[AudiA3]

We run a small fleet of Audi A3 2.0TDi Sport.

Two of our vehicles have experienced severe tyre wear on the very inside portion of tyres (approximately one inch across) requiring both tyres to be changed on both vehicles. One of the vehicles incurred the problem on the front tyres and the other on the rear set. The tread across the remaining area of the tyres was in good order.

Has anybody experienced the same problem and identofied the cause?

 

[A3 KID]

camber needs to be aligned as this can be knocked out by large pot holes or kerbing etc any good wheel place will have the lazer kit for camber alignment and not wheel alignment.

 

[Sammyp99]

This sounds like a similar problem to one I'm experiencing on my A3 2.0 TDi. It has very severe wear on the inside shoulder of the RH front tyre, although the LH front is fine. Initially I assumed an alignment problem, but now I'm not so sure because the wear has very clearly defined edges, it's at an angle of a good 20-30 degrees to the main contact area, and the other tyre is fine.

I now suspect that the tyre has actually been rubbing on the wheel arch liner. Take a look at the pictures here: A3 Tyre Wear. One picture shows the tyre, with the damage on the left, and the second shows a clear witness mark on the arch liner. Close up, the mark shows rub marks and is very smooth.

Although the tyre's normally several cm clear of the liner, I suspect that it's been contacting it whenever I cross any of the many sleeping policemen around here, even though I always go over them gently. Whatever, I now need 2 new tyres!

 

[manin59]

From what I can see, you have Dunlop Sp Sport 01 tyres. I have come across quite a few cases of these tires wearing out on the inside on the driven wheels. The wear mark is like a groove cut out by something rubbing on the tire. The mark on the liner is so insignificant, I don't believe it could be the cause, it should have rubbed through in the process. It all seems to be caused by a fault in the tire itself.

Martin