Sport Tyres - again!!1

[Andrex]

Just looking at the pics - getting the tracking done will help, but whether it is all down to that I couldn't say.

[Chaser]

Very difficult to tell much from the photos, could have done with seeing the rears as well.

Can't understand why the vast difference in your and andrex's experience of wear, are you certain that you have identical tyres?

The wear pattern of your fronts actually isn't that unusual, cornering can account for some increased wear on the outside edge. If you hadn't already stated the contrary I would have said you rush about more than most.

It's a very uncommon failure but it is worth checking if there is in fact any drive to the rear. Jack up one rear wheel and see if you can turn it.

[hyweln]

Thanks to everyone for taking the time to reply to my post. You're right, Chaser it would seem that I should be an out and outspeed merchant with front tyres like that. They were replaced as a set of four 12 months ago at a local Kwik Fit (they really don't want to know) I'm away for the next week and will get the Freelander looked at when I get home. In the meantime I've attached photos of the rear two - who have 7mm left on them, thankfully. When I get a diagnosis on my return, I'll post it for all to see. Thanks, anyway. H

[Chaser]

Again they don't indicate that the VCU is tight/seized, they have worn evenly and appear smooth.

(thinking out loud)
I'll wait and see what you find when you try to turn that single rear wheel. Just thinking the only explanation is that it's front wheel drive only if the VCU has failed 'free'. Would have thought you have enough driving experience to feel the difference though, especially towing.

[hyweln]

Thanks Chaser - the animal's not been the same recently, I must confess. We rally quite a bit with the caravan which takes us into some mucky fields etc - the Freelander's never failed me .... if the VCU is truly knackered is it possible that the front wheels are just pushed - i.e the rear drives without the front wheeels being engaged in the driving process ... leaving at 6.30 a.m tomorrow for foreign fields. I really appreciate your input as well as everyone else's.

We also posess a rather nice Peugeot 407 estate (which is behaving itself) and the ride difference, etc compared to the Sport tends to colour how you feel for the car through you backside (if you know what I mean). Having saifd that, when it snows, is very wet or need to tow the Pug doesn't get a look in - horses for courses.


H - Hywel

[Llanigraham]

Prynhawn Da, Hywel.

If the VCU was seized then you would be getting lots of problems and noises, as the drive would be equally shared betwen the 2 axles. It is not possible for there to be no drive to the front.

The wear pattern on those tyres looks like a tracking fault. I find I need to get mine checked every 6 months, but I do take mine off-road quite a lot! I have never found Michelin road tyres to be that hard wearing, but did have a set of their All Terrains, which did seem better.

It does appear that the Sport wears tyres quicker than the other models, and I wonder whether this is to do with the way the suspension has been reset, to allow for it's more "spirited" driving style.

And if you think your mileage is poor, I was looking at another car forum recently and someone was complaining he could only get 5k miles out of the front tyres of his Golf Vrs!!! And at over £150 each!!!

[Chaser]

Thanks Chaser - the animal's not been the same recently, I must confess. We rally quite a bit with the caravan which takes us into some mucky fields etc - the Freelander's never failed me .... if the VCU is truly knackered is it possible that the front wheels are just pushed - i.e the rear drives without the front wheeels being engaged in the driving process ... leaving at 6.30 a.m tomorrow for foreign fields. I really appreciate your input as well as everyone else's.

We also posess a rather nice Peugeot 407 estate (which is behaving itself) and the ride difference, etc compared to the Sport tends to colour how you feel for the car through you backside (if you know what I mean). Having saifd that, when it snows, is very wet or need to tow the Pug doesn't get a look in - horses for courses.


H - Hywel

Normally the VCU goes tighter with age which prevents it from alleviating transmission wind up resulting in unusual rear tyre wear and juddering in tight turns. Although I haven't seen it happen I have heard that the odd one can fail internally so no drive is transmitted to the rear. It's very unlikely but it might explain the rapid front tyre wear if you only had front wheel drive.
I'm pretty certain you would notice on those slippery fields pulling the van.

[hyweln]

Diolch yn fawr iawn i chi'ch dau - many thanks to you both - as I said, I'll hopefully get it sorted when I get back next week and will certainly post the results on this forum.

[hyweln]

Ok - as promised, an update - finally managed to get a few hours to take the beast into the doctor's for a diagnosis - one of my local mechanics is a landrover enthusiast and, at one time worked at a main dealers. Replaced the two errant tyres with the accelera tyres that jaffo4011 suggested. they panned out at 70 squids apiece and now reside on the rear axle. The mechs took a serious look at the underside and apart from an exhaust box which is progressively rusting, could find no symptoms of drive problems - I know, cause I was there !! HOWEVER .... my tracking was seriously awry - heaven knows how I'd managed to c**k that one up. Along with a replacement for a driver's side track rod and a further tweaking on the tracking machine, all seems well with the animal at the moment. We'll keep a close look on any development - in the meantime thank you all for your time and advice .. much appreciated...Hywel

[Llanigraham]

Glad you got an answer Hywel.

[Andrex]

I have a strong feeling you will find it cured! At least it is not an expensive fix!

[freelanderauto]

i have sport wheels on my freelander and my friend has them too. we have found that the front tyres wear out before the rears anyway. he has continental and i have vredestein, both wear about the same. rears last twice the amount the fronts do. my local land rover said that the freelander generally does wear the front tyres out quicker due to how the 4x4 system works.

[jaffo4011]

crikey,thats low mileage to wear them out.ive done 72 k and ive only had to change once(all 4)...mind you im coming up to ma change again but i cant moan about 35 to 40 k per set really....