Why do Jazzs wear tyre edges and can it be prevented?

[Jazzdriver]

At its second annual service (only 10,500 miles) the dealer said my Jazz (16 inch wheels) was wearing both edges of both front tyres.  It said that this was normal for a Jazz.  My wife had a puncture recently (the second in two years, both rear tyres have now had a puncture) and called the AA.  The AA man put the spare on and commented that one of the front tyres was approaching being illegal because of wear to the edges.  This is at only 12,500 miles.  (I don't know the tyre make, but it is on the original tyres.)

This problem is referred to in various tyre threads, but I don't think that I have read a cause for the problem.   Also, some people report high mileages for their tyres without this problem.   

What is the explanation?

[VicW]

It has been common on all the Jazz that I have owned. There was even wear of the tyre edges of about 1mm more than the centres of the tread.
I run my front tyres at 34psi instead of the 32psi recommended and find that this helps even the wear out without  affecting the handling or comfort.

Vic.

[trebor1652]

Never had that problem with my mk1, and I had that car for seven years.
In my opinion it's a tracking problem.

Sent from my XT1039 using Tapatalk

[Jazzdriver]

I had considered increasing front PSI, so it is helpful to know that Vic has been doing this successfully with no ill effects.

Would a tracking problem affect both front wheels?  Why would it be out for so many cars?  On the other hand, some people report that they have never had the problem.  Strange.

My Honda Legend had 200bhp and was front wheel drive.  The tyres lasted so long that I replaced them just because I was concerned about hold old the rubber was. 

I think the first generation Suzuki Swift had a reputation for eating tyres quickly.  It's an unfortunate characteristic.  Apart from the expense and hassle, it suggests something wrong with the design (suspension geometry or something).  In the case of the Suzuki Swift the second generation did not have the problem (I think).  Why would Honda not have fixed it for the Mk2?  Strange.

[JohnAlways]

Good day.
Tracking alignment issues would wear outside edges of both tyres (to much toe-in) or inside edges of both tyres (to much toe-out). Wear in the centre of the tyre = over inflated (extra pressure pushes tyre centre outwards to the ground so less tyre edge hits the road), under inflated stiffness from tyre walls means edge of tyre runs on road both sides of tyre whilst lack of air pushing in centre of tyre allows the tyre to misshape so the centre hardly touches the road. Under inflated is quite dangerous as the shape of the tyre deforms and allows wiggles on the road which can become uncontrollable. (That's why police stingers work). Unfortunately there is no absolute best tyre pressure for each car so manufacturers work out the best safe average  for your car. This can vary in real life depending on the make, size and type of tyre and this average setting is transferred to your driver handbook information. In the case of outside edge wear I would try a couple of extra pounds also as a start but both edges on the same tyre is unlikely to be tracking. Wheel bearings can also cause a problem but at the millage you have very very unlikely.
I had a Mk3 for Ford  Escort that would wear rear tyres badly. Even though these are fixed by tie bars I checked alignment and was toeing in by nearly a quarter of an inch (yes it was a long time ago (Inches))! I packed out the tie rods with plain washers, messed about to get a smaller reading than 1/4" and I never replaced any rear tyres after.

[culzean]

Honda used to have proper suspension (I think the 'Rover 400 shape'  and the next gen 'minivan'  may have been the last to have it) the suspension was 'double wishbone unequal link' - which meant the suspension was stronger (less likely to be upset and knocked out of line by potholes and kerbs) wheel travel was more closely controlled and tyres wore very evenly,  now Honda Just have MacPherson strut with a single wishbone  - nowhere near as good.  MacPherson strut is a cost cutting of suspension, a thing car makers do when they are cost cutting and because it is hidden they hope people won't notice.

Having said that, I have never noticed uneven tyre wear on MK1 or MK2 Jazz or my Civic,  it could be that the suspension is not so robust and can be misaligned by potholes or kerbs - it is always worth having alignment checked at a reputable garage because it will be cheaper than replacing tyres more often that needed.

Could be that 16" tyres with shorter stiffer sidewall are more prone to eneven wear because sidewalls are not so compliant,  and suspension needs to be more precise to keep the wider tyre sitting flat on the road.  Tyres are part of the suspension and lower profile don't absorb road shocks and irregularities  as well as higher profiles do, this gives both the suspension links and your bum a harder time.

Tyre pressure is important, the tread face on really wide F1 tyres is actually concave until the air is pumped in and this flattens the tread out.

http://www.autospeed.com/cms/article.html?&title=Front-Suspension-Designs-&A=113215

[DWF]

It is a problem with the 16 inch wheels, it can be reduced but never eliminated by having the tracking set correctly. My second new Jazz with 16 inch wheels was taken to a place that did laser alignment as soon as I got it after my first Jazz managed less that 9,000 miles before being advised that they were getting close to the legal limit. The tracking was about as far out as was possible according to the garage and the dealer just said "we don't check the tracking" though he helpfully said they could supply me with new tyres for around £109 each.

[Ozzie]

I think the above comments about tyre pressure and tracking is good advice . . . . . but maybe have a look at your driving style, if you are cornering at speed you will tend to wear the edges of tyres, a slightly slower, smoother drive will save your tyres, and your money and do a bit for the environment.

[peteo48]

It has been common on all the Jazz that I have owned. There was even wear of the tyre edges of about 1mm more than the centres of the tread.
I run my front tyres at 34psi instead of the 32psi recommended and find that this helps even the wear out without  affecting the handling or comfort.

Vic.

I've noticed this as well on my current Jazz and the previous one. They both have the stock Dunlop 2030 tyres. It's important to recognise that the OP is talking about "both edges on both front tyres" - not just uneven wear on one side so, to my admittedly uneducated eye, that doesn't seem to be a tracking issue.

It might shorten the life of the tyre a bit I guess - mine have just under 15,000 on them at present. I am not overly concerned but it would be interesting to know what causes it.

[culzean]

It's important to recognise that the OP is talking about "both edges on both front tyres" - not just uneven wear on one side so, to my admittedly uneducated eye, that doesn't seem to be a tracking issue.

If both the outer edges of tyre are worn it would point to under-inflation,  on the other hand over-inflation will cause centre of tyre to wear more than the edges.

http://www.procarcare.com/includes/content/resourcecenter/encyclopedia/ch25/25readtirewear.html

[peteo48]

It's important to recognise that the OP is talking about "both edges on both front tyres" - not just uneven wear on one side so, to my admittedly uneducated eye, that doesn't seem to be a tracking issue.

If both the outer edges of tyre are worn it would point to under-inflation,  on the other hand over-inflation will cause centre of tyre to wear more than the edges.

http://www.procarcare.com/includes/content/resourcecenter/encyclopedia/ch25/25readtirewear.html

Which makes Vic's addition of a couple of psi to 34 a possible solution but that then implies the recommended 32 psi is too low?

Could it be a characteristic of the Dunlop SP2030s?

[madasafish]

I run my 2012 1.4 Jazz always at correct tyre pressures. (I am obsessive !).. and have zero uneven wear on any tyre... And never had on any car - with the correct tracking...

I check pressures every two weeks, when I check oil, water etc... (Yes I was brought up when cars were unreliable and had to be checked or £££s )

[VicW]

Which makes Vic's addition of a couple of psi to 34 a possible solution but that then implies the recommended 32 psi is too low?
Could it be a characteristic of the Dunlop SP2030s?

As I said previously this even wear of both outer edges of both front tyres has been a feature of all five Jazz's that I have owned and has occurred on different makes of tyre including Dunlop, Bridgestone and Michelin.
The reason for slightly raising the tyre pressure is to transfer the wear to the centre of the tread, the tyres still last as long.

Vic.

[Jazzdriver]

Honest John refers to a front tyre problem, particularly with the 16" wheels:

http://www.honestjohn.co.uk/carbycar/honda/jazz-2008/?section=good

The dealer told me that this is normal with the Jazz.  Vic says he's seen it on 5 cars.   So there is a problem.  I am puzzled to know what causes it and whether it can be fixed.  Also, it is puzzling that some people say that they have never had a problem.  Why don't Honda specify 34 psi for the front if that is the answer? 

Generally, I dislike low profile tyres.  They are a waste of money, wear faster and spoil the ride.   The tyres on my car are not exactly low profile, but when I bought it I said to the dealer that I would much rather have 15" wheels.  The irony is that the more expensive models have worse wheels and tyres than cheaper models and therefore a worse ride. 

[John Ratsey]

Generally, I dislike low profile tyres.  They are a waste of money, wear faster and spoil the ride.   The tyres on my car are not exactly low profile, but when I bought it I said to the dealer that I would much rather have 15" wheels.  The irony is that the more expensive models have worse wheels and tyres than cheaper models and therefore a worse ride.

I agree. Another consequence is that the press get given the vehicles with the worse ride so it's not surprising that they usually complain about the ride quality. However, it's not just Honda which suffers from the fad that the better-featurred versions have to wear bigger wheels. Perhaps they should make wheel size a zero cost option.