Tread Stepping?

[nicktowe]

My local indy has told me that my wife's Seat Leon Cupra shows signs of "tread stepping" on the rear tyres and that this can cause a noise that sounds like a worn bearing.

I have never heard this term before? What is it?, what causes it? and do i need to replace the tyres and or have the suspension looked at?

Help would be gratefully received.

Thanks

[GreenV8S]

nicktowe said:

I have never heard this term before? What is it?, what causes it? and do i need to replace the tyres and or have the suspension looked at?

I've never heard the term, but your local indie would have been the person to ask e.g. WTF are you babbling on about with this 'tread walking' ?

[nicktowe]

GreenV8S said:

nicktowe said:

I have never heard this term before? What is it?, what causes it? and do i need to replace the tyres and or have the suspension looked at?

I've never heard the term, but your local indie would have been the person to ask e.g. WTF are you babbling on about with this 'tread walking' ?

Well it was actually my wife that he spoke to. She asked but he was vague. I have phoned and asked, he is still vague.

To be fair it does sound as if a rear wheel bearing has gone, but I am told that on inspection the bearings are fine.

[GreenV8S]

I can only suppose this is a reference to some sort of uneven tyre wear. This can happen on track where the tyres suffer a lot of wear while they're distorted under cornering loads, leaving you with tread blocks that aren't flat. But I wouldn't expect to see that on a road car. I've had this very obvious to the naked eye without any particular noise or vibration.

[nicktowe]

GreenV8S said:

I can only suppose this is a reference to some sort of uneven tyre wear. This can happen on track where the tyres suffer a lot of wear while they're distorted under cornering loads, leaving you with tread blocks that aren't flat. But I wouldn't expect to see that on a road car. I've had this very obvious to the naked eye without any particular noise or vibration.

No wear visible to the naked eye, I will take the wheels off and have a good look.

I do wonder if he means Tread Blocking or castelation. I will also rotate the wheels to see if the noise goes away.

[rich 36]

Stokey_Scouser said:

Tread stepping is a common problem on Mondeo estates, the inside of the tyre becomes vertically stepped.

indeed (apparently)
http://www.freepatentsonline.com/6206064.html

[rich 36]

[quote=nicktowe]My local indy has told me that my wife's Seat Leon Cupra shows signs of "tread stepping,


ahaaaa,

been up against any kerbs of late then and knocked the Geometry out?

[vwsrule]

run your hand around the tyre in the way the wheel goes round,it should feel smooth,if it feels like the tread is at differant levels then they are stepped up and need changing and it does cause the same noise as a wheel bearing,quite common on pirellii p6000 tyres and kumho's im finding and i doubt there is anything wrong with the suspension or anything,just what happens after a while