Just returned from Chicago in my wifes P5. I sware to god I have the worst luck with cars. I slapped her summer tires on right before the trip---actually we had them on for 100 miles before. Anyway....I remembered when I mounted them that I had forgot to have the car aligned before winter I say that because when I took the summer tires off in the fall, the insides of the front tires were chewed up---i.e., they weren't smooth---almost grooved in a stair step fashion. I was going to have the alignment done, but didn't. Nice move, Curt

So...here's my stupidity. I threw the front two that were chewed up on the rear and the better of the two to the front and headed for Chicago. We hit the highway and I set the cruise at 75mph. I hear this waaawaaawaaaawaaawaaaa sound coming from the rear and the car is vibrating in the floor, seats, etc., but NOT the steering wheel. That normally tells me the front tires are not causing the problem. At this point, I'm pissed. Not only do I have a problem, but I am now shredding the two good tires that are up front!!! Crap. Drive to Chicago and by the time I get there, it smoothed out a bit---but still not perfect.

I checked again and the rears are definately (formally on the front) chewed up on the insides. I got home about an hour ago and now the fronts (formally on the rear) are also chewed a BIT, but not as bad as the ones in the rear (formally on the front).

Question: If I have them set the alignment, will the waaaawaaaawaaaa sound go away, as well as the vibration? Or, am I faced with buying 4 new tires? Man, if that's the case, I am going to be pissed at myself. Either way, the alignment will be done tomorrow night at Tire Kingdom.

Suggestions?

Thanks,
Curt B. Shumaker

 

I've had that happen to me before and it's a new set of tires. If they are unevenly used, like in the middle or side, and you can see it when it's on a lift, then they can sometimes be somewhat salvaged by decreasing or increasing the PSI for a while. If they are chewed as in not smooth at all, adios amigo.

Mike

 

Well, they are definately "saw toothed" on the inside of the tire. If I run my hand along the inside of the tread, there's a saw tooth feeling where as the outside of the tire is smooth.

I have a bad feeling I am looking at 4 new tires. Sucks because these only have about 15k on them.

Curt

 

Maybe check out the base warranty on these tires, maybe they will take them back, or find a place that will give you a price on your old tires if you buy new ones from them.

Mike