As per above, i seek to improve the heap i recently boiught. After sorting the mysterious limp mode issues (fuel filter) and the auto gearbox issues, next on the list is tyres. At 60 mph plus it feels like i have a wheel out of balance, more so from the rear as you feel it through the seats and floor, approaching 80 and the steering wheel starts to show it aswell. Car handles like a barge in the bends,sounds like starsky and hutch going round corners at minimal speed, even though tyre pressures have been checked and topped up. Its far worse than the previous 2 cars ive had, and they both had knackered rear suspension from towing etc. Tyres are pirelli scorpions, roughly half worn. I noted on the rear passenger tyres, worse on that there is a definite step in the tread pattern where the inner blocks are below the next set of more central blocks, cant tell if there are flat spots on the tyres aswell. This i guess could cause the issue, and may be down to alignment or poor suspension, I dont know if the tyres have been moved at any point so if its suspension, it may not be the bit where the tyre is currently fitted. Any thoughts or things i can check before i vist the local tyre depot?

Don’t just go to any old tyre depot. You need a proper 4 wheel alignment check. Have a look here.
https://www.freel2.com/forum/topic28776.ht...+alignment

Its tempting to get it aligned, but I guess if the tyres are stuffed already, that won't fix anything, and with 121k on the clock, worn components won't either. Planning to have a good look underneath at everything, then potentially give it an update, then align it.

Wear in some, or all of the multiple rear suspension linkages / bushes could be the cause?
I'd be checking those first then it would ideally need a new set of tyres to have it set up correctly. Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

I agree and will look at everything underneath. My only possible concern is if the wheels have been swapped to the rear as they are an older date code than the fronts. Going to my local tyre shop to get them to assess the tyre to start with as to what the actual defect is. looking on line there is descriptions of cupping, stepping, saw tooth wear patterns etc. Above my skill set there.

I think you have problems with wheel alignment & or linkage for the uneven wear.

Down under our tyres get eaten by the rough roads.

Click image to enlarge

[quote]I have 6 wheels, 2 spares, & always put the better ones on the front as they do most of the work.

Quote:

That was / is my thoughts as well. It was always the advice that you put the best or newest tyres on the driven wheels, front for a fwd car, rear for a rwd but now that seems to have all changed and apparently you will crash and die a horrible death unless you put new tyres on the rear!
One local tyre fitter actually refused to fit new tyres as I wanted them on the front but they were insisting they could only fit them on the rear because 'company policy'.

The tyre fitter is correct.

Its been clearly shown that is safer to put the better (grippier) tyre on the rear irrerspective if the car is FWD, RWD, AWD or 4WD.

Quite simply if the front tyres are the grippiest and you go around a corner where they start to slide then the rears are very likley to slide too and now you have lost traction on all 4 tyres. You cant control a rear end slide if the fronts are sliding too.

If the grippiest tyres are on the rear then you are unlikely to loose the back end before the front wheels slide and you have more control because the rears havent broken away yet and the you can turn the steering on the front to regain traction - something you cant do with the rears as they dont steer.

MIRA test
New to front - BAD


New to rear - GOOD
 Jules

&t=9s Jules

Last edited by jules on 31st Jul 2025 9:31 am. Edited 1 time in total

I don't drive around corners fast. Even on dirt roads!

Heavy braking on straight roads has been necessary enough times over the decades. Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

Acoustic insulation ARB TPMS 3xARB air compressors After cooler Air tank On-board OCD pressure air/water cleaning Additional 50L fuel Carpet in doors ABE 2x1kg Waeco 28L modified fridge Battery 4x26ah Solar 120w Victron MPPT 100/20 DC-DC 18amps 175amp jumper plug Awning 6x255/60R18

Its about the unexpected need to swerve really - so called Moose test.
With the worst tyres at the rear you are much more likely to end up in a ditch. Jules

Roads down under are too narrow to swerve. It will be straight on for me.

With kangaroos. If you miss the first one, you will hit the second or third one. Or often multiple hits. You see multiple carnage in the outback. Procrastination, mankind's greatest labour saving device!

Acoustic insulation ARB TPMS 3xARB air compressors After cooler Air tank On-board OCD pressure air/water cleaning Additional 50L fuel Carpet in doors ABE 2x1kg Waeco 28L modified fridge Battery 4x26ah Solar 120w Victron MPPT 100/20 DC-DC 18amps 175amp jumper plug Awning 6x255/60R18

I must admit I love driving on Oz. Well, actually the wife does most of the driving and I navigate.
Been every year for the last 10 years; visiting our daughter.

The lack of traffic outside the cities is pure joy for us Brits. Jules

Ditto for driving in La France Jules……….
Never been to Oz but having read Lightwater’s posts for last few years it’s obvious that the roads down-under must give the cars / vehicle’s tyres & suspension à real hammering……! As Lightwater hasn’t had any problems with suspension thé FL2 must be a tough machine…………..!
Here in Hautes Corbieres thé roads are really well surfaced ( unlike UK )…rare to encounter à pothole,
but you have to be careful with the deep drainage gullies on side of road….& /or thé 200m + drop on mountain roads……! Also thé wild boar particularly at dawn /dusk…..they can be really big…..
Back on subject : Chrism551 —-Rear Tyre wear…
It’s more difficult not knowing the full history of à vehicle….but as has been written à good check on suspension components is advisable…..check wheel rims as well. I did have a similar problem a few years ago with noise ……loud rumble…like w/brg….was faulty Goodyear Wrangler. Also thé Scorpion tyres…very good but when worn past halfway they tend to wear unevenly……even if alignment correct.
Good luck…..Pete FL2 SD4 HSE Lux Auto MY 2012— current
D2 TD5 HSE Man MY 1999 470kmls….gone 2014 ….lovely engine..chassis rotten
D1 300TDI Man MY 1996 56kmls….gone 1999…D2 much better
Wife’s FL1 1.8P MY 2001 32kmls …gone 2007…has Mini since.

Chrism551 wrote:

As per above, i seek to improve the heap i recently boiught. After sorting the mysterious limp mode issues (fuel filter) and the auto gearbox issues, next on the list is tyres. At 60 mph plus it feels like i have a wheel out of balance, more so from the rear as you feel it through the seats and floor, approaching 80 and the steering wheel starts to show it aswell. Car handles like a barge in the bends,sounds like starsky and hutch going round corners at minimal speed, even though tyre pressures have been checked and topped up. Its far worse than the previous 2 cars ive had, and they both had knackered rear suspension from towing etc. Tyres are pirelli scorpions, roughly half worn. I noted on the rear passenger tyres, worse on that there is a definite step in the tread pattern where the inner blocks are below the next set of more central blocks, cant tell if there are flat spots on the tyres aswell. This i guess could cause the issue, and may be down to alignment or poor suspension, I dont know if the tyres have been moved at any point so if its suspension, it may not be the bit where the tyre is currently fitted. Any thoughts or things i can check before i vist the local tyre depot?