rear tyre wear on VT ,pulling a caravan

[brianag@optusnet.com.au]

Hi folks , i have very bad wear on my rear tyres on a standard commodore 1999 VT Berlina ,mainly on the inside ,which means negative camber and the tyres are scrubbing out , i know that Vts are common for this problem , i also tow a van .
Some advice is to lower and fit a camber kit , but apparently this does not altogether solve the problem , would be grateful for any advice , it is expensive tyre replacement many thanks brian

[batemada]

I would advise getting a camber kit installed and get firmer shocks a springs installed in the rear to help combat the weight of the van when you tow it.

[88GreenVN]

Do u use the special connection system (dont know what its called)
Has high grade round bar (19mm ish) connected of the tow bar and attaches to the van A frame via small chains.

Puts lift pressure on the tow bar coupling - reducing spring load in the rear tryes. This wont fix worn IRS parts
Better springs for towing.

[VT_Boi]

are u using towing springs?

[Julie]

We don't tow a caravan but we've had the tyre wear problems that the vts are notorius for. We found the camber kit helpe ease the problem but it definately didn't solve it. Idon't think lowering the car will help.

[ciaranvt]

i have my car slammed 2.5 inches all round and regularly carry heavy loads in the rear of my wagon and dont experience massively bad tyre wear.

i get about 10,000 ks out of a pair of rear tyres, but being on 18s you expect to go thru tyres wuicker anyway with stiffer sidewalls (less wall flex = more tyre wear)

that and my shocks are close to shagged. so i understand my tyre wear is a product of my own laziness.

either way, my tyre wear is better than some VTs that arent slammed on 15s.

[brianag@optusnet.com.au]

thanks for the replies guys , but it dosen't seem to solve the problem , too much if you lower the car and put in a camber kit . I have tried to put in a level ride towbars , but looking at the car with the tow ball loaded up ,it still shows heaps of negative camber . It looks like i am just going to have to put up with the abnormal tyre wear .cheers

[WAGON MAN]

How heavy (kg's) is your van and what type of springs are in the rear of your VT?

[knowledge_is_power]

It is excessive Toe-in that actually causes the wear on your tyres and the negative camber that accentuates the problem. Because Holden has used the cheaper IRS in VP – VX series I, when the semi-trailing arm pivots it effects both toe in and camber. Lowering will give more negative camber and tow in and raising the rear will have the opposite effect. A small amount of Toe-in is needed for stability at speed.

Because the camber and toe kits have a limited correction ability I would in all seriousness look at a heavy duty raised spring in the rear as well as the camber/toe kits. This will help relieve the tyre wear by bringing the tyre to a more desirable toe-in degree and a more neutral camber.

[Thomo]

i have my car slammed 2.5 inches all round and regularly carry heavy loads in the rear of my wagon and dont experience massively bad tyre wear.

i get about 10,000 ks out of a pair of rear tyres, but being on 18s you expect to go thru tyres wuicker anyway with stiffer sidewalls (less wall flex = more tyre wear)

that and my shocks are close to shagged. so i understand my tyre wear is a product of my own laziness.

either way, my tyre wear is better than some VTs that arent slammed on 15s.

Mate ive got mine lowered with kingspring lows which is 2 1/2 inches alround & ive got just about 25,000 kls out of them with no camber kit.All ways got the kids in the back with there crap in the boot.I would think that you should be getting more out of you rear tyres then that.Do you rotate them.I do mine every 10,000.That helps heaps mine have warn evenlly because of that.

[ciaranvt]

that would probably help, i have gotten nearly 30000 out of my fronts..

[vt com]

post some specs of your van and its weight, what tpe of towbar do you have fitted and what style of weight distrubution hitch are you currently using and how old is it. I hear that tyre wear is common but it sounds like your van is incorrectly set up which is reducing your tyre wear.

post some specs and I can help you

[brianag@optusnet.com.au]

hi thevan weighs about 600kilos and hayman reece 1210 rating .just the standard type level rides , rear springs are standard and the van is light , with reasonable tow ball weight . i would only tow the van twice a year. ,most of the
time i am the only person in the car . have now changed the wheels to 16 inches , and had the front end alignment done at computerlign in NUNAWANDING in melbourne and in 6 months the front tyres were rooted too much toe in .
can anybody reccomend a good wheel alignment joint ,who know there stuff

[brianag@optusnet.com.au]

hi folks i forgot to mention that i have a 65 litre gas tank in the boot , i guess that might have a bearing. And how do you reply to individual post thanks brian

[brianag@optusnet.com.au]

hi i have posted some specs , thanks for you help brian

[jeffa]

As has been said, get a camber kit. Make sure the suspension place knows what they are talking about.The guys that did mine not only knew what they are talking about, but gave a lifetime warranty. I have had the car back (usually for routine alignment checks) and they are happy to make minor tweaks to the front and rear alignment before the rear tyres start to scrub. I am now getting about the same mileage from the rears as the front (I haven't rotated them - I know I should but i am lazy).
The rear end on these was not good, too much toe and camber change with suspension travel, and there is a lot of flex in the rubber bushes, so the tyres squirm around, especially on acceleration. Hence the toe link on the later VX's etc. This was not a solution, as it just limitted how far out of alingment the rear wheels could get.
Most cars are not set right from the factory, AND the factory specs are very liberal! Get the kit fitted (about $400 - or it was ) and the shop will set it up to be ideal when the car is loaded as you normally drive it. You might need to take it back a few times as the parts settle, and as the tyres wear, so they can make fine adjustments. If the shop aren't willing to do this for you, go somewhere else. This problem is not unique. Every suspension shop will have experience in it.

[Hairy Eater]

better still buy a Ford..... its Holdens stuff up... Holden says the maxium weight of rear passengers plus luggage in the boot does not excedd 120 klgs ....doesnt leave much for the towball weight, does it ...

[wrx884]

that would probably help, i have gotten nearly 30000 out of my fronts..

im pretty sure if u have 17s u should get 40000kms out of them, 18's 30000kms, 19's 20000kms ect...ect...if u get less than half of wat ur supposed 2 then u have a problem with somthing or like it was suggested helps rotating lol

[88GreenVN]

I would be trying Heavy duty springs. My brother has a vz storm ute with all his tools & compressor in it.
A new set of springs made the ute level and reduced tyre wear.

[EXCESSV]

try adding some air bags for the rear and that way pump it up to lift the arse up and therefore with the correct 4pt camber kit and adjusted correctly it should make a massive improvement.....was gonna do to my old lowered vt coz towing jetski which altogether was round 400kg, plus my subs, subs box, full size spare etc....but i sold it to buy the hsv so didnt give it a shot