Tire temperatures and uneven wear

[epj3]

I was bored and purchased a cheap ($20) infrared thermometer for tire and brake temps. The car currently has blizzaks, and 3 out of 4 have even wear, but the one is worn much further than the others (rear driver.) After driving on some back roads, these are the max temperatures I got within the center 4 inches of the tires. I actually took the rear driver's temperature last, which is the worn one and the highest.

Front Drivers 102°
Front Passenger 104°

Rear Drivers 119°
Rear Passenger 111°

Car drives fine but I'm trying to figure out what is causing this before I throw $600 of summer tires on. I'm assuming it's probably an alignment problem? Any help is appreciated!

 

[Kirby]

First thing to verify is inflation. Assuming they are equal, and you were not doing burnouts LOL, alignment would be the next most likely cause.

Not likely, but are you sure that you were not picking up any additional heat signature from the exhaust? It is on the driver side....

 

[frolf]

the infrared pyrometers aren't very accurate, it is really hard to tell exactly on the tread where you are pointing it, and the surface of the tread loses heat pretty damn fast after you are done driving. pressure is #1, but consider getting the car aligned with less weight in the front passenger seat if you drive alone more often than not.

a friend of mine sits in his z8 while they align it to make sure it is specific to his weight because he rarely has people ride with him.

 

[epj3]

Yea I don't do burnouts (even though it's so easy with winter tires). Dan, I just put it in the mode where it tells me the max temperature read, so I 'scanned' the tread surface.

I guess I have to borrow a tire pyrometer if I want accurate results. If I ever get serious in HPDE's, I'll just buy a tire pyrometer.

 

[Big Daddy]

All four tires will run differing temps depending on how much cornering and which way the corner turned. Even one rear wheel, the driver, will run hotter because we don't have locked diffs. If your tire pressures are correct I would not concern myself with a =/- five degree temp on a straight level road, and even more on a curvey road.

 

[epj3]

All four tires will run differing temps depending on how much cornering and which way the corner turned. Even one rear wheel, the driver, will run hotter because we don't have locked diffs. If your tire pressures are correct I would not concern myself with a =/- five degree temp on a straight level road, and even more on a curvey road.

Yea true. Still doesn't explain why it's worn twice as much though!

 

[tool fan]

Yea true. Still doesn't explain why it's worn twice as much though!

Did you put the tires on yourself??? If not, maybe it is something that you over looked upon purchasing the car. Maybe the previous owner did burnouts and the side that is worn is the side that did not lock and spun thus burning the tread down. There is amillion different possibilities, the only way you will know for sure is after you get new tires, is that you monitor the wear.

 

[epj3]

Did you put the tires on yourself??? If not, maybe it is something that you over looked upon purchasing the car. Maybe the previous owner did burnouts and the side that is worn is the side that did not lock and spun thus burning the tread down. There is amillion different possibilities, the only way you will know for sure is after you get new tires, is that you monitor the wear.

Side that did not lock? It has a limited slip, though only 25%. I know I have dropped the clutch once or twice, and since these tires are like butter I could see it wearing it down. I don't see any odd wear patterns either... oh well.

 

[Abdoman]

I right with tool fan - if the wear is not uneven (on that particular tire) I would suspect the previous owner.

 

[Wadula]

we were only talking about the temp and spin and stuff. one already mentioned it, what about the tire pressure? that is in most cases the reason for this type of wear.

 

[///M SPEED]

Maybe like one of my rear tires; it has a slow leak leading to more tire wear and heat buildup.....

 

[jrt67ss350]

I've got my money on the alignment of that rear wheel being out of whack.

 

[epj3]

I've got my money on the alignment of that rear wheel being out of whack.

Thats what i've been thinking since seeing the tire. I don't care what people say - Unless the car has been used for 5 hours of skidpad testing, there is no reason that tire should have 1/4 the tread as the other 3. If I did a 3 minute brake stand on brand new tires, the rear two would be wearing nearly identical with a limited slip, even if it's only 25%. The much older differential in my e30 would leave two identical black streaks on the ground, as did my e34. Neither of those had uneven wear, and so far I've been much easier on the e36.

 

[tool fan]

Side that did not lock? It has a limited slip, though only 25%. I know I have dropped the clutch once or twice, and since these tires are like butter I could see it wearing it down. I don't see any odd wear patterns either... oh well.

I did not stutter, yes one side spinning.............. I have seen enough BMW's, doing burnouts over here at Race wars to know that one side ALWAYS spins harder and faster than the other.

 

[epj3]

I did not stutter, yes one side spinning.............. I have seen enough BMW's, doing burnouts over here at Race wars to know that one side ALWAYS spins harder and faster than the other.

My friend had a 1994? mazda miata that he autocrossed all the time. It was pretty much a dedicated all-out autocross car. It had an open differential, bridgestone s03's (notorious for quick wear), and an all-out suspension setup. He had plenty of wheel spin in that car, and he did not attain weird tire wear because of it, in fact the tire wear was identical after maybe 4 autocross events and usual daily driving.

So, are you saying BMW uses an extremely inefficient rear end? I don't care about "burn outs," since I am positive that was not done in this car.

 

[nadroj]

just go get the alainment checked something is obiosly off

 

[tool fan]

My friend had a 1994? mazda miata that he autocrossed all the time. It was pretty much a dedicated all-out autocross car. It had an open differential, bridgestone s03's (notorious for quick wear), and an all-out suspension setup. He had plenty of wheel spin in that car, and he did not attain weird tire wear because of it, in fact the tire wear was identical after maybe 4 autocross events and usual daily driving.

So, are you saying BMW uses an extremely inefficient rear end? I don't care about "burn outs," since I am positive that was not done in this car.

I am not saying anything........... just trying to provide a different angle.

 

[epj3]

I am not saying anything........... just trying to provide a different angle.

Don't worry, spinning the tires was already put through my mind as the #1 cause for tire wear

 

[DSK]

That level of tyre wear even with that abuse seems starnge. The best starting point after checking pressures etc, is the alignment.

I only use a specialist 4 wheel infra-red computerised alignment centre for my BMW. They set everything up spot on, and they actually make adjustemnts at the rear end (unlike most places that only align the front 2 wheels to the back ones). A specialist place like the one I use will also be able to see the exact state of play with regards to alignment, camber and toe and set those up as well! Quite important with rear wheel cars.

My alignment usually costs about £50 and checks are free.