Steering & Tread Measurement Questions
12-29-09, 05:39 PM
#1
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Steering & Tread Measurement Questions
Hi All,
I recently went to my local Lexus dealership and they measured my tire tread. Unfortunately, I don't know what the latter part (the B & A measurements) of the measurement means, so I was hoping someone could tell me. I know the 9 or 10/32 is the tread depth measurement, but what are the others?
Front Left: 10/32 B 33 / A 34
Front Right: 9/32 B 34 / A 34
Rear Left: 9/32 B 34 / A 34
Rear Right: 10/32 B 34 / A 34
Additionally, my car was previously "damaged" by street wear & tear (we have horrible roads in N.O.) and apparently the alignment was significantly off and my steering centered to the left (I had to hold my steering wheel a little to the left for the car to go straight; if I held it straight and centered, the car veered to the right). Therefore, my previous (stock) tires had significant wear (esp. on the driver's side); they were more worn along the insides than the outsides. Once Lexus "pulled" the axle back into alignment (they put it on a machine that apparently tugs the axles back into alignment, if I understand it correctly) and I put on my F-sport wheels and new tires, the car drove fine for a while. Now, after just a ~1500 miles, my steering wheel is going back to being centered to the left.
Could it be that my axle (camber) was damaged again? Or perhaps my new tire is already worn because the right front tire rubs a little (though this seems unlikely according the the tread measurements above)? Or is something wrong with my steering wheel?
I'm not very knowledgeable on this and I've been searching but haven't come up with any conclusive answers. Any help is sincerely appreciated!
I recently went to my local Lexus dealership and they measured my tire tread. Unfortunately, I don't know what the latter part (the B & A measurements) of the measurement means, so I was hoping someone could tell me. I know the 9 or 10/32 is the tread depth measurement, but what are the others?
Front Left: 10/32 B 33 / A 34
Front Right: 9/32 B 34 / A 34
Rear Left: 9/32 B 34 / A 34
Rear Right: 10/32 B 34 / A 34
Additionally, my car was previously "damaged" by street wear & tear (we have horrible roads in N.O.) and apparently the alignment was significantly off and my steering centered to the left (I had to hold my steering wheel a little to the left for the car to go straight; if I held it straight and centered, the car veered to the right). Therefore, my previous (stock) tires had significant wear (esp. on the driver's side); they were more worn along the insides than the outsides. Once Lexus "pulled" the axle back into alignment (they put it on a machine that apparently tugs the axles back into alignment, if I understand it correctly) and I put on my F-sport wheels and new tires, the car drove fine for a while. Now, after just a ~1500 miles, my steering wheel is going back to being centered to the left.
Could it be that my axle (camber) was damaged again? Or perhaps my new tire is already worn because the right front tire rubs a little (though this seems unlikely according the the tread measurements above)? Or is something wrong with my steering wheel?
I'm not very knowledgeable on this and I've been searching but haven't come up with any conclusive answers. Any help is sincerely appreciated!
12-29-09, 06:58 PM
#3
It could just be that your car is out of alignment again from the bad roads you mentioned.
I would take it to a shop that specializes in alignments, you can get it done for ~60 - 80, rather than have the dealer do it.
The dealer has a certain "spec" and if the alignment is within that spec they call it good... a good shop will do a better job and provide you with a before / after sheet.
If, after alignment, you are STILL having problems, something else may be wrong.
I would take it to a shop that specializes in alignments, you can get it done for ~60 - 80, rather than have the dealer do it.
The dealer has a certain "spec" and if the alignment is within that spec they call it good... a good shop will do a better job and provide you with a before / after sheet.
If, after alignment, you are STILL having problems, something else may be wrong.
12-30-09, 02:58 PM
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Sweet, thank you Infra and mikes rx! That makes me feel a lot better... I was really hoping for nothing major to be wrong. I guess I'll take it to a trustworthy alignment shop... anyone know of any good ones in the New Orleans area?
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