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

#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?

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

Sep 05, 2008 (4:40 pm)

Replying to: snowbelter (Sep 05, 2008 3:24 pm)
Aw, darn. I had a link to a site that listed all the Subaru TSBs, but it is no longer valid. Bummer, that. I worked long and hard to find the thing. It is ironic, to me, that Subaru would charge for TSB access when we already spent enough flippin' money on the cars in the first place!

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

Sep 05, 2008 (4:46 pm)

Replying to: snowbelter (Sep 05, 2008 3:24 pm)
Perhaps this is counter-intuitive, but I would think that carrying a heavy load (which typically vests with the rear suspension) would tend to cause the inner edge of the tires to wear faster than the outer edges, as the suspension drop would put more pressure on the inside edge of the tire. Maybe not, though.
 
I noticed no oddities on my 2008 Outback's tires, and I had a heavy load (probably more than the rated capacity, to be honest) in it for the first 5500 miles of its life. Maybe they had the issue corrected by then.
 
Have you not had the 4-wheel alignment reset? If the tires are wearing unevenly, that would be a good place to start.
 
The Potenza are probably not overly reliable as a test tire, as they wear very quickly anyway. General reports seem to give them a lifespan of 20-30,000 miles.

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

Sep 05, 2008 (5:44 pm)

Replying to: xwesx (Sep 05, 2008 4:46 pm)
I read somewhere that the TSB changes the toe-in specs.

#83 of 124 1990 subaru legacy wont run in the mornings!!!!!! by vrooom32k

Sep 07, 2008 (1:21 am)

hey guys I got this lil big problem with my 1990 sub legacy L, 5 speed every time i try to turn it on in the mornings it wont pwr up the fuel pump and the car wont run, but when i get home from work or let it sit in the garage over night it pwrs right up and oway it goes, Ive tryied the fuel pump relay and ign relay and its still doing the same thing so can some one out there point me in the right direction PLEASE i would be more then greatfull.... Thanks ; )

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

Sep 08, 2008 (8:57 am)

Replying to: vdonovan (Sep 05, 2008 1:56 pm)
The common knowledge about tire inflation says that shoulder wear is an underinflation problem, but I was seeing the same thing with my OEM tires and a tire guy told me that Bridgestones react just the opposite, so they cup and wear the outer edges when overinflated. I have been trusting that when I get my car serviced they know what my tires should be inflated to and I have been wrong to do so. There is also the difference between what the tire sidewall says they should be inflated to and the placard on the inside of the driver door panel. Not sure if that helps any.

#85 of 124 Re: Excessive tire wear on a 2005 Legacy Outback [jackaspades] by cptplt

Sep 09, 2008 (3:50 pm)

Replying to: jackaspades (Sep 08, 2008 8:57 am)
I think that tire guy is smoking some good stuff if he thinks Bridgsetones are somehow different!
 
The tire pressure stamped on the side of the tire is the maximum cold pressure the tire should ever be at. that is usually a lot higher than what the vehicle manufacturer stamps on that little plate on your car which they think will give you the best ride for that vehicle

#86 of 124 Re: Excessive tire wear on a 2005 Legacy Outback [jackaspades] by cptplt

Sep 09, 2008 (3:54 pm)

Replying to: jackaspades (Sep 08, 2008 8:57 am)
one other thing, never trust a shop to measure the pressure accurately, they use those gauges a zillion times a month and in most shops will never recalibrate them ever again after their purchase. the number of times I have left a shop after a service where they set my tires to some ridiculously low pressure I have given up counting. get a good accurate gauge and always recheck them when you leave those places.

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

Dec 16, 2008 (5:38 pm)

Replying to: vdonovan (Sep 05, 2008 1:56 pm)
I have the same problem with my 05 Legacy Outback. The original Potenzas wore this way so I replaced them in June. I drove 7000 miles in July with a Thule box and two bikes on top across the country and back and the tires needed to be replaced again. The rear two tires.
 
Did you get it worked out?

#88 of 124 Re: Excessive tire wear on a 2005 Legacy Outback [xwesx] by nornet

Dec 17, 2008 (8:50 am)

Replying to: xwesx (Sep 05, 2008 4:46 pm)
I've done several cross country trips on the original R92As. They have about 20k on them now and should see another 20 with no problems. Overall a pretty good tire. No alignment problems. Good enough that I might replace them with the same tire when the rime comes. When I get the snows taken off, the dealer wants to set the car at 37psi. The original dealer delivered the car with 37 psi. The tire dealer wants to fun the Toyo snows at 40 psi. Tire pressures are beyond me these days. The only thing I can think of is no one wants the TMPS to activate so they over inflate.
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