LandCruiser Abnormal Outer Edge Front Tire Wear (Dunlop Tires)

Hi, I'm looking for help from independent source. My '04 LC 120 has alu rims and dunlop gradtrek AT tires. I use my lc mainly on asphalt roads. After 40k km tires usage (truth is that it is less that 40k because last winter I had winter tires). I have noticed during summer-winter wheels change that my dunloap summer front tires look aggressively used on the outer edge. The balans of my wheels was checked in may and now is OK too. Guys from toyota service say that this is normal for 4x4 cars and it is caused by weight of vehicle, vehicle high position of center of gravity and force while turning . It doesn't convince me in 100%. I posted that problem to Toyota Customer Service. By now they want to look at my tires. I would like to be prepared for "war" with toyota because I think the dunlop tires are no suitable for LC 4x4 and are poor quality.

Maybe someone has got any answer?

darek jaworski, poland

Reply to
darek_poland
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That's 25k miles! Those Dunlop tires are very inexpensive tires --- about

1/3-1/2 the cost of same size say Michelines or another quality tires. That wear is at about the life of the tire. Go to tirerack.com or one of the other mail order tire sellers and read owners rating of those tires. Treadwear is rated as a 3 which is just fair (as is snow traction).I wonder why Toyota bothered putting such a low quality tire on their vehicles compromising its performance and passengers safety. My '03 4Rnr SE has them and other than replacemnt cost I can't wait to wear the 5 of them out! At 13k miles now -- I'll be lucky to get 25k even with frequent rotation, correct tire pressure and no off road use. They are indeed crappy sub-standard tires - Toyota shame on you!
Reply to
Wolfgang

Thanx for post. Does this mean you are experiencing the same problem with these fcking tires? I will complain to toyota as long it would be possible to have these tire be replaced. My LC is still covered by warranty. I dont think I will get success but who knows...

darek jaworski

Reply to
darek_poland

"darek_poland" sez:

Don't waste your time. Tires are a wear item and you've gotten your wear out of them. Replace them with some quality rubber and be done with it.

Good maintenance to ya, VLJ

Reply to
vlj

Yup same wear for me - mine under warranty for another 9 months. Toyota won't do anything about wear - you could try the tire manufacturer but its most likely a waste of time with the miles you have (if you won you'd get more Dunlops!) --- suspect their tread wear warranty is 30k miles (you're at

25k). Apparently Toyota replaced some with in the first 10k miles due to be out of round and not being able to be balanced but it was not a widespread thing.
Reply to
Wolfgang

Well, it doesnt make me happy. I will try the game with toyota but next year I will replace tires to ???...

Thanx a lot.

Do you think I can just rotate wheels as stated in manual and have no problems with central diff mechanism? All 4 tires have similar wear in center and inner tread of tire, only 2 front have outer tread more used. darek

Reply to
darek_poland

On 19 Nov 2005 05:48:34 -0800, "darek_poland" found these unused words floating about:

Have you had the toe and camber checked?

I had much the same problem and it was due to faulty ball joints - THAT they repaired - still didn't get diddly for the excessive wear until they 'could' give me an appointment.

They were supposed to send recall notices for certain trucks - mine on the list - but didn't! Typical 'pass the buck' - if you don't find out, we won't tell!

Reply to
J. A. Mc.

Get em changed prorata. If they have 20 % worn on the rest of teh tyre surface tell em to replace them with whatever and you will pay 20% of the change over (Product only of course)

Reply to
Scotty

Coopers if they are available your area.

Reply to
Scotty

Yes, I have. Moreover I went for independent tests for another service (not toyotas) and joinst and other parts are OK. You are right: there is no merci for customers. each new car and new manufacturer means new enemy in your life.

Reply to
darek_poland

I've got them for winter time. after one winter if usage they look OK, but i will rotate them as many guys from this group suggest. I see that last winter time front tires have slightly more outside edge wear that back ones. Does Coopers make tires for summer time? We have this brand in poland. What model is for 4x4 cars?

tia darek

Reply to
darek_poland

The tyre of Cooper tyre will depend on what you drive, how you drive and where you drive. What size tyre you want, what you want to pay etc etc etc.

Try

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for a few options. At least they are tried and tested by this crew.

Reply to
Scotty

PS Ive run a set of the STT's before on my 4Runner and no problems at all. That was runnign over volcanic rock, snow, bitumen (Not that flash on wet roads as can be expected I suppose) and clay. THey absolutely excelled in Clay, mud and snow.

I didnt get to see how many Kms I did on em as they where still on the vehicle when I sold it two years after putting them on.

Reply to
Scotty

Guys, most of posts point for changing tires (poor quality) as solution for abnormal wear. My LC is my first 4x4 car (so I have no experience how to manage with it). Do you think what problem comes only from tires? Do 4x4 cars have the same problems with tires? My toyo service is not so bad. I trust them by now. Their explanation about wear sounds quite logic:

1 weight of vehicle is significant (over 2250 kilos)
  1. vehicle high position of center of gravity and force while turning cause to move some part of the force to tires-mainly to outer edge, 4x4 car tilts more while turning than normal car so it is natural that tires dont lust longer in 4x4 comparing to vehicles with normal-low position of center of gravity.

I had several normal car and never had problems with tires!

darek

Reply to
darek_poland

How many of your cars where that heavy?

Its normal and Id be doing plenty of tyre rotations during yoru vehicles life. Make sure that the wheels are always aligned well also. They are to expensive to just chop up.

>
Reply to
Scotty

This one is the first one. Previously I had cars up to 1500 kilos like ford mondeo, toyota avensis vagon. They had front wheels drive and I have never seen any outer edge wear on their tires. I do care of wheels balance and have it checked 2 times per year. Also each 15000km I do standard toyota service (e.g. suspension, ball joints test etc...) darek

Reply to
darek_poland

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