On our '06 GS300 (16k miles -- 18" Dunlop RFTs), it looks like the inner part of the front tires are wearing unevenly. In one spot on each tire (about 6 inches long), it appears that a groove has formed that is worn down almost into the tire itself. Reading on the internet, some say this is 'normal' while others claim to have even wear after changing tires.
How can this be normal if it is so much more worn in just one area? The rest of tire is no where near the tread indicator mark. From the manual, it states the tires are warrantied. Has anyone had this addressed by Lexus (under car warranty or tire warranty)?

 

welcome to clublexus. when you talk about the uneven wear, are you talking about inside wear? meaning the part of the contract area closer to the center of the car, compared to the outside?

if so, that's normal. car has negative camber even from factory, and depending on driving, 16k could be the case

if i misunderstood the wear, maybe you can take a picture?

 

Its pretty much normal. What concerns me is that they wore our so quickly and they are not summer tires. I have maximum performance summer tires on my car and I get 14-15k before they need to be replaced

 

Thanks for the response. Yes, I was talking about the inner part of the tire, the very inner edge. It is more worn all away around the tire but EXTREMELY worn down in one spot (around 4-5" long on each of the front tires). The tires have a great deal of tread left otherwise. It's this 4-6" spot that I assume will wear all the way through if I don't replace them. At worst I would expect that the uneven wear on the inside would be somewhat even all the way around the tire. Anyway, so this is indeed normal? Thanks again.

 

If I understood correctly, you are talking about a spot on the inside edge of the tire, but not extending all the way around the tire circumference - this wear is not normal.

My advice to you would be to visit one or more suspension shops and get a mechanic to take a look at it (including alignment readout - should be free or very nominal fee, as long as you don't ask them to adjust things - just to take a measurement).

I respectfully disagree with the other posters about the negative camber being the cause of this - the car should not be running that much of a negative camber (stock) to wear the wheels like that (it would take more than -2 degrees to cause that kind of wear and even then, it would be on the inside half of the tire, not on the very edge).

Excessive toe-out can cause wear on the very outside edge of the tire.

Any chance you could have flat-spotted the fronts (locked up under braking)?

Definitely don't drive on these tires for long - better replace the tire than risk having an accident due to blowout.

Good luck!

 

well when i said inside wear, i didn't say inside edge. i meant inside portion