unusual tire wear on inside edge, front tires (cross post with tires)

[audi49]

I was in the process of rotating my tires and noticed that both front tires have excessive wear on the very inner edge of the tire. It's as if something was rubbing a ~1/2 inch gouge into the inside corner of the tire... it's not a continous type wear across the tire that you'd see if the wheels were out of alignment. On one side, a steel belt is slightly visible. It's as if the tie rod ends are rubbing into the tires, but there's no evidence that there is any rubbing on the tie rods themselves, and clearance looks sufficient. I have stock wheels and tire size. Any ideas? Thanks.

Looks like the bad looking tire at the following link by not quite this bad. (And my car is NOT modified in any way).

http://www.passatworld.com/forums/56...-off-pics.html

btw... alignment done (with new tires) 14k miles ago. Have rotated tires twice since then. I did not notice this at prior rotation.

[Dcass08]

I was in the process of rotating my tires and noticed that both front tires have excessive wear on the very inner edge of the tire. It's as if something was rubbing a ~1/2 inch gouge into the inside corner of the tire... it's not a continous type wear across the tire that you'd see if the wheels were out of alignment. On one side, a steel belt is slightly visible. It's as if the tie rod ends are rubbing into the tires, but there's no evidence that there is any rubbing on the tie rods themselves, and clearance looks sufficient. I have stock wheels and tire size. Any ideas? Thanks.

Is your car lowered? Lowering changes the camber of your suspension unless you get adjustable upper control arms. Mine are like that. I got new uppers but haven't put them in yet.

[audi49]

Nope.... everything is stock on the car.

[Dcass08]

Might just need an alignment. Check your bushings too.

[brandonrsx]

SO what did you do to fix this i am having the same issue.

[Brettannica]

Ditto...

[Slow4]

How old are your CAs (control arms)?
Also, when was your last alignment?

I just switched out my winters and noted the same as you on my front right tires, front left was showing extreme wear.

The last alignment that I remembered was this past November and I've bumped a few potholes this winter. I've been told by friends that old and worn control arms can also affect alignment.

[audi49]

So... last fall I got my tires replaced at the dealer. Dealer said that the car's alignment was within spec (although they did a realignment nonetheless). Dealer did the prior alignment when those bad tires got installed. So I think alignment was not the problem. At the time the dealer said to keep the tires inflated higher. Control arms are originals but they didn't site them as a problem. I used to keep my front tires ~38 to 40psi. Now it keep them 42 to 44 psi. I just rotated my tires at ~6k miles and have noticed no unusual wear thus far. So either the higher psi has helped and/or the change to Conti Extremecontact DWS tires has helped. Not 100% sure which. I previously had Yokohama Avid Envigors... which were stiffer riding and noisier than the Contis.