Iq Front Tyre Wear

[Isafeld]

I've just taken my standard IQ 1 for yet more recall work and the Toyota dealer contacted me while the work was being done to say that my tracking needed adjusting and the front tyres needed replacing. I had little choice but to consent to the work being done, however in under 8,000 miles this tyre wear does seem excessive and if the tracking is to blame why was the problem overlooked during previous visits and the recent 2yr service?

I am a pensioner, do not drive aggressively even if it were possible with only 1.0 litre under the bonnet and since new I have never so much as hit the kerb. I thought this would be an economical, trouble free little car for my retirement, but I'm sad to say that in 50 years of motoring with 24 new cars, none of them wore the tyres so quickly and caused me so many problems as the IQ.

Have other IQ owners experienced similar short tyre life please?

[sweet-dentist]

I've just taken my standard IQ 1 for yet more recall work and the Toyota dealer contacted me while the work was being done to say that my tracking needed adjusting and the front tyres needed replacing. I had little choice but to consent to the work being done, however in under 8,000 miles this tyre wear does seem excessive and if the tracking is to blame why was the problem overlooked during previous visits and the recent 2yr service?

I am a pensioner, do not drive aggressively even if it were possible with only 1.0 litre under the bonnet and since new I have never so much as hit the kerb. I thought this would be an economical, trouble free little car for my retirement, but I'm sad to say that in 50 years of motoring with 24 new cars, none of them wore the tyres so quickly and caused me so many problems as the IQ.

Have other IQ owners experienced similar short tyre life please?

No... I have driven 24.000 kilometers and no problem (but also have wintertyres).

But the thing is ... that it turned out my Dealer did not do the lining of the wheels themselves at all ... They had to send the car to a specialist.. only after me complaining that there was a slight misaligning in the steering wheel.

Could be that your Dealer just does not see or measure (or knows how to) it properly...

Also sometimes they overdo and overshoot the right lining ... it makes the car more ride-able but it wears the tires more quickly down....

Succes,

Peter

[Isafeld]

Thanks Peter,

The car went to the Toyota main dealer who supplied and has done all previous work. The recall was for possible master-cylinder contamination due to the possibility of brake pipes being inadequately cleaned during manufacture. The dealer decided to do the Safety Check uninvited despite having serviced the car only a few weeks ago and I can see no reason why it would have been sent to a specialist to check the alignment.

Regards,

Isafeld

[johnan]

Thanks Peter,

The car went to the Toyota main dealer who supplied and has done all previous work. The recall was for possible master-cylinder contamination due to the possibility of brake pipes being inadequately cleaned during manufacture. The dealer decided to do the Safety Check uninvited despite having serviced the car only a few weeks ago and I can see no reason why it would have been sent to a specialist to check the alignment.

Regards,

Isafeld

Did you have to pay for the tyres and alignment work, or did they admit the tyres wore out too quickly due to inncorrect manufacture of the car, and therefor MrT's fault?

These "health" checks are a great way of drumming up work, which is why they do them as a matter of course when a car passes through the workshop.

Beware.

[Isafeld]

Thanks Johnan,

I haven't actually collected the car yet, but was give a telephone quote for £220 approx.

I guess you could be right, these Safety Checks do provide the opportunity to drum up some extra work and as I recall the phraseology used was that the tyres were "getting worn" rather than dangerous or illegal, that was my assumption... Well, you know the adage "there's no fool like an old fool" however when I change the car early next year it will certainly NOT be for another Toyota, once bitten, twice shy!

Regards

Isafeld

[SallyIQ]

They tell me my tyres are 'low' when they still have around 4mm on them. I just ignore them!! I dont see how you had no choice, have they told you how many mm are left on your front tyres?

[TRS]

Surprised to hear that, as I replaced my fronts at 27K when they had just over 2mm left on them! Rears still have about 4-5mm.

£220 also seems a high figure. I had the same Brigstone's fitted as replacements for £135 for the pair and they shouldn't really charge much for the alignment checks etc. If it's not too late, I would be inclined to get a second opinion and if they are needing changing find a cheaper tyre place.

[s44gtw]

I think you will find that Alignment checks are nearly always free.

Its the adjustment that you get charged for!

(even when it turns out the alignment really was not out,they will often 'get the spanners out',

they need to get back the cost of a man or 2's time & buying

the equipment.

Even tho they do not always know how to use it!)

That really was too low a mileage to have worn out the tyres in,

even for these days of Fuel saver tyres with short lives.

It counts not for much to get a good fuel consumption then need to replace tyres & get rubbish traction in the wet & cold, crazy world.

'Fuel saver tyres' cost lives & cash money & world resources more than is obvious IMO.

I doubt many EU Legislators run fuel saver tyres on their Executive Chauffeur driven cars.

I have worn down in 6000 miles from the car being new on the driver side tyre on an Automatic Picanto 1.1,(i am heavy, with a heavy right foot)

The Winter Snow tyres that got fitted & ran for the last 4 years are still like new having done over 14,000 miles. (Avon Ice Tourers, just wonderful)

george

[tarquin]

Hi all

My penny's worth I had a Peugeot 406 Had a complete new set of tyres from a local tyre place, They were non-descrip foreign ones. God knows what the construction was but they had 4-5 mm left on them when I sold the car after they did 48,000 miles. Outstanding!!! and only £35 each.

David

[johnan]

Thanks Johnan,

I haven't actually collected the car yet, but was give a telephone quote for £220 approx.

I guess you could be right, these Safety Checks do provide the opportunity to drum up some extra work and as I recall the phraseology used was that the tyres were "getting worn" rather than dangerous or illegal, that was my assumption... Well, you know the adage "there's no fool like an old fool" however when I change the car early next year it will certainly NOT be for another Toyota, once bitten, twice shy!

Regards

Isafeld

Shame, I love my IQ and it's cheeky character.

It is just a pity we still have the odd dealership/service departments that lack integrity..but that is true of ALL car manufacturers.

Most will charge you for as much as they can as they have targets to meet, it is not as if the money goes straight into the technician's pockets!

You just have to be vigilant, and walk away if in doubt and get a second opinion.

[tarquin]

The other thing they like to do to drum up money,is that near service desks, they have a big in your face chart showing tyre tread from 8mm to bald with indications of efficiency. Now I'm all for safety but I don't think every day to measure my tyre depth and refer to what my stopping distance is going to be, and keep regular checks to see if its dropped another mm. I have seen it used to worry people and put them on a spot by asking them if they carry children, loved ones etc even when they say they have 5mm left.

David

[Lorna2]

I've seen plenty of cars in carparks with bald tyres - people like that could be doing with seeing that chart. Then again,they would probably ignore it as they don't seem to realise how important it is to have a decent set of tyres.

[Isafeld]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.

When I collected my car this morning the bill was for two tyres at £79 each, wheel alignment £40 and the dreaded VAT totalling £225. The tread depths ranged from just over 2mm to 4mm and wear was attributed to incorrect wheel alignment. I asked why the fault had not been identified in an earlier safety check and the reply was "We only check it if there is reason to suspect a fault"

I was given a chart showing the readings obtained during the alignment and I will try to attach a copy (for those who unlike me can understand it!)

Regards all,

Isafeld

[tarquin]

Thats a bit contradictory, It went in for the normal recall work. why should they suspect a "fault" I could be wrong but I would of thought ,as it was explained to me at MR T's The steering issue was a software upgrade and a possible steering column change if after the software was upgraded it didn't fall within certain parameters. The brakes, a master cylinder replacement and pipes and fluid change.The trouble with garages, as has been said by another contributer to this site, is they have agenda's depending on how much that dealership and departments have made.and they will put pressure on you Like most shops ,stores. The manager has a bunch of default answers to either fob you off and lie to you or distort the truth. I remember shortly after buying the car in june,I wanted an iPod lead fitted ,The toyota installation sheet quoted half hour work.I was told by a lady in the service department" oh its going to be at least an hour maybe longer" Sure enough it was 1.5 hrs. I had to take it back the next day because a bunch of wires were hanging out of the back of the satnav. The guy who had done the work came out to see me and said " Sorry about that I avnt dun one of those before (thats how he spoke), took me forever to suss out how to get it apart" Well I don't like paying for incompetence. and bodging and that will do crap.Now I have never worked on a car before but as you all know I have managed to remove and replace nearly every panel in the iQ with no previous knowledge or manual.In short its a rip off world

David'

[johnan]

Thank you all for your comments and suggestions.

When I collected my car this morning the bill was for two tyres at £79 each, wheel alignment £40 and the dreaded VAT totalling £225. The tread depths ranged from just over 2mm to 4mm and wear was attributed to incorrect wheel alignment. I asked why the fault had not been identified in an earlier safety check and the reply was "We only check it if there is reason to suspect a fault"

I was given a chart showing the readings obtained during the alignment and I will try to attach a copy (for those who unlike me can understand it!)

Regards all,

Isafeld

As David says it is a rip-off world, but I think any car dealership could be guilty of the same behaviour not just Toyota, in fact I think Toyota is probably one of the better ones.

On worn tyres, blaming alignment is probably right, but proving who caused it is impossible.They will just say you hit a kerb and it is your word against theirs that you never did hit a kerb.

What you should do then is take it to a specialist tyre/wheel place who should be able to suppy tyres more cheaply and do the alignment too for less.

But not somewhere like Kw-- F--, I have family run tyre specialist near me who are ideal.£12 for Aygo alignment 2 years ago.

At least Toyota give you the option to fill in a questionnaire to send directly to head office (Toyota UK) about how you think you were treated, where you can say what you like.

I know my local dealership had a major clear out off staff after Toyota received a continuous stream of unsatisfactory critiques over a number of months.

This particular dealership is now almost embarrassingly condescending in trying to make sure you write good reports about them, but they still try to take you for a sucker in the service department.

It seems to be the way of the world. Be forever on your guard!

[tarquin]

Hi mate

The way of the world. A few years ago i took an astra to a dealership it was a year old and was owned by the company i worked for. We also had anothe a year and a half old. The reason for the visit was it was drinking oil. We had to put a pint in every 3 days or so. The service department said "that perfectly normal sir" I pointed out that we had another of similar age and hadn't had to put a drop in it to top it up. He then said " well sir its not a blue print engine thats the normal tolerance for a car like that"so I said, so if myself and a friend bought 2 cars together, he's could be perfectly ok but mine would cost me the earth in oil. " thats about the strenth of it sir" i pointed out to him i owned n S reg peugeot with 260k on it and that never needed to be topped up. The moral of the story is with all retailers is, if its going to cost them money they will lie and wriggle out of it but if there is a chance of making money no problem sir

David

[Lorna2]

One time I had a puncture so I went to an independant tyre fitters, small family run place. I told the man I wanted a good tyre so he offered me his cheapest budget tyre, I knew it was a rubbish brand, so then he offered me another. As I was desperate I took it, another rubbish brand. I know some people might like the budget tyres but I don't, I have good tyres on and wanted something of similar quality. He did not even do any alignment/balancing of the wheels or anything like that.I got my next tyre at Donnelly & Taggart Toyota and it was reasonably priced.

[johnan]

One time I had a puncture so I went to an independant tyre fitters, small family run place. I told the man I wanted a good tyre so he offered me his cheapest budget tyre, I knew it was a rubbish brand, so then he offered me another. As I was desperate I took it, another rubbish brand. I know some people might like the budget tyres but I don't, I have good tyres on and wanted something of similar quality. He did not even do any alignment/balancing of the wheels or anything like that.I got my next tyre at Donnelly & Taggart Toyota and it was reasonably priced.

Yes, you really have to do a bit of asking around and go by reputation in the area.

I am lucky with a local non-franchised garage and a tyre specialist who are both well respected locally whereas the dealerships are not.

The reverse will be true in other places.

Local knowledge and feedback from friends is important, like finding a good plumber!

[Kip]

I may be a little late replying to this, but I've had a look at the wheel alignment data sheet posted by Isafeld. In short, they changed the front toe from +2.70 to +0.90. It seems the left side wheel was out more so than the right, so that is where I'd guess the tyre wear would have been.

+2.70 is probably quite a way out for a car like this, most small modern cars will have a toe reading ranging from about +1 to -1 as a manufacturers setting. If this setting is outside of the manufacturers set tolerance then usually you will get abnormal tyre wear, and in extreme cases, noticeable changes to the vehicles handling. Too much toe-out and you will get tyre wear in a band around the inside of the tyre. Too much toe-in and you will get the opposite. Tyre wear banding if it is pronounced enough is just as illegal and dangerous as not having enough tread depth or air in the tyres.

Hope this helps.