Maserati 3200 - Shocking discovery on own tyres!!!

Maserati 3200 - Shocking discovery on own tyres!!!

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maserati3200.com

Original Poster:

98 posts

227 months

Wednesday 10th August 2005
quotequote all
I was totally horrified when after a general brake check that the mechanic pointed out how dangerous both my two front tyres were on my 3200 !!!! He said it was a miracle that I did not have a blow out whilst driving.

My tyres were new when I bought my car only five months ago so why this happend I do not know. Perhaps the tracking was flawed or incorrectly set?

Here are the pictures in order:

1. nicely wrapped by the tyre people and placed in the back...

[pic]http://www.maserati3200.com/forum/thumb.aspx/225_1/4F5E9EEB51224733ADC9D6F5DD488E83.jpg[/pic]


2. Looks absolutely good with loads of tread left, legal and safe - so I thought...

[pic]http://www.maserati3200.com/forum/thumb.aspx/225_1/D06FEC214A45411F9D14C9B406DC1EAC.jpg[/pic]


3. but not so, as the damages were hidden from view...

[pic]http://www.maserati3200.com/forum/thumb.aspx/225_1/6839312D8F994DBD8069A06F09D31591.jpg[/pic]


4. another angle view...

[pic]http://www.maserati3200.com/forum/thumb.aspx/225_1/0FC53EC7156D419999E737D8981A7DD7.jpg[/pic]


I kept the tyres for investigative purposes. For now I wont drive the car till I get someone at the local Ferrarai/Maserati garage to check it out.

Any thoughts what I should do? Or what caused this?

note: Higer res pictures available by clicking on thumbnails at this location: http://www.maserati3200.com/forum/tm.asp?m=315

Twin Turbo

5,544 posts

265 months

Wednesday 10th August 2005
quotequote all
Blimmin' 'eck. That's a bit scary.

Certainly some form of tracking issue I'd suggest.

Might be worth parking the car with a bit of lock on it future. I do this to keep an eye on the inside tread

Hope it ends up being a quick and simple fix.

mr_tony

6,328 posts

268 months

Thursday 11th August 2005
quotequote all
Twin Turbo said:

Might be worth parking the car with a bit of lock on it future. I do this to keep an eye on the inside tread


It's a good trick and one worth remembering...

NEver remember my front wearing particularly. The rears on the other hand rarely lasted more than 6000miles.....

maser sod

195 posts

225 months

Thursday 11th August 2005
quotequote all
looks like tracking ... get it done asap otherwise you'll be through your next set of tyres just as quick

roop

6,012 posts

283 months

Thursday 11th August 2005
quotequote all
Looks like there's way too much -ve camber on the front end with the inside shoulders wearing so dramatically. Tracking could be the issue for the actual wear, but I would expect to see consistent scrubbing right across the tread width. Given the above photos, a full geometry check is in order IMHO.

chris_crossley

1,164 posts

282 months

Thursday 11th August 2005
quotequote all
That does not look good. Cambre on the tyres is very bad.
Get it looked at or you might have to keep a new set in the boot!

I keep an eye on all the tyres. Back ones are a pain to look at but worth a check. 6000-8000 miles on the back is about as good as you get. Dependant on driving style. Font ones are still on at 14k and lots of even wear on them still.

davidd

6,443 posts

283 months

Thursday 11th August 2005
quotequote all
I had similar on my old griffith, tracking sorted it (and some new tyres).

I only spotted it because I dropped something on the floor and just happened to glance and the inside edge. As you say not something you would just happen to notice.

D

sco

203 posts

233 months

Thursday 11th August 2005
quotequote all
I have heard the 3200 is prone to going out of track, and an over-sharp turn in is a sign of this apparently. Have been meaning to get mine "laser sited" at the tyre dealership - it made a big difference on a previous car.

SCOOTERMAN

238 posts

224 months

Friday 12th August 2005
quotequote all
My tyres were new when I bought my car only five months ago so why this happend I do not know

You're saying you've not checked your tyres in FIVE MONTHS? Jesus...

chris_Crossley

1,164 posts

282 months

Friday 12th August 2005
quotequote all
SCOOTERMAN said:
You're saying you've not checked your tyres in FIVE MONTHS? Jesus...

Oil, Tyres a must nearly every trip. Granted mine is a weekend drive, the wife use's it mid week. School run!

turbobloke

103,737 posts

259 months

Friday 12th August 2005
quotequote all
Are there many traffic calming pillows or cushions (or whatever other euphamism) near the car's home? Traversing these could make wear from a tracking problem occur faster.

maserati3200.com

Original Poster:

98 posts

227 months

Saturday 13th August 2005
quotequote all
Traffic slow bumps? nah, none around so can't be those.

And I do check my tures regularly as you can see in one of the pictures above where I said it looks good, well, so I thought!

Anyway my first 3200 never had this problem and I did around 30K kilometers before changing my front tyres, the rear ones at around 26K kilometers.

I drive my car very carefully and rarely turn on sports mode and/or thrashed it. So clearly it looks like the tracking is either incorrectly set or something else, I don't know.

When I get back from my little holiday in Holland next Weds I will get the work done by Maranello - hopefully it will go through the Trident Warranty (and perhaps I may get a refund for the new tyres). Will keep you all posted. And thanks for your comments and suggestions.

Regards
Gavin

maserati3200.com

Original Poster:

98 posts

227 months

Monday 15th August 2005
quotequote all
Received a reply from my garage warning that this may not be covered under warranty due to tear and wear. Quite fair I understand, but surely it should have been right in the first place?

I admit I am a little disappointed but perhaps that is normal when buying cars like this.

But I will happily do it cos I still love my 3200!

WBmaserati

33 posts

223 months

Wednesday 17th August 2005
quotequote all
Just thought I would let you know that I had a similar problem on a CLK Merc, which was still in warranty, it cost &120 to determine the problem and a further £130 to rectify the camber bolts. I was given a similar warning about wear & tear etc, but I ignored this and looked to the garage to foot the bill for the work and as a gesture I paid for the tyres. This seemed like an amicable solution although when I sold the car (trade in) it looked as though the tyres were going again!. I guess we cannot win.

maserati3200.com

Original Poster:

98 posts

227 months

Wednesday 17th August 2005
quotequote all
Ok, an update; dropped the car off at Mxxxxxxx in Egham as they are only 25 minutes drive away. They will do the tyre alignment job as soon as possible perhaps tomorrow or Friday.

They also asked/reminded me about the recall (glad they did cos I forgot!) and they will do that during next week. Plus via warranty check the alternator/battery because the needle tends to fluctaute from 10 to 13 volts.

I miss her already - all that lovely weather outside!!!

v12v8

1,153 posts

250 months

Thursday 18th August 2005
quotequote all
Those pictures look familiar. Had exactly the same thing - discovered the fronts were 9 degrees toe out. As soon as this was sorted, it was like driving a different car....!

maserati3200.com

Original Poster:

98 posts

227 months

Friday 19th August 2005
quotequote all
So you mean that some power was lost before? or better to drive as in lower noise and handling?

Well, I look forward to any restored power!

maserati3200.com

Original Poster:

98 posts

227 months

Friday 26th August 2005
quotequote all
Hey guys,

An update - just fetched my car and I am very happy

Tracking was off and it was corrected. Also the steering recall completed satisfactorily.

To be honest the car seems to drive better than before. (Answered my own question earlier!)

I am happy not only because of the repair works but I have my car back!

So to all who think I am weird for missing her!!!!!!!!!!

Cheers
Happy 3200 owner