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Subaru Outback/Legacy Tires and Wheels

124 messages,  Last post on Feb 23, 2012 at 5:42 PM

You are in the Subaru Legacy & Outback Forum.

What is this discussion about? Subaru Legacy, Subaru Outback, Tires, Wheels, Wagon

Messages Page 8 of 13

#70 of 124 outback alignment and/or tire wear problem by arigoldx

Aug 20, 2008 (11:24 am)

im writing about this problem both to document it and to see if it is affecting everyone else although upon seaching the forum it seems to have affected several people.
 
let me first restate that we have a 2006 outback (legacy).
 
the problem was first seen a few weeks after we bought the car new and went on an extended road trip. when we took the car in for its scheduled service, the mechanic said that he could not rotate the tires due to excessive wear. the wear worsened and, before we got home, we had to stop to get the car looked at as the metal thread was showing through the worn tire. it was diagnosed as being excessively out of alignment. subaru paid for the alignment and, after a struggle, the tires as well. thinking this was it, we were on our way.
 
this past summer, a few weeks ago, we moved across country. we had our mechanic perform an alignment just to be safe. they installed the trailer hitch and verified that all would be all right (max tongue weight 200 lbs). the same problem occurred as before but while it took near 10,000 miles last time, this time it occurred in less than 4,000. again, the alignment was excessively positive.
 
i should state that we were well under the 900 lbs max load for the vehicle.
 
needlesstosay, this problem should not occur with any vehicle when below the max load.
 
for your information - subaru, in '07, issued a service bulletin with new alignment specifications and tire pressure guidelines (upping the pressure to 40 psi under load).
 
today, after 2 weeks, subaru said that they'd give us $500 towards a new car. naturally, due to the meager sum and lack of care, we declined and are looking into legal action.
 
the last mechanic said that he has seen this problem - has anyone experienced anything like this? any excessive tire wear? that is the first sign - you may not know it is due to faulty alignment (although you probably do, as it would continue to happen without repair). has anyone had to get many alignments done on their car?
 
sadly, we are in the process of getting rid of our subaru. we thought this was a car for the outdoorsman but if it the alignment fails under normal loads, something is severely wrong.
 
i would be happy to discuss this more with anyone - just contact me via the forum.
 
wishing you the best.. ~ari

#71 of 124 Re: outback alignment and/or tire wear problem [arigoldx] by paisan

Aug 20, 2008 (7:51 pm)

Replying to: arigoldx (Aug 20, 2008 11:24 am)
Hmm, something is odd here...
 
You had the problem in 06 for the first 10k miles.
 
How many miles are on the car now?
 
Is there 14k miles on it now (10k then new tires and alignment + 4k on 2nd alignment)?
 
Also did the same shop do the alignment on your car both times?
 
I have an 05 LGT, no alignment issues, except after I hit an apex too tight on-track and put a wheel into a big pothole at 50+ mph, then it needed a new alignment!
 
-mike
Motorsports and Modifications Host

#72 of 124 New Tire Question by jackaspades

Sep 03, 2008 (1:10 pm)

2004 Sub Outback Sedan, 63,000 miles on car, same on OEM Bridgestone Potenza tires, looking for info on new All-Seasons. I know some of this has been covered in previous posts but my question deals with what all-season would be good for off-road driving as well as city/highway. I live in the NW, tend to drive somwhat spirited:) Only get a few days of snow a year so that isn't as much a concern as taking it on dirt/gravel forest service roads and since it is the "Valley" wet driving a must for good handlinig. What do ya'll suggest?

#73 of 124 Re: New Tire Question [jackaspades] by paisan

Sep 03, 2008 (6:06 pm)

Replying to: jackaspades (Sep 03, 2008 1:10 pm)
Hmm offroad tires may be difficult to find in that size.
 
I usually suggest the Sumitommo HTR+ for good all-seasons at a great price with good dry and wet handling. Not sure how they would do off road though.
 
-mike

#74 of 124 New Tire Question #2 by jackaspades

Sep 04, 2008 (3:10 pm)

Its been suggested to me by a couple tire stores that I could go with a 215 65/16 sized tire and see minimal change in speedo/odo. I checked with my Subie dealer and although "not recommended" to deviate from manufactures scecs, that size would prob be ok. Just a little narrower and slightly taller. If so I now have a wider range of tire selection that could offer more off road capabilities and branch out into the light truck/suv tire category such as the Yokohama Geolander A T/S, or the Pirelli Scorpion STR. I know all-wheel-drives can be picky about the size of tire and ecspecially with the VDC and what the car is tuned for, I want to be safe. Thoughts?

#75 of 124 Re: New Tire Question #2 [jackaspades] by xwesx

Sep 04, 2008 (4:08 pm)

Replying to: jackaspades (Sep 04, 2008 3:10 pm)
Well, my thinking is that if it is close to the specified size and all four are the same, there should not be added stress on the AWD system. I am really not sure if it would affect VDC, but I would think VDC tracks wheel-to-wheel spin differentials, which would not be affected by a different tire size.

#76 of 124 Re: New Tire Question #2 [xwesx] by paisan

Sep 04, 2008 (8:33 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Sep 04, 2008 4:08 pm)
So long as the diameter is the same on all 4 you will be ok.
 
I have always liked the Pirelli Scorpion tires. I just put the STRs on my Dad's Trooper.
 
-mike

#77 of 124 Excessive tire wear on a 2005 Legacy Outback by vdonovan

Sep 05, 2008 (1:56 pm)

We have a 2005 LOB, purchased new. At 20K miles (almost all highway) on the original tires (Potenzas) the outside edges of the rear tires were almost worn through. The front tires were not bad.
 
I took the car to the dealer and said that the tires were wearing prematurely and there must be something wrong with the alignment or some other problem with the car. He said that it was my fault for improper inflation, in that the wear patterns indicated under-inflation. I told him I know how to keep my tires properly inflated but got nowhere. I foolishly agreed to let him replace all tires with new Potenzas. They also did a balance and alignment.
 
20k miles later with regular rotation and proper inflation, I am seeing the exact same wear pattern as before. (see photos below). I am steeling myself to go back and argue with the dealer, even though I know it's not going to do me any good. Regardless, I would like to have this problem fixed. Does anyone have ideas about what might be causing this excessive and uneven wear?
 
thanks for your help
 
Rear tires:


 
Fronts:

#78 of 124 Re: Excessive tire wear on a 2005 Legacy Outback [vdonovan] by ateixeira

Sep 05, 2008 (3:11 pm)

Replying to: vdonovan (Sep 05, 2008 1:56 pm)
That's not too bad, to be honest.
 
You do need 4 new tires, though. The rears are totally spent and the front won't last another winter. Shop now.

#79 of 124 Re: Excessive tire wear on a 2005 Legacy Outback [vdonovan] by snowbelter

Sep 05, 2008 (3:24 pm)

Replying to: vdonovan (Sep 05, 2008 1:56 pm)
Subaru issued a Technical Service Bulletin #05-36-07R in regards to their changing rear wheel alignment and increasing tire pressure because of uneven wear on rear tires when carrying a heavy load. When I load up my 07 OB I try to increase the pressure on the rear tires to the number indicated for pulling a trailer which also puts a load on your rear tires.
 
I can't help you with the details of the TSB as you need to subscribe (pay) to download them from subaru.com, but your dealer and/or /Subaru Customer Service might be able to enlighten you.
 
Juice is correct in your needing four new tires, but also see if your rear alignment needs correction as per the TSB.
 
I suspect that the original alignment values and tire pressures resulted in the outside edges wearing too quickly. Have you been carrying heavy loads?

Messages Page 8 of 13

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