Ford Fiesta ST
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#119970 - 13/02/08 11:36 PM TYRES - Help me settle this once and for all...
arapoda Offline
Fiesta Fan

Registered: 27/02/07
Posts: 224
Hi all,

As you are all well aware a lot of people have tyre wear issues with the Fiesta ST. I'm generally very confused about the correct setting for the camber angle of the front tyres (I believe the rear tyres are unable to be adjusted?). By what degree should the tyres toe in/out?

I bought Avon ZZ3 tyres last year (about March), and the back still have a good amount of life in them, but the fronts are bald. I've ordered new tyres to be fitted on the weekend but would like to tell the garage (National Tyres) for certain what the correct toe of the tyres is.

Unbelievably, I once took the car to a local Ford to have a suspension geometry check (camber angle, tracking, etc) and they set them WRONG. Because I have a K&N on the car, to avoid warranty issues if I need something minor done on the car I usually take it to a garage like ATS. Anyway, the guy at ATS noticed that the tyres were toeing in the wrong direction (I can't for the life of me remember whether they were toeing in by two, or out by two, but they were wrong anyway).

I understand that for performance reasons (i.e - cornering) that the camber angle should be so much, but this does effect the wear on the tyres. So please, someone, end my confusion and help me in my quest to find out what the correct angle of the wheels should be.

Thanks very much in advance!

*As a side note, the front tyres have mostly worn on the inside, which would suggest too much negative camber.


Edited by arapoda (13/02/08 11:42 PM)
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#119971 - 14/02/08 01:23 AM Re: TYRES - Help me settle this once and for all... [Re: arapoda]
Scotty Offline
Porsche 997 Turbo & ST150

Registered: 27/02/04
Posts: 18100
Loc: Nuneaton, Warwickshire
Quote:


*As a side note, the front tyres have mostly worn on the inside, which would suggest too much negative camber.




I cannot answer the camber angle of the wheel as i don't have a fiesta manual... if you get it out it should tell you in there!!!

National Tyres have a computer system that tell them all this information so I don't understand how they could have got this wrong... it's simply a case of reading a number... measuring it is correct and bobs your uncle.
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#119972 - 14/02/08 09:50 AM Re: TYRES - Help me settle this once and for all... [Re: Scotty]
Nick02 Offline


Registered: 19/02/05
Posts: 2608
Loc: Switzerland
Camber cannot be adjusted even on the front... if the measured camber value is wrong then this indicates that some part is damaged (possibly by hitting a curb) and the only way to correct this is by replacing the faulty part. The only setting that can be adjusted is toe-in on the fromt. Incorrect toe-in can also induce uneven tire wear. As a rule of thumb... if BOTH tires on the same axle are worn unevenly (same side of course) this is likely to be caused by incorrect toe-in. If only one tire is worn unevenly on the axle this is more likely caused by incorrect camber. Of course if you're really unlucky and have hit a curb on both sides with the same amount of violence then you might have the same amount of uneven wear on both sides possibly caused by incorrect camber... but the odds of this happening are very low...

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#119973 - 14/02/08 10:53 AM Re: TYRES - Help me settle this once and for all... [Re: Nick02]
DAVE T ST Offline
Fiesta Nutter

Registered: 15/01/06
Posts: 3556
Loc: Tipton nr. Dudley, W. Mids
Quote:

Camber cannot be adjusted even on the front... if the measured camber value is wrong then this indicates that some part is damaged (possibly by hitting a curb) and the only way to correct this is by replacing the faulty part. The only setting that can be adjusted is toe-in on the fromt. Incorrect toe-in can also induce uneven tire wear. As a rule of thumb... if BOTH tires on the same axle are worn unevenly (same side of course) this is likely to be caused by incorrect toe-in. If only one tire is worn unevenly on the axle this is more likely caused by incorrect camber. Of course if you're really unlucky and have hit a curb on both sides with the same amount of violence then you might have the same amount of uneven wear on both sides possibly caused by incorrect camber... but the odds of this happening are very low...




Correct and also the toe in settings are different from the facelift to the pre-facelift.
The best thing to do is call the Ford Technical Helpline 09065 533447 and they'll tell you the exact figure based on your VIN which you can give to ATS to do for you when they change the tyres.
I may be wrong but I'm sure pre-facelift toes out and facelift toes in.
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#119974 - 14/02/08 11:26 PM TYRES - Help me settle this once and for all... [Re: DAVE T ST]
arapoda Offline
Fiesta Fan

Registered: 27/02/07
Posts: 224
Thanks for the replies! Much appreciated.

I don't think there's anything technically wrong with the car. It has also not long had a full Ford service and they didn't pick up on anything, although they did comment on the state of my tyres!

DAVE T ST, I think I shall probably end up phoning the Ford helpline. My local Ford are a bunch of numpties.

Where do I find my VIN? Is it in the handbook, or somewhere in the engine compartment?


Edited by arapoda (14/02/08 11:28 PM)
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#119975 - 15/02/08 12:07 AM Re: TYRES - Help me settle this once and for all... [Re: arapoda]
Scotty Offline
Porsche 997 Turbo & ST150

Registered: 27/02/04
Posts: 18100
Loc: Nuneaton, Warwickshire
Quote:

Thanks for the replies! Much appreciated.

I don't think there's anything technically wrong with the car. It has also not long had a full Ford service and they didn't pick up on anything, although they did comment on the state of my tyres!

DAVE T ST, I think I shall probably end up phoning the Ford helpline. My local Ford are a bunch of numpties.

Where do I find my VIN? Is it in the handbook, or somewhere in the engine compartment?




It should be at the bottom of your windscreen... I know mine is... if not... it will be on a plate that is mounted under your bonnet.

Nick and Dave gave some excellent responses there... I never knew the camber could not be adjusted... it's really interesting to keep learning new things
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#119976 - 15/02/08 09:38 AM Re: TYRES - Help me settle this once and for all... [Re: Scotty]
Nick02 Offline


Registered: 19/02/05
Posts: 2608
Loc: Switzerland
Quote:

I may be wrong but I'm sure pre-facelift toes out and facelift toes in.




OMG ! That would explain why my car has a constant "need" to understeer... Dave, is there any reason for Ford having adopted different settings when the Facelift was introduced? Also if the front suspension parts are identical (not sure about this but I imagine they are) is there anything that would prevent me to change my settings to the ones used in the facelift?

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#119977 - 15/02/08 10:35 AM Re: TYRES - Help me settle this once and for all... [Re: Nick02]
Bradders Offline


Registered: 26/04/07
Posts: 1148
Toyo T1R's

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#119978 - 15/02/08 10:51 AM Re: TYRES - Help me settle this once and for all... [Re: Nick02]
DAVE T ST Offline
Fiesta Nutter

Registered: 15/01/06
Posts: 3556
Loc: Tipton nr. Dudley, W. Mids
Quote:

Quote:

I may be wrong but I'm sure pre-facelift toes out and facelift toes in.




OMG ! That would explain why my car has a constant "need" to understeer... Dave, is there any reason for Ford having adopted different settings when the Facelift was introduced? Also if the front suspension parts are identical (not sure about this but I imagine they are) is there anything that would prevent me to change my settings to the ones used in the facelift?




Mmmm not sure
_________________________
2011 Focus 3-door Zetec 1.6 TDCi.
Previous <img src="/images/graemlins/stemo.gif" alt="" />s - 2006 Panther Black & 2007 Red. Gone and quite forgotten <img src="/images/graemlins/lol.gif" alt="" />

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#119979 - 15/02/08 01:10 PM Re: TYRES - Help me settle this once and for all... [Re: DAVE T ST]
steve1981 Offline
Fiesta Nutter

Registered: 26/09/06
Posts: 1287
Loc: Cambs
I can see no reason why ford would put toe out onto a car.... maybe there is a difference between the toe in angle on pre/post facelifts, but toe out as Nick has pointed out does nothing for turn in.
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#119980 - 15/02/08 06:17 PM Re: TYRES - Help me settle this once and for all... [Re: steve1981]
Nick02 Offline


Registered: 19/02/05
Posts: 2608
Loc: Switzerland
Quote:

I can see no reason why ford would put toe out onto a car.... maybe there is a difference between the toe in angle on pre/post facelifts, but toe out as Nick has pointed out does nothing for turn in.




Indeed it's what I imagined... I could imagine they might have gone for 0 toe-in but to have actual toe-out ... Dave if you find out more about this I'd love to know... Cheers.

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#119981 - 15/02/08 10:45 PM Re: TYRES - Help me settle this once and for all... [Re: Nick02]
SI_ST Offline
Fiesta Addict

Registered: 23/12/05
Posts: 835
Loc: Yorkshire
I've had the same problem but its not so bad now i've had it fixed. I think mine was set to -0.22... cost me £90 to find that out the robbing gits @ Ford

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#119982 - 16/02/08 12:12 AM Re: TYRES - Help me settle this once and for all... [Re: SI_ST]
arapoda Offline
Fiesta Fan

Registered: 27/02/07
Posts: 224
Quote:

I've had the same problem but its not so bad now i've had it fixed. I think mine was set to -0.22... cost me £90 to find that out the robbing gits @ Ford




I'm curious to know why it cost you £90?

I plan on simply phoning Ford and asking them exactly what the toe settings should be for my 55 plate face-life ST and when I take my car to have the new tyres put on, I'll ask National Tyres to set the toe at that setting.

I took the car to Ford about 7 months ago to have a 'suspension geometry test' and it was covered under warranty.
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God gave me feet, and Ford gave me pedals. I intend to put both to good use.

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#119983 - 16/02/08 08:07 AM Re: TYRES - Help me settle this once and for all... [Re: arapoda]
SI_ST Offline
Fiesta Addict

Registered: 23/12/05
Posts: 835
Loc: Yorkshire
Basically, its one hours labour. They charged me this to check the current settings at the Ford garage. First of all they told me the setting looked ok and I should expect tyre ware of this nature on a sports car but they would contact ford technical to double-check. Mines a 55 plate also if you want to try the same setting. Like I said, robbing gits and i'm sure they would have charged for the adjustment instead of the geometry test so they still make their money. The alloy had been knocked slightly so they will just say it was my fault that the tracking was not correct and not poor prep work. I reckon it was first set to 0 and the tyres lasted 5000, then set to -1 by just tyres and managed 6000. I am currently over the 6,000 mile limit of the previous set now it is set to toe in 0.22 and theres still tred left.

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#119984 - 17/02/08 12:27 AM TYRES - Help me settle this once and for all... [Re: SI_ST]
arapoda Offline
Fiesta Fan

Registered: 27/02/07
Posts: 224
Well I had the new front tyres fitted today and the guys at the garage set the tyres at plus 1 (which is what Ford recommended when I gave them a ring).
My previous tyres had worn pretty badly on the inside, so I don't want any negative toe.
_________________________
God gave me feet, and Ford gave me pedals. I intend to put both to good use.

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