Honda Civic 2 tracking ?

[Mark Hennessy]

It's funny how no-one at the time seemed to know about this. "Never seen one do that before - must be a faulty tyre, sir". But it makes perfect sense, and the IR temperature measurement was the final proof. Frankly, you could feel it with your hand, but I'd just bought a new toy (and using it to solve the tyre wear issue means it's paid for itself many times over!).

Once the alignment had been sorted, the new Pirelli didn't get any noisier, and I got many more years out of it. My annual mileage dropped like a stone once I'd finished the move from Norfolk to here, so there's every chance the tyres are the same - I can't remember when I last had them changed. Every year, the MOT tells me exactly the same numbers for tread depth. As I'm doing no more than 2,000 a year - sometimes only 1,000 - then they'll probably outlast the car. However, I am aware that I need to keep an eye on them generally. The car lives in the garage, away from UV, etc...

[Refugee]

I have switched to low mileage now and the MOT do advise that the tires have time dependent crazing on the rubber.
I had bald spots on a tire on an old 1970s Saab. The clue that gave the game away was the bald spot count.
It matched the number of steel balls in the CV joint with clanking on sharp corners at low speed.
The tire was all distorted but with access to a scrapper the wheel was just changed over to fix it complete with drive shaft of course.

[Radio Fixer]

"Is there a tyre manufactures workshop near you Gary? Or a national distributor chain? National Tyres? "

Cant find one Sam !

Gary

[Radio Fixer]

I hear what you say Sam but I'm still tempted to give that Elite place a try. Its the most pro place I can find within reasonable distance. The video of the premises is impressive and set up with 4 bays to do alignment with Hunter kit, reckoned to be the best.

Then after, maybe with new tyres on the front watch them like a hawk and at the first sign of further problems start seeking another solution.

If It has to be a pair of new tyres, which I suspect, then they are given as 63% worn so its not so bad, at least we have had some wear out of them. My good lady is heavy on braking and I just accept it now, no point in keeping on, guess this contributes to quicker wear.

Oddly the rear are given as 31% and 16%, the latter being the same side as the front tyre with the worn inside edge.

Gary

[Terry]

I have switched to low mileage now and the MOT do advise that the tires have time dependent crazing on the rubber.

I had one of those warnings about 3 or 4 yeas ago, shortly before I went on a tour of the Ensign Bus Companies' depot at Purfleet.

Apart from running most of the bus services in Thurrock and a lot of rail replacement work they also sell second hand buses withdrawn from service by other operators - mainly London based. The vehicles are overhauled and modified, if necessary, to suit the buyer. Virtually all London buses have two doors which are not popular in the provinces so they specialise in removing the centre entrance!

However, another side of their business is the restoration of vintage buses. This isn't just a makeover to make them look pretty again or just for exhibiting at bus rallies and the like - everyone of their restorations is to Class VI MOT standards because, after restoration, they have to be capable of running in revenue earning service.

Tyres on any bus cost a fortune compared with their car counterparts and just imagine the cost of a full set of tyres and tubes for a 1930's double decker!

So, as we looked over one of their recently started restorations - not much more that a pile of sawdust and a pile of rust! - I asked them how they coped with the problem of old tyres perishing and was told that it is quite simple - the tyres are painted with a liquid rubber solution every year. I've no idea where you would obtain liquid rubber solution but it might be worth a try.

In my case, the need for a new clutch and a couple of other problems pushed the car into the 'beyond economical repair' category before the tyre issue further compounded the issue.

[Pat Pending]

I've no idea where you would obtain rubber solution...

For the motorist, carplan make a tyre paint that is basically ruber solution, secondhand car dealers crutch for shabby sidewalls.

Other brands available i'm sure.

[Refugee]

I was going to ask "is it anything like that boot polish tire dealers used to paint onto all tires including new ones".
I will have a look for tire paint.

[Murphyv310]

An I not correct in saying that the Honda has a proper unequal length double wishbone front suspension? If it has I'm with Sam on a full geometry check, struts these days are usually preset with only toe in adjustable.

[boater sam]

I think that is correct Trevor but even McPherson strut front ends can go out, modern crumple zone steel will distort very easily and it is surprising how much tolerance there is still in shell assembly despite the robots.
I saw a Cortina years ago with 2 doors on one side and 1 on the other, had an Avenger that after a minor tap at the rear was 14mm longer on the SAME side, because the front was wrong! I know these are years ago but there are still errors made, like the new Fiat with a long A screen post!

[Murphyv310]

Hi Sam.
Yes there will be tolerances between shells but they are very small. You probably know from some of my posts I'm a keen exponent of the early rear engined Skoda's The 1000MB/1100Mb & the MBX being my favourites, the Slightly later "S" series lost the "cuteness" of the MB and just seemed to have more rear engined styling.
The MB and the "S" series for that matter had one of the stiffest Monocoque shells known. The original road test by Autocar in 1965 is thought provoking "...as an example of thorough going automobile engineering it ranks with the best. The Practical Classics April 2017 has a two page spread about the MB on pages 124/125 and is worth a read.
The MB like so many of the time was never rust proofed so in a relative short time it began to rust, pity it wasn't protected better......... I'd love another to play with. The MB though was fully adjustable with its unequal double wishbones, Castor, camber and king pin inclination was all adjustable as was toe, on the rear toe was adjustable too, the Excellent Skoda workshop manual had all the settings in the glossary and even suggestions if the special tools were not to hand....... How times have changed, I cant even get a Haynes book (not always so accurate) for the Panda and you've no chance of getting any help from Fiat.
Funnily enough the Panda is the first ever Italian car to finish in the Dakar rally, in this http://www.pistonheads.com/news/gene...-for-tea/35903