Does anyone know what might cause this????? - Focaljet

**Mahtipsey** · 09-08-2001, 10:11 AM

On the driver side front tire the inside side wall the lettering that is on the tire is being rubbed off. I am not sure what is causing this. Please help me out I am going to take it to the dealership soon but I would like to konw what may be wrong before I go there.My car has the stock suspension on it and Goodyear RS-A. Thanks, Mike

**silver_bullet** · 09-09-2001, 06:23 AM

Are you the only driver, or has someone else been abusing your car? Assuming the tire is properly inflated, I'd have to assume either "someone" is cornering like a maniac

or someone doesn't know how to park and is rubbing the tire against a low curb.

**Mahtipsey** · 09-09-2001, 09:17 AM

I am the only driver and I do not drive like crazy the tires are properly inflated. The tire is rubbed on the inside os the tire, mot the side that is exposed so curbs ore not a factor. Could something like the ABS brake sensor have come lose and be rubbing? The dealership alredy eplaced that cause the ABS light on the instrument cluster came on and they siad the sensor had been rubber through. This happened awhile ago. What do you think

**silver_bullet** · 09-09-2001, 01:39 PM

Oh, sorry - the INSIDE sidewall is rubbing? Man, that is a weird deal. If everything is stock (wheels, tires, brakes, suspension, etc.) I'd pull the wheel and look for corresponding rub or chafe marks on the suspension or underbody. Good luck.

**Mahtipsey** · 09-10-2001, 05:32 PM

Anyone else had this problem????????

**Mahtipsey** · 09-13-2001, 01:33 PM

Nope I have never gone through a car wash before. It seems to be like something that could cause a prob in the future so I am taking it to the dealership soon. The writing on the inside of the tire is completely rubbed off

**Mahtipsey** · 09-14-2001, 12:38 AM

**2001 ZTS** · 09-14-2001, 12:54 AM

Do you use a drive through commercial car wash? I know I'm rubbing the rails most of the way through though I've never thought to look. (EDIT: The one I use has a rail on the drivers side only which tipped me off) Thats the only way I can explain wear on the inside. I'm sure it is not damaging just scuffing. I imagine most washes were designed before todays wider tires were so common.

[This message has been edited by 2001 ZTS (edited 09-13-2001).]

**G1-Focus** · 09-14-2001, 07:03 AM

Do you have factory wheels on the car or custom after-market wheels on the car?

The only things I can think of is that your hub offset is wrong and therefore the wheel is set too far inboard, which when you are driving/cornering there is not enough clearance for the wheel and you experience a bit of regular chassis flex which is causing the tire to contact, more than likely, the suspension.

silver_bullet is right, check for wear marks on the suspension. Maybe take a marking crayon and mark the tire where it is rubbing to possibly have the crayon come off and stick to the rub point on the vehicle.

Hope this helps.

**Mahtipsey** · 09-14-2001, 10:08 AM

They are factory wheels. I will have to try the crayon test

. Thanks for the help

09-08-2001, 10:11 AM	#1
Mahtipsey Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: San Diego, California, USA Posts: 1,364	Does anyone know what might cause this????? On the driver side front tire the inside side wall the lettering that is on the tire is being rubbed off. I am not sure what is causing this. Please help me out I am going to take it to the dealership soon but I would like to konw what may be wrong before I go there.My car has the stock suspension on it and Goodyear RS-A. Thanks, Mike

09-09-2001, 06:23 AM	#2
silver_bullet TEAM Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 192	Re: Does anyone know what might cause this????? Are you the only driver, or has someone else been abusing your car? Assuming the tire is properly inflated, I'd have to assume either "someone" is cornering like a maniac or someone doesn't know how to park and is rubbing the tire against a low curb.

09-09-2001, 09:17 AM	#3
Mahtipsey Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: San Diego, California, USA Posts: 1,364	Re: Does anyone know what might cause this????? I am the only driver and I do not drive like crazy the tires are properly inflated. The tire is rubbed on the inside os the tire, mot the side that is exposed so curbs ore not a factor. Could something like the ABS brake sensor have come lose and be rubbing? The dealership alredy eplaced that cause the ABS light on the instrument cluster came on and they siad the sensor had been rubber through. This happened awhile ago. What do you think

09-09-2001, 01:39 PM	#4
silver_bullet TEAM Member Join Date: May 2001 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 192	Re: Does anyone know what might cause this????? Oh, sorry - the INSIDE sidewall is rubbing? Man, that is a weird deal. If everything is stock (wheels, tires, brakes, suspension, etc.) I'd pull the wheel and look for corresponding rub or chafe marks on the suspension or underbody. Good luck.

09-10-2001, 05:32 PM	#5
Mahtipsey Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: San Diego, California, USA Posts: 1,364	Re: Does anyone know what might cause this????? Anyone else had this problem????????

09-13-2001, 01:33 PM	#6
Mahtipsey Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: San Diego, California, USA Posts: 1,364	Re: Does anyone know what might cause this????? Nope I have never gone through a car wash before. It seems to be like something that could cause a prob in the future so I am taking it to the dealership soon. The writing on the inside of the tire is completely rubbed off

09-14-2001, 12:38 AM	#7
Mahtipsey Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: San Diego, California, USA Posts: 1,364	Re: Does anyone know what might cause this????? TTT

09-14-2001, 12:54 AM	#8
2001 ZTS Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Toronto, Canada Posts: 2,542	Re: Does anyone know what might cause this????? Do you use a drive through commercial car wash? I know I'm rubbing the rails most of the way through though I've never thought to look. (EDIT: The one I use has a rail on the drivers side only which tipped me off) Thats the only way I can explain wear on the inside. I'm sure it is not damaging just scuffing. I imagine most washes were designed before todays wider tires were so common. [This message has been edited by 2001 ZTS (edited 09-13-2001).]

09-14-2001, 07:03 AM	#9
G1-Focus Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Dec 2000 Location: Greenwich, CT Posts: 1,503	Re: Does anyone know what might cause this????? Do you have factory wheels on the car or custom after-market wheels on the car? The only things I can think of is that your hub offset is wrong and therefore the wheel is set too far inboard, which when you are driving/cornering there is not enough clearance for the wheel and you experience a bit of regular chassis flex which is causing the tire to contact, more than likely, the suspension. silver_bullet is right, check for wear marks on the suspension. Maybe take a marking crayon and mark the tire where it is rubbing to possibly have the crayon come off and stick to the rub point on the vehicle. Hope this helps.

09-14-2001, 10:08 AM	#10
Mahtipsey Senior TEAM Member Join Date: Mar 2001 Location: San Diego, California, USA Posts: 1,364	Re: Does anyone know what might cause this????? They are factory wheels. I will have to try the crayon test . Thanks for the help

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