based on my experiences with rear toe, I suspect the wear is from rear toe being out of whack and all four tires are worn due to their each taking a turn on the rear axle. If you can scan in the alignment sheet and post it, it would help.

 

Okay have the alignment printout, so how does one attach or copy it into a reply?

 

Sticky post in the Photo Gallery on how to post pics/avatars

 

If you can't scan, just post the final setting on the toe and camber settings front and rear.

 

Left Front Camber Actual -0.3 Before -0.3 Range -1.0 to 0
Right Front Camber Actual-0.5 Before -0.5 Range -1.0 to 0

Left front Toe Actual 0.01 Before 0.04 Range -0.08 to 0.08
Right front Toe Actual 0.03 Before -0.02 Range -0.08 to 0.08



Left Rear Camber Actual -1.2 Before -1.2 Range -1.5 to -0
Right Rear Camber Actual -1.3 Before -1.3 Range -1.5 to -0.5

Left Rear Toe Actual 0.03 Before 0.03 range -0.08 to 0.08
Right Rear Toe Actual 0.00 Before 0.06 range -0.08 to 0.08

 

Well, so much for my theory....Nothing was out of spec before alignment.

 

I have the same issue... my tires are almost bald on insides. I however am lowered with the aspec suspension. Dealer did tell me a camber kit would resolve the issue. I just recently got one, just have to install. Dealer also said $250 to install and align for me. or just 99 for align.

anyhow my specs where:

CAMBER:
Left rear -1.5 actual. Range -1.5 -0.5
Right rear -1.8 actual. Range -1.5 -0.5

So one is out and other right at limit. Being at the limit is not good either.. Ideal would be in the middle of the 2 range #'s

 

Nothing wrong before or after.
Once again when the tires were replaced at 40k, where they the OE tires? If so, that would be normal wear on the EL 42's.
The rears are at the extreme though.

 

Turbonut you have this thread confused with another.

The car only has 20k on it in total and we are talking about the OEM tires installed by the factory. No replacement at 40K?

 

Sorry guess I got the 40k somewhere else, and I assume you have no pictures of the EL42's that were removed. The EL42's will wear quickly, but should last longer than 20k, however mileage reports are all over the map, but most agree that the tire is a poor performer.
Would have liked to see the actual tread if they were worn inside and outside more than in the middle or was it just the inside tread that showed major wear and the outside tread was still good. This is a head scratcher.

 

Tires still on car, the rest of the tread excepting the 1st 1" of inside shoulder are still at 40% useable tread. Center is perfect and outside edge is smooth.

I would take some pictures but since I wasn't even savy enough to attach the alignment printout I don't hold out much hope I could manage to add pictures.

I would rather you suggest a better tire choice and possibly some advice about adjusting the toe. My question is what direction ( + or - ) to the current settings would take some of the wear out of the inside edges?

Is it possible to adjust your way into proper wear? I knew there was a problem at 11K miles when the problem was visibly noticable. again if anything I over rotate.

 

Difficult to make a resolution or suggestion when all the specs are within factory tolerance.
Is this the first alignment for the car, or has it been done before?
Not saying this is the problem, but have run into miscalibrated alignment racks in the past, meaning that the rack is indicating that the vehicle is within specs when in reality the michine is off and therefore same with the specs. Starting to adjust toe without instrumentation is not the best idea. If this is the first alignment, and depending on where it was done, I'd get another alignment at a different shop for comparison. I know it will be costly, but a $600-$900 set of tires might be worth the effort. Once you decide on what new tires you desire, it may be possible that the tire shop will throw in the alignment, as long as it's at a different shop.

 

Well, normally inside edge tire wear is caused by excess negative camber. Since nothing was out of spec when you had the alignment, I think you can rule out alignment issues. (In contradiction to this standard, my 04tl, my rear toe will not stay on spec for more than about 20k miles. The first time this became evident to me was because of severe inside edge wear leading to cupping on my left rear tire. I took the car in for an alignment check and everything was in spec except for the left rear toe which was at a whopping 0.21 degrees. I don't understand how toe led to inside wear, but it did)

Since your have cross rotated all 4 tires four different times, it becomes difficult to tell if the wear is on a single axle or multiple axles.

When did you first notice the wear and at that time what tires were worn?

My bet is you have a steering or suspension issue. I'd take it back to the dealer and make them do a complete suspension check. I'd also have them check your motor mounts. This is an interesting blurb from the link below:

uneven wear on one side of a tire may show up when control arm bushings have collapsed, ball joints are loose, a spindle or strut is bent, or a strut tower is out of its normal position (due to factory misassembly, collision damage, body sag or severe corrosion).

Another overlooked cause of camber wear can be a front-wheel drive engine cradle that has shifted out-of-position to one side. A weak or broken spring can also allow camber changes in the suspension that produce camber wear on a tire.

http://www.aa1car.com/library/tire_wear.htm

Bottom line, it's possible the car came from the factory with an inherent steering/suspension issue. Good luck and keep us informed.

 

Inside edge wear, if feathered, can be caused by a toe out condition as the inside edges of the tires are dragged along the surface, conversely outside edges, toe in, as the tires are going down the road pigeon toed so to speak. Anything that is worn or out of tolerance would be so indicated when the alignment was performed, or at least shou;d have been. Alignment just doesn't go out unless there is a specific reason or misaligned to begin with. Got to sleep on this one.

 

Hijack: OK, I can see that. Unfortunately for me, I didn't notice the wear until it was so severe that the tire started making a "howl" at highway speeds. And the wear happened fast (between 7500 mile rotation). Just had my car realigned again after putting the new DWS' on and everything was in spec except for..... yep, left and right rear tow. No wear problems though (toe was out by 0.07).

 

My 1.5 year battle with the bodyshop has shown all of your statement to be very true. Just got it resolved correctly today.

First thing I would do is take it to a different shop. I had to take mine to 3 different shops before it got done right. I would try to find a shop that specializes in race cars vs a shop that tries to kick as many alignments out per hour as they can.

Double and triple check the compliance bushings. Mine were torn and we literally checked the alignment, backed the car off, put it back on and the front toe would change by 1-4 degrees each time the car was moved. In one of the tests it actually was within specs.

 

I've slept on this and unless the driver is 400lbs, I still have no positive response, but an '08 with only 20k, I'd take it to the dealer and let them give it an inspection. Might be able to get satisfaction under warranty.

 

I have the same exact issue on my 08 23k.. i took a few pics of the inside of my tires on my last rotation and they are very bald, nearly undriveable IMO.. will post asap

 

Thanks to all for your insight, the first and only alignment was preformed at my home Acura dealer.

I will try another shop for alignment after I buy the tires next week. I am not exactly sure what corner(s) are causing the excessive wear but I seem to recall it is more than one because at least two of the tires exhibited it the first time I noticed the bad wear.

The car just passed a pretty comprehensive annual PA. inspection at the Honda dealer 2 miles down the street, actually they failed it for streaking WW blades (jerks, streaky because it had bug strikes) until I paid them to replace the blades. I think they were pretty through. Had an extensive list of maintenance recommendations. Frint brake maintenance service, cut rear rotors, replace air filter, cabin filter. Yes will drive the extra 35 miles to the Acura dealer going forward....

I will be due for an oil change shortly and will have the Acura dealer look at the suspension closely.

 

I'd make certain the alignment is correct before replacing the tires, even if another alignment is needed. No need to put new tires on the car for alignment as the specs won't change.
After Acura examines the car, report back any findings or their views.

 

Anyone else with an 07/08 exhibiting the same issue, any other common denominator anyone can think of ? Any chance that the change of rims styles in 07 to the split spoke might have changed the geometry possibly requiring a different alignment spec?

I am just searching for answers an am not sure where to go next, What I do know is I don't want to have to buy tires every 20K miles.....

 

I have to replace the tires, it won't be long before the steel belts are sticking out.

 

No, not on a stock vehicle that I'm aware of, and the new wheels are the same dimensions as the old style.
Too bad your not closer or I'd have a look at it in the garage.

Just to be certain the values you reported in previous post are correct. No +/- missing? If the Acura dealership did the alignment what did they say about the tire wear?

 

I am certain of the values reported.

The tech who did the alignment didn't have much to say and I specifically asked him about the visible wear. T

Then again he is also the same tech that botched the front driver side carpet replacement ( under warranty) by not re-attaching the bottom of the gas pedal correctly and not reconnecting the sport shift electrical connecter before re assemblying the interior. Which necessitated another 2 hour round trip visit to the Acura dealer.

So in retrospect I wouldn't value his opinion even if he had offered one at the time.

 

When you go back to the dealer, you need to talk to the service manager, not a tech. You need to ask the service manager how a car with only 20K miles on it which has never been out of alignment has severe, uneven tire wear.

Then, after he tells you all the other things that could be causing the wear, tell him you want all of that checked. Good luck.

Let us know what he says.

 

That sounds like a plan of attack however the service manager already doesn't like me because I wanted him to send the tech to my house to correct the faulty warranty repair work.

I asked how such shoddy work was tolerated and he took offense. I asked what he would do to compensate me for my time and mileage after a moment of silence he gave me a coupon for 1 free oil change. whoop d do. It was also mysterious this was the one time I wasn't asked to complete an online survey on my recent service work.

Maybe I am just too much of a conspiracy theorist??

 

Hey jawman. I am also having issues with abnormal tire wear.The front tires are wearing on the inner and outer edges and so does the rear tires. Dealer ship did 4 wheel alignment 2 times already at $98 a pop. I am on my second set of tires with only 36000 miles. I have contacted BBB auto line resolution program. I will see what happens before I try to get some national media involved. Or take em to court for non compliance of expressed warrantry. Some thing needs to be done. Any ideas contact me. Moredarker

 

jawman- why would you cross rotate radial tires--move front to back only- if even that!

I dont rotate at all, buy 2 new tires when needed and put them on the rear, move rears with little wear to front

Moving the tires like you do really messes with the internal belts, can cause pull, noise, vibration as the tires learn a new job, opposite of what they have been doing

ck the TSB list for rear bushings or bump stops
Look under the car for damage that may have been there before sale!

1 degree NEG camber makes the car turn in nice to the corner
more than 1.5 neg and you get a lot of camber wear on tire

Most techs are not supposed to talk to the customer--it messes up the story the service writer is going to tell you~

 

moredarker--what tire pressure are you running??

wear on one edge is usually toe or camber issue
wear on both can be LOW tire pressure = the center of the tire is not expanded enough to contact the road surface, so both edges take the load

If the center was worn out--then excess tire pressure

the BBB has no authority over car dealers- its a voluntary to join club,
Contact Acura 1 800 382 2238 x5 and make a report of the problem, ask for a manager to call you back

 

Note- telling a servce manager `How can shoddy work leave the shop`--he doesnt drive every car, and relies on techs to do their job (good luck on that)
thats not going to win you any goodwill points
complaining about distance you have to drive either

the low man got stuck with the carpet warrantry job, not the best tech~
not surprising to have a prob with intstall

You have to STATE what you want for compensation or they dont know what it will take to make you happy,,nothing to work towards--so free oil change it is!
I got offer of free detail after some issues~ as if I would let them touch my babys paint!

 

non compliance of expressed warranty???-
there is no such thing--its written as warranty in a book or its not

 

Exactly. Sounds more like underinflation.

Agreed on the BBB. It's a starting point but there are many other and better options out there. Think along the lines of business license and you will be on the right track.