GenVibe - Community for Pontiac Vibe Enthusiasts

Hi guys! I own a 2003 Vibe AWD. I had a flat tire today (Left rear one). The tire could not get repaired because the tire was too bald at the inner edge. The first thing I thought was alignment. However, I noticed that the bald part of the tire is only about a feet long. The rest of the inner tire is just fine. The tire was bald on the inner side just quarter way. I told my alignment guy about the situation and he also found it weird. The alignment guy was blaming on the tire. He asked me to drive my Vibe that way with a new tire for about a month to see how it does. This is very confusing. I understand that a lose alignment makes the tire bold at the inner side but I am surprised that it is only for about a feet long. What do you guys think???

The inner bald line was like so:

Sounds like a defective tire or bent rim.

I'm also guessing a bad tire!

Agreed, looks like bad rim or the camber is off in the rear. You have an AWD so you should be able to adjust the camber.

star_deceiver wrote:Sounds like a defective tire or bent rim.

Okay, I see. I would think more about a defective tire than a rim because the rim was balanced with the new tire without problems.

Chiadog wrote:I'm also guessing a bad tire!

I am thinking about the same.

cmpltvertigo wrote:Agreed, looks like bad rim or the camber is off in the rear. You have an AWD so you should be able to adjust the camber.

The funny thing is that if the camber was off, the tire would have been bald all around the inner edge of the tire. However, the bald part of the tire was only like 12" long.

I would just do what the alignment guy told me about running the tire for about a month to see if there are any changes on the new tire. I will keep you posted! Thanks guys!

Reaccion wrote:

cmpltvertigo wrote:Agreed, looks like bad rim or the camber is off in the rear. You have an AWD so you should be able to adjust the camber.

The funny thing is that if the camber was off, the tire would have been bald all around the inner edge of the tire. However, the bald part of the tire was only like 12" long.

You are correct, an incorrect camber would affect the entire circumference of the tire. I guess I did not read the entire title, well good luck and keep us posted.

Either you hit something road that damaged the tire core or some type of tread separation.

EDIT: Surprised you didn't feel it or the TPMS didn't pick it up.

cmpltvertigo wrote:

Reaccion wrote:

cmpltvertigo wrote:Agreed, looks like bad rim or the camber is off in the rear. You have an AWD so you should be able to adjust the camber.

The funny thing is that if the camber was off, the tire would have been bald all around the inner edge of the tire. However, the bald part of the tire was only like 12" long.

You are correct, an incorrect camber would affect the entire circumference of the tire. I guess I did not read the entire title, well good luck and keep us posted.

LOL Thanks you man!

Salsa Guy wrote:Either you hit something road that damaged the tire core or some type of tread separation.

EDIT: Surprised you didn't feel it or the TPMS didn't pick it up.

Thanks for replying. Yeah, I just going to wait to see the new tire behavior. Well, I do not have the TPMS sensors on my car and I did not even feel anything weird.

if there is noting loose or making weird noise at your suspension system then just the tire have issue.

cq358 wrote:if there is noting loose or making weird noise at your suspension system then just the tire have issue.

Nothing loose or making weird noises.

Reaccion wrote:

Salsa Guy wrote:Either you hit something road that damaged the tire core or some type of tread separation.

EDIT: Surprised you didn't feel it or the TPMS didn't pick it up.

Thanks for replying. Yeah, I just going to wait to see the new tire behavior. Well, I do not have the TPMS sensors on my car and I did not even feel anything weird.

On the 1st Gen Matrix the TPMS is a function of the ABS system. If it senses one tire is making more rotations than the other it trips the TPMS light. The newer style has a real sensor that communications the pressure to the car.

Salsa Guy wrote:

Reaccion wrote:

Salsa Guy wrote:Either you hit something road that damaged the tire core or some type of tread separation.

EDIT: Surprised you didn't feel it or the TPMS didn't pick it up.

Thanks for replying. Yeah, I just going to wait to see the new tire behavior. Well, I do not have the TPMS sensors on my car and I did not even feel anything weird.

On the 1st Gen Matrix the TPMS is a function of the ABS system. If it senses one tire is making more rotations than the other it trips the TPMS light. The newer style has a real sensor that communications the pressure to the car.

Oh Man! I did not know this. Thanks

2,200 miles later and the new tire has not signs of baldness anywhere. Just following up!

I have an 09 and the same thing still is happening to my left rear tires, 2nd set. I first noted it at 24k on the original goodyear eagles and took it to the dealer. They checked it out and said all the alignments were within spec. I said how does that solve the problem? Answer. Sorry, alignment is in spec...bye.
I'll need a new set of tires for winter and I'm sure the left rear will wear again. I had rotated the tires fairly consistantly with my second set (Fusions) but lagged a bit as time went on.

The garage that installed my second set of tires never commented on a bent rim. Plus they've been shifted around enough to wonder could the tire installed on the rear left have actually ended up back on the same side?