p0tential

hey guys, i'm reposting this in car specific area. this is also up in wheels/tires so i can get the best responses. as the title states, i have a tough dilema and i'm not sure what to do. i'l try to be breif as i really need some advice.

i bought this em1 and it came with these wheels on it with the tread on it too. the wheels to my knowledge are older konig imagines. the tire size is 205/40r17. i know the wheels are big for a honda but i really like the look of them. i like spokey rims.

i've worn down the front tires and had full intention of replacing the tires, i live in chicago so winter weather has cause me to put some dents in the lip of the rims due to potholes. i was going to have the front rims refinished and straightened for $130 a peice. ( i would hopefully be reimbursed by the city for at least 1 wheel) the tires are $130 a peice as well, so it would roughly cost me $550 (tax and misc) to get the 2 front rims refinished/straightend and new tread (falken azenis)

i walked out to my car and the front tire was flat. so i changed it. upon removal of the tire i discoverd the tread seperating from the sidwall on the inside part of the rim.(see pics) i was totally shocked and the only thing that i found to be the culprit is the bolt on the uper control arm scraping onto the tire. i felt the same area on the other front tire and it has worn down in the same spot too.

my problem is, are these wheels even supposed to fit on my car? is there a way to make them work? (i do not know the offset) is it worth it to fix these wheels and remount new tires on them or should i just get a whole new set of wheels? (btw the rear wheels are in good shape and the tires have about 50% of tread on them)

the biggest problem is i really don't have much money. i can barely afford to fix the wheels i've got so if i bought new wheels, they would most likely be rota gt3s.





how the wheels look on my car.

crazyguy

camber wear. u will need a camber kit and alignment.

p0tential

i don't understand how the camber kit will help. where the worn spot is, is not a contact point on the ground. its the bolt from the strut that is rubbing on the tire.

eg2jr

iTrader: (7)

go get ur car aligned, i had 17 on mines and nothing ever happened

eg8tuner

if your car is lowered then the camber will move your contact point to the inside edge becasue hondas have a double wishbone suspention and gain camber when compressed.

if your car is not dropped then you have bent one of you lower control arm or blow one or may bushings.
either waay u will need an alignment and possibly and a camber kit(if your car is lowered)

hope this helps

eg8tuner

o all so if you have been racing witht eh azenis and not cooling them properly after each ru they have a tendancy to sperate there tread and jsut disinigrate. but that doesn't look like it happened to you just thought u should know.

p0tential

if i were to take it to discount tires, would they be able to tell me exactly whats wrong? and if it can be fixed?

EkFG

Camber kit./ might be a bracket near the strut that cut the side.

eg8tuner

nothing cut that tire it wore like the and just got so thin is separated. if you take it some were for an alignment they can tell u if somethings is broken of if u ned a camber kit. so as people said before u should get an alignment.

B serious

iTrader: (1)

<TABLE WIDTH="90%" CELLSPACING=0 CELLPADDING=0 ALIGN=CENTER><TR><TD>Quote, originally posted by crazyguy &raquo;</TD></TR><TR><TD CLASS="quote">camber wear. u will need a camber kit and alignment.</TD></TR></TABLE>

Camber does not wear tires like that. The wear that's isolated on the very inside can be caused by toe...not camber. It would have to be like something insane like -10 or more degrees of camber to wear a tire like that.

Camber wear is more gradual. Way more gradual.

However, his problem may not be an alignment issue at all. Not to say that the car doesn't have an alignment issue.

It could be mechanical damage from the tire contacting something on the body like he had suggested.

OP: To find the offset of your wheels, look on the back of the wheel. It should say the size (for example, 17X7JJ) and the offset (For example, +45). It will be stamped on the spokes or the actual rim on the inside. Just look for some numbers.

It seems to me that you need an alignment. For sure. It also seems that maybe toe wear coupled with underinflation of the tire could cause the tread to seperate like that.

You dont need a camber kit. Go to an alignment shop, and have them align the car without one.

Unless you are willing to actually TUNE your camber, or if you're drag racing (or doing a lot of burn outs), you DO NOT NEED a camber kit to achieve proper tire wear.


Discount tire may or may not be able to tell you what's wrong. If it's obvious, and you bring the car there, then they may be able to tell you.

They will most likely tell you that you need a camber kit.

If they tell you that, just let them say it, but remember my earlier statement: "Unless you are willing to actually TUNE your camber, or if you're drag racing (or doing a lot of burn outs), you DO NOT NEED a camber kit to achieve proper tire wear."

My suggestions (I work at a tire shop, and have a LOT of experience with lowered hondas and IMO, pretty good suspension knowledge):

-Find out the width and offsets of the wheels. Post them or PM me.
-Buy new tires
-Find out if something is rubbing against the tire. Look under the car for any shiny metal parts that look like they have been scraping on a tire.
-GET AN ALIGNMENT (if you dont want to take my advice about the camber kit, and it helps you sleep better, go buy a camber kit. Either way....HAVE IT ALIGNED at a good shop. Get a warranty with your alignment. There are places that sell a lifetime alignment. It may not be a bad idea with the condition of the streets around chicagoland. I live in the burbs too...I feel your pain)




Modified by B serious at 12:16 AM 3/29/2008

EkFG

Just awesome B serious just awesome looks like something else is cutting his tire.