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[Chopsdad]

I had some new aftermarket rear coil springs fitted last year and my rear tyres have "deformed".

Both outer shoulders are full of tread but the centre section has worn out - akin to over inflation - and I'm not sure if it's because the replacements aren't suitable or the combination of broken springs and worn dampers were the cause.

One tyre has actually split vertically under the pressure - apparently :-/

The new springs sit lower on the back than before but the garage that fit them recons they are ok.

Can any 2.2 owner measure the height from floor to the highest point of the wheel arch at the front and rear for me as a comparison.

Cheers  

[Proz]

Just read this just now so its too dark to measure but will tommorrow  .......... ive just replaced my rear springs after one broke

[feeutfo]

figures last measured by wim for my 3.2 if it helps
         Front.
 377                       374


379                        383
              Rear
Plus or minus 5 mill of the correct setting,but er... cant remember what the setting is...

Also depends if the wings are bolted on right i guess
 
Dont know if its different for your engine though.

[feeutfo]

also, when the tires where fitted and they over inflate the tire to pop it onto the rims, did they then set the correct pressure? Or, to put it another way, did you check the tire pressure after they where fitted? Usually 30 to 32 depending on preference.

[Chopsdad]

Tyre pressures checked regularly and sit at 30.5 all round.

I'd expect your 3.2 to weigh in differently to my 2.2 due to the extra engine bits.

My front sits at 695 & rear at 670 - measured from the ground to the underside of the highest point of the wheel arch - I recon the rears are between 2 & 3 cm lower than they should be - I do have a tow bar too.

There is only me in the car 90% of the time and the mud flaps bottom out at ridiculously slow speeds on county roads  :-/

[feeutfo]

sorry to ask, you never know...
mine from centre of the wheel/axle so probably no help anyway.  

[Chopsdad]

sorry to ask, you never know...
mine from centre of the wheel/axle so probably no help anyway.  

It is helpful if you look your settings front and rear are balanced - mine are 25mm out  

[Proz]

Hi there

Ok just been and checked my ride height on my 2002 2.2 CD auto ,  Tyre pressures checked and all at 32 psi ... tyre size 225/55/16.... car unloaded ie nothing in boot etc and i dont have a tow bar ... sitting on the levelest ground i could find ( Tesco car park   )..... measured from ground through centre of wheel to wheel arch ...rear springs replaced just 4 weeks ago with springs bought from Autosave .

Front drivers side   69.5 cm
Front passenger side   69.5 cm

Rear drivers side  69cm
Rear passenger side  69 cm

Pleasantly suprised how equal the sides are  

HTH  

[RobG]

Hi there

Ok just been and checked my ride height on my 2002 2.2 CD auto ,  Tyre pressures checked and all at 32 psi ... tyre size 225/55/16.... car unloaded ie nothing in boot etc ... sitting on the levelest ground i could find ( Tesco car park   )..... measured from ground through centre of wheel to wheel arch ...rear springs replaced just 4 weeks ago with springs bought from Autosave .

Front drivers side   89.5 cm
Front passenger side   89.5 cm

Rear drivers side 89cm
Rear passenger side  89 cm

Pleasantly suprised how equal the sides are  

HTH  

35 inches Must have big speed ramps up there

[Proz]

Hi there

Ok just been and checked my ride height on my 2002 2.2 CD auto ,  Tyre pressures checked and all at 32 psi ... tyre size 225/55/16.... car unloaded ie nothing in boot etc ... sitting on the levelest ground i could find ( Tesco car park   )..... measured from ground through centre of wheel to wheel arch ...rear springs replaced just 4 weeks ago with springs bought from Autosave .

Front drivers side   89.5 cm
Front passenger side   89.5 cm

Rear drivers side 89cm
Rear passenger side  89 cm

Pleasantly suprised how equal the sides are  

HTH  

35 inches Must have big speed ramps up there

LOL  ...... yes sorry i am but a fool      

Should be
Front  69.5 cm Front
Rear   69 cm  

Ive edited up above to try and cover my embarresment ..... maybe should have listened more in maths at school  

I feel such a fool now    

[Proz]

Tyre pressures checked regularly and sit at 30.5 all round.

I'd expect your 3.2 to weigh in differently to my 2.2 due to the extra engine bits.

My front sits at 695 & rear at 670 - measured from the ground to the underside of the highest point of the wheel arch - I recon the rears are between 2 & 3 cm lower than they should be - I do have a tow bar too.

There is only me in the car 90% of the time and the mud flaps bottom out at ridiculously slow speeds on county roads  :-/

Fronts are the same as mine but as you suspect the rears are down a few cms .

[Auto Addict]

Rear 27.5" (still working in old money).

[Chopsdad]

Rear 27.5" (still working in old money).

In new money that's 70.5cm.

Are yours VX Barry?

[Chopsdad]

Hi there

Ok just been and checked my ride height on my 2002 2.2 CD auto ,  Tyre pressures checked and all at 32 psi ... tyre size 225/55/16.... car unloaded ie nothing in boot etc and i dont have a tow bar ... sitting on the levelest ground i could find ( Tesco car park   )..... measured from ground through centre of wheel to wheel arch ...rear springs replaced just 4 weeks ago with springs bought from Autosave .

Front drivers side   69.5 cm
Front passenger side   69.5 cm

Rear drivers side  69cm
Rear passenger side  69 cm

Pleasantly suprised how equal the sides are  

HTH  

My towbar would account for a little but not 2cm-or 3.5cm as with AA's.  I can live with the ride but not if it's responsible for they excessive tyrewear  

[Chopsdad]

Tony from WIM kindly responded to my email plea with the following pearl of wisdom.

My car is now running motorway miles and the tyres need to be inflated to "motorway" settings.

Essentially what has been happening is that the tyres at 30.5psi are technically under inflated and generate extra heat, this in turn causes expansion of the air inside.......leading to over inflation!

The solution - put MORE  :oair in the tyres, leaving a smaller footprint, generating less heat and more even wear.  Or better yet, fill them with nitrogen as it is more tolerant of temperature changes.

He said the that tyre wear of this sort is not connected to ride height at all but for the record the correct measurement is 375mm from centre of the wheel to the arch above  

As we have no guide for "motorway" settings he suggested somewhere nearer to fully loaded to stay within manufacturers tolerances.

You learn summat new every day