Hi guys, The missus has a 2004 Astra, and the back tyres are stuffed, it is like every 2 inches there is a dip in the tread, so the whole tyre has a wave around the outer rim, both inside and out. Is this common? What causes it?? The front tyres are fine, which are the ones I would expect to chew out, as they are the drive wheels. Does it just need an alignment when I take it in for new tyres? or is there no way of fixing it?? just something that I have to deal with??

Thanks

Sounds like drastic wear, so if its alignment it would be way out. As Jim said, could be a bushing. My brothers 280 Merc had the same thing. Alignment didnt cure it, nothing seemed loose, but upon thorough inspection it was found an upper strut bushing was failing under load and causing horrible wear.

seems to me to a symptom of worn shock absorbers, the tyre developes a small pit and continual driving it bounces all the time and eventually ruins the tyre.
could be a bush though as said above. most tyre places or suspension places can test the shockers on the car while you wait and do it for free.

Sound like shes doin line lockers Durwin LOL

Why not take it to a Holden Dealer, they would have encounted this problem before??? At least get their opinion, you dont have to get it repaired there. AL.

Edited by user Thursday, 16 July 2009 1:40:19 AM(UTC)  | Reason: Not specified

its called scolloping when your tyre gets a small flat spot. then as the tyre hits that flat spot when driving. its bounces a little bit. then you end up with another small flat spot. this ends up around the tyre. my wifes toyota did it. so i checked the shocks and they werent bad enough to cause this. then i found out her father went with her to get new tyres and made her buy the cheapest tyres in the shop. i put on a good tyre and it never happened again.

They think they can get away with it when its a company car.

I learnt years ago to always write on the form "nothing additional to be done without authorisation" and demand they call before doing work beyond the regular scheduled service (additional work that they can bill you for).

I refused to pay for a "$24.95 fuel treatment" (which was simply a bottle of home-branded spitfire poured in the tank) because they didnt ask first. Had a stand up argument with the service manager in front of other customers. He told me "its in the car now, you have to pay for it" and I told him it wasnt authorised, so he can go & suck it all back out of the tank if he wants it......

Same went for the bottle of windscreen washer detergent they tried to slug me for. Went to pay the bill & it was higher than quoted. I had my suspicions when I saw the detergent bottle, keys, and logbooks together on the counter. Again, it wasnt authorised, so I refused, it - to be told I had to take it because theyd put some in the car. I asked him if he wanted a straw to suck out what theyd put into the washer bottle....and did not pay for it.
That day $380 bill dropped to $229 because all of the additional stuff they did was not authorised, nor was it needed. Mind you, they did claim that I needed washer fluid to keep the warranty valid....

I often wonder how car-ignorant people get on in these situations.
They probably just pay up, none-the-wiser.



Cheers,

Mick
_______________________________________________________________

Judge a successful man not on how he treats his peers, but on how he treats those less fortunate.

cannon, why I mention taking it to a dealer is because I had a problem with an Astra and although it was out of warranty I found there had been a previous recall. Although it was not repaired under warranty I was told the problem and was able to fix it myself. AL

Exactly HQforme, you would think a dealership yet alone 3 would have sorted this but no. Dealerships are only good for setting the clock on the dash and putting in the incorrect tire pressure.

They are all the same, take your car in with a problem and it comes out with 3 more.

Best Regards Bob.