Car problem question

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I have a 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Station Wagon (I know not the most sporty car in the world but that is what happens when you have kids.) Anyway, I was changing the oil and breaks today and found a surprise that I wasn't expecting. I found that on the passenger side front type I have a 13-14" space on the inside of the tire where I can see metal just showing through. I have noticed some vibrations coming from the front of the car and figured the balance might be out on one of the wheels but I wasn't sure. Does this sound like a balance issue or do y'all think it could be something different?
 
This is on the tire tread, right? That's weird to have a spot worn through like that, that long. Definitely needs replaced, but also figure out why that happened. Pictures would help us decide that part.
 
Sounds like just a straight tyre replacement. If you can, replace the whole set. The camber on those cars is set for performance, so it eats through tyres unevenly that way.

I just replaced a set recently for the same reason, except it ways the rear tyres that were badly worn on the inside treading. Once I did, the car was smooth again. I wasn't expecting it to ride so good after replacement, thought I would have to replace rotors and brakes, and also get it alligned. But it worked out with just the tyres replaced.
 
@DKLion3s: Thanks for the advice. As for the pictures, I can't take them right now cause I am at work and getting the tire replaced after I get off work. Will let y'all know if it fixes the problem or not though.
 
Really hard to picture what you're talking about. Pics would help

It really isn't. Tires have metal braiding inside them. It sounds like he wore through the rubber and down to the belts. Time for new tires at which point any tires shop should tell you, most likely wear due to improper toe, to get an alignment.
 
If you're tire is so bald you can almost see the air inside; you need a new tire. Most people call this 'chording'.

If the tire is only chorded on the inside; you need to have your alignment checked.
 
If it's in the middle of the tread, it's caused from over inflation.

If it's on either side of the tire it's your alignment, check your wheel bearings- it can cause your alignment to go off.
 
I question it being so much wear in one spot though. Unless its all very worn and just this one spot is that tiny bit worse that the belts are showing, something more than a bad alignment should be to blame. Any panic braking or other lockup lately?
 
No panic braking or anything lately.

Got a tire today and that seemed to fix the problem and the vibration. It was weird though, you would think the whole tire was brand new except for that one spot and the wear on it was about an inch thick and about 13-14 inches long. Never seen anything like it before.

By the way, I am usually pretty good about getting tires before the tread is too low and rarely ever have a tire show metal at all before it gets changed. This was just weird and I didn't see it when I checked it the last time I looked. I have the feeling the metal spot was on the ground when I checked an was only able to see it when I got it on the lift to change the oil.
 
It really isn't. Tires have metal braiding inside them. It sounds like he wore through the rubber and down to the belts. Time for new tires at which point any tires shop should tell you, most likely wear due to improper toe, to get an alignment.

Mate by the way it was worded I didn't know whether he was talking about the tire itself or something behind the tire. I realize tires have belts in them, thanks - one of the main reasons I didn't assume he was just discussing the tire was because I thought that anyone in their right mind who saw a tire that badly worn would know instantly to replace the tire and not have to ask on a forum...

EDIT: Upon reading the original post again it seems that he wasn't asking whether it was necessary to fix the tire but asking the cause. My apologies, don't know where my reading skills went so wrong in this thread!
 
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No panic braking or anything lately.

Got a tire today and that seemed to fix the problem and the vibration. It was weird though, you would think the whole tire was brand new except for that one spot and the wear on it was about an inch thick and about 13-14 inches long. Never seen anything like it before.

By the way, I am usually pretty good about getting tires before the tread is too low and rarely ever have a tire show metal at all before it gets changed. This was just weird and I didn't see it when I checked it the last time I looked. I have the feeling the metal spot was on the ground when I checked an was only able to see it when I got it on the lift to change the oil.

That type of wear is generally caused by hard cornering. In the US, where most, if not all ramps (on/off) the HWY are right-handers, it generally takes a toll on the passenger side tyres on the inside. Especially when the rear starts to hop while cornering, it's not that noticeable while you're doing it, that that's what's happening to your tyres.

I've become accustomed to it, now, after years of driving. I'll slow to more reasonable speeds while cornering, even though I know the car can handle more. And to heck with drivers on my bumper, they aren't the ones to fork out 400-500 $$$ to replace the set, and that's excluding mount & balance.
 
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I have a 2004 Mitsubishi Lancer Sportback Station Wagon (I know not the most sporty car in the world but that is what happens when you have kids.) Anyway, I was changing the oil and breaks today and found a surprise that I wasn't expecting. I found that on the passenger side front type I have a 13-14" space on the inside of the tire where I can see metal just showing through. I have noticed some vibrations coming from the front of the car and figured the balance might be out on one of the wheels but I wasn't sure. Does this sound like a balance issue or do y'all think it could be something different?

My mother had one of those. You have NO IDEA how badly I wanted to buy a rear-ended Evo VIII/IX and make an Evo wagon out of it.

If it is on the tread, it sounds like the tire is question is massively toed out, due to hitting a curb or pothole that bent or forced the suspension slightly. Either that, or a bushing has failed, allowing that wheel to toe out when driving. Could also be a failed tie rod end. All of these would allow the tire to track pointed outward, making the inside edge of the tread scrub the whole time the car is driving.

It *could* also be excessive negative camber from a similar problem as above, but in my experience, you need radically incorrect (and immediately visible as wrong) camber to cause any serious uneven tire wear.

With the car jacked up, can you shake that wheel more than just a tiny bit?

Sounds like just a straight tyre replacement. If you can, replace the whole set. The camber on those cars is set for performance, so it eats through tyres unevenly that way.

Not on a plain Lancer, it's not. It's FWD and really doesn't carry any significant camber - at most, half a degree negative. In many years of tinkering with alignments, I've never seen camber cause excess wear unless it is radical, like 4 degrees negative.

I just replaced a set recently for the same reason, except it ways the rear tyres that were badly worn on the inside treading. Once I did, the car was smooth again. I wasn't expecting it to ride so good after replacement, thought I would have to replace rotors and brakes, and also get it alligned. But it worked out with just the tyres replaced.

If you have severely uneven wear, you have an alignment problem. Nerw tires will feel better, but will not stay new very long.

Morrac: You should always replace tires in pairs, unless they are extremely new and one gets an unfixable puncture within a couple thousand miles of installation. This is especially true at the front tires, which do all the steering, 85% of the braking, and (in your case) 100% of the driving. I'd put a fresh tore on the other side, too, and get the car aligned.
 
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If you have severely uneven wear, you have an alignment problem. Nerw tires will feel better, but will not stay new very long.


I was running softer rubbers at the time, 25k mile tyres (toyo). There's nothing wrong with the allignment in my case. I was just an erratic driver (youth). I have since gone with 45 to 60k tyres, don't have a problem anymore. All my vehicles experience this when I decide to corner at high speeds with softer radials. And, I always replace tyres in sets!


Most, if not all, Japanese brands have more camber at the rear and front, than say US model vehicles. And German vehicles, especially BMW have some of the most camber setting for the rear axle. Very common to see this type of wear on them.

US model SUVs are starting to get this way as well, due to manufacturers trying to compensate for roll-over risks.
 
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