Do I replace all four tires?

[kjb]

My rear tires are worn out and I'm about to replace them with new rubber. Looking at the last align & balance receipt from the PO, it says "high load force variation on front right".

Load force variation means that the tire is imbalanced, correct? Can this get worse over time, and what are the effects?

Should I bite the bullet and replace all four tires? Cost is a factor, but being able to select some other tire than Dunlop SP-5000s would be nice.

/ Johan

[svandamme]

dunno the term load force variation
but if it is imbalanced wheel they mean, then it's not really necessary to replace the rubber just for that, just have the fronts balanced again and you can wear out them rubbers a bit more...

[kjb]

The alignment shop that did the work claimed that it's a tire issue and that e.g. TireRack will send you a new tire if it has this issue when you first install it.

The fronts had to be balanced on-car, and after 3000 mi later I'm starting to get a slight shimmy on the freeway.

Any other opinions out there?

/ J

[Hetmann]

I'd get the fronts spin balanced and have them check if the wheels are straight and true. The PO may have hit a curb or something.

[Evans, Marv]

"Load force variation" could be a fancy way of saying the tire is out of round (oval, egg shaped). If that is the case, your only solution is to replace it, and if the Tire Rack sold you the tire, they should replace it. Out of round tires bounce as you drive and put unnecessay wear & tear on your suspension. That is if you haven't used it for too many miles. I'd call them, plus I'd talk to the tire shop and ask just what does "load force variation" mean.

[Quicksilver]

Sounds like someone at the alignment shop swallowed a dictionary. The words don't describe a problem. They describe a symptom. A "load" is a "force" so that is redundant. They fail to mention if the variance is continuous or not.
The question is 'what is varying?' Is the tire out of balance? Is the tire out of true. Are the corner weights off?

I would take the car to an alignment shop with a reputation for aligning and corner balancing 911s. It makes an amazing difference in the feel of the car and the wear of the tires. The tires may wear just as fast but they should wear evenly.

Obviously tires absolutely have to be matched at each end. A few things to think about when deciding if the fronts and rears will work together are...
If you are expecting wet weather don't let the rear tread be much less then the front for aquaplaning.
If it is dry then having less tread at the rear is fine.
Putting fresh rubber on one end when the rubber on the other end is aged/hardened a couple years is a bad idea.
If a tire is out of true then toss the tires at that end of the car.


Wayne

[kjb]

The alignment shop that worked on my car was given the verdict "they know what they're doing" when I took the Bruce Anderson tune-up class recently.

I was scared that it meant something's wrong with the suspension or wheel, but I was told that it's a problem with the tire.

It looks like I should replace all four. I guess I'll hit the search button next to see what tires people prefer.

/ Johan

ps. The receipt said "load forse variation" so I don't think there was any dictionary involved.