Toyota Hi-Ace tyre wear.

[Rickyy]

I've a 2006 (pre facelift) Toyota Hi-Ace van and it is prematurely killing tyres on the outside edge. MOT tester said the thread is "feathering" (I think) and is likely caused by worn suspension. But then said after the test everything seemed fine, except for worn ARB links.

The wheel doesn't sit straight and the van pulls to the left. It's as if it's running too much positive camber, but apparently this can't be adjusted.

Any methods I can use to check what is at fault?

Thanks in advance

[Locknut]

Sounds like you have too much toe-in and you need to adjust it by adjusting the right side only. However Hi-Aces could do strange things to tyres so my advice may not work.

[E-bmw]

You are driving a heavy on the front end van.

Even if your suspension is perfect, you will only stop this wear if you crawl round every corner & roundabout.

By the way, do you use car or van tyres as this won't help.

[Rickyy]

Thanks for the advice!

They are proper van tyres (8-ply?).

[Evoluzione]

Rickyy said:

The wheel doesn't sit straight and the van pulls to the left. It's as if it's running too much positive camber, but apparently this can't be adjusted.

Any methods I can use to check what is at fault?

Use a camber gauge.

[E-bmw]

Evoluzione said:

Rickyy said:

The wheel doesn't sit straight and the van pulls to the left. It's as if it's running too much positive camber, but apparently this can't be adjusted.

Any methods I can use to check what is at fault?

Use a camber gauge.

Sorry, and one more thing, it can be hard to sift out what is road camber and vehicle camber when driving.

ALL roads in the UK are crowned & this means that there is a higher centre & lower edge, so this is likely what you are feeling.

[Evoluzione]

E-bmw said:

Evoluzione said:

Rickyy said:

The wheel doesn't sit straight and the van pulls to the left. It's as if it's running too much positive camber, but apparently this can't be adjusted.

Any methods I can use to check what is at fault?

Use a camber gauge.

Sorry, and one more thing, it can be hard to sift out what is road camber and vehicle camber when driving.

ALL roads in the UK are crowned & this means that there is a higher centre & lower edge, so this is likely what you are feeling.

Just drive on the other side of the road to check it (with obvious caveats).
Cars built to drive on a certain side of the road have setback built into them to counteract the drift caused by cambered roads, it's usually only imports which have that problem.

[Rickyy]

Evoluzione said:

E-bmw said:

Evoluzione said:

Rickyy said:

The wheel doesn't sit straight and the van pulls to the left. It's as if it's running too much positive camber, but apparently this can't be adjusted.

Any methods I can use to check what is at fault?

Use a camber gauge.

Sorry, and one more thing, it can be hard to sift out what is road camber and vehicle camber when driving.

ALL roads in the UK are crowned & this means that there is a higher centre & lower edge, so this is likely what you are feeling.

Just drive on the other side of the road to check it (with obvious caveats).
Cars built to drive on a certain side of the road have setback built into them to counteract the drift caused by cambered roads, it's usually only imports which have that problem.

It happens on both sides of the road. Going to take it to another place with four wheel alignment facilities. It wouldn't normally bother me too much, but the outside edges are becoming bald when the rest of the tyre still has 3-4mm left on them.

The rears wear perfectly even too.

[Locknut]

I still think you should consider my thinking at post 2. When you say the wheel does not sit straight do you mean it's turned left or right?

[Rickyy]

Locknut said:

I still think you should consider my thinking at post 2. When you say the wheel does not sit straight do you mean it's turned left or right?

If I let go, it sits straight, but the van pulls to the left. I have to apply about 5-10 degrees of right lock to keep it running straight.

I noticed earlier, that the offside tyres is wearing evenly on both shoulders, so probably just needs more pressure.

But the nearside is wearing on the outside only and leaving little bits of rubber sticking up.





I'c changing to my winter tyres this weekend, so will ask them to check the toe settings when they do.

Thanks to everyone for all of the advice so far.

[Evoluzione]

It has nothing to do with toe at the front - you cannot have more toe on one side than the other unless you are pulling the wheel to one side to make it so. Something is possibly worn or bent on that wheel/hub or at the rear. I doubt the rear geometry can be changed, but something could be amiss there also.