[Benfrain]

Fellow Mini people... Help a man out...

A few days ago it was pointed out to me that my passenger side front tyre was very worn on the outside edge.

I checked the tyre pressure and it was a little low (6psi too low). However as all the other tyres were around the same I thought it best to get it checked. Knights Mini advised that if the tracking needed doing it would be £250 (Stone the crows!!!) so after taking advise here I took it to a 'normal' tyre place to get the standard tracking done.

They told me that the front was actually fine but the back was out a little. They adjusted it for me and then told me to test it down the road and check it was straight. The reason being they had adjusted mini's in the past and they had almost immidiately adjusted back out (something they believed was due to the electric power steering???).

Anyway, was pulling a little to the left so I took it back in and they adjusted it again. It is better now but I'm not sure if I am being paranoid but still feels like it may be going a little to the left.

So, finally, my question....

What would/could have caused this uneven tyre wear? It's already cost me one tyre (£150) and I don't want it to cost me anymore.

This pulling to the left - is it something that needs looking at or is it a known fault?

I would like to take it to my dealer but when they threaten you with a £250 bill should the tracking need adjusting I'm a little concerned.

Your advice please people...

It's an 05 Mini Cooper S by the way with 17" alloys (the chilli pack ones)!

[Ell P]

i feel your pain mate, i had huge problems a couple of weeks ago. i changed my 16'' runflats to 18'' kmc chromes with 215/35/18 tyres. anyway they came over from the USA all balanced. i had a local ATS garage fit them and on driving it home it pulled both left/right. i got back on to the phone to them suggesting my tracking etc was out they simply said take it to the dealer and that it was my fault for getting such big wheels on a small car! not satisfied with this i knew not to take it to the dealer as they would give me a whopping bill, so i took it to a tyre specialist at this point i must say i was getting a panic on spending £1,650 on wheels that made my car a real hazard. they quickly put my car up on the ramp and carried out a laser alignment and found out that the front passenger wheel was toeing in 3 degrees. they brought all into line. this solved my problem 80%. i then went to put some more air in my tyres and took them from 30psi to 32psi this has made my car 100% perfect to drive again and it is quicker and handles great. im over the moon i solved this problem and there is nothing worse than when u car goes all over the show. so basically all i can say is have them laser aligned theres loads of reasons why they could be pulling the car. if uu have runflats they tend to follow the camber of the road slightly but u shouldnt have it in a big big way.

[dannit]

The 17" runflats do pull slightly with the road but shouldnt pull too much, have you had your first service yet???? cause if not and it is due soon, they will check the alignment using a laser aligner and it should be sorted, i had kinda the same problem when i bought a new tire for mine, but it was because my wheel hadnt be weighted properly when the tire was fitted. local garage fixed it quick fast for me.

good luck

[Widgey]

Quote: Originally Posted by dannit

The 17" runflats do pull slightly with the road but shouldnt pull too much, have you had your first service yet???? cause if not and it is due soon, they will check the alignment using a laser aligner and it should be sorted, i had kinda the same problem when i bought a new tire for mine, but it was because my wheel hadnt be weighted properly when the tire was fitted. local garage fixed it quick fast for me.

good luck

KDS (wheel alignment check) is NOT part of the first service and will NOT be checked as a matter of course. If you request it, be prepared to pay for it or kick-up-a-stink if the car is still under warranty.

[Benfrain]

Quote: Originally Posted by Widgey

KDS (wheel alignment check) is NOT part of the first service and will NOT be checked as a matter of course. If you request it, be prepared to pay for it or kick-up-a-stink if the car is still under warranty.

Yes, I think it's a bit **** of Mini though that they can't just take a look at it. I would rather have Mini check it all out and align it but £250 just to check it is outrageous.

The local garage did say to bring it back if I felt it had gone out again so I suppose I will just have to do that...