Tyres

Have test driven a Jaguar XF and was very impressed with it, except for the very bumpy ride. It's got 19-inch rims, would the ride improve with smaller rims and fatter tyres, or is it just the Jag setup?

I think the trend to space saver spare tyres needs to be addressed. Most of us use our cars for country and or interstate runs occasionally, and when safety is such an important issue, as it should be, surely a full-sized spare should be mandatory.

I had a problem with tyre wear on my 2010 VW GTI after about 18 months. I was told by the VW dealership that it was because the tyres had been overinflated (which was complete rubbish). The uneven wear was called 'feathering' or 'scalloping'. I replaced the tyres, but now have the same problem with the new tyres less than 12 months later. This is definitely a design fault. What can be done about this?

To understand why I’ll be overjoyed to see burly tyre-fitters dressing in pink this Friday, I have to first reveal some of my personal life. “You have cancer”... Those three little words sent my head and my world spiralling two years ago.  I had no family history of the disease and I was regularly getting mammograms, so the news came as a complete shock.To put it simply, it felt like I was a balloon that had been pricked with a needle.  I was instantly deflated.  Then I looked over at John, my husband of 28 years, and it was like I was looking in a mirror.  I could see he was experiencing the same feelings I was.  Sucker-punched and deflated. As I reflect back upon that time in our lives, it makes me realise how vitally important a good support network is when life throws you a curve ball.I was lucky enough to have access to fantastic doctors as well as the unwavering support of the Australian community; this included my family, friends, and an amazing breast care nurse.  But it was John’s support that had the greatest impact on my wellbeing.He was my pillar of strength, and my experience taught me that there’s not enough appreciation for men and the role they play in situations such as this.Sadly, today we commonly hear breast cancer stories in our communities, including the devastating ways the illness can impact families.  While a small percentage of those diagnosed are indeed men, in most circumstances, the disease is considered a female illness.However, the reach of breast cancer certainly isn’t limited to women.  The men in our lives, whether a husband, father, brother, uncle, or friend, are all part of the experience as they fiercely support their loved ones. So why do breast cancer and tyres go hand in hand? Friday May 2 is Pink Fitters Day --  an annual community initiative from Kumho Tyres Australia, where over 250 tyre dealerships from around the nation will fundraise and raise awareness for the McGrath Foundation.Yes, that’s right, hundreds of burly men dressing in pink to support the women they love and care for … does it get much better? Pink Fitters Day is an open opportunity for men (and a few female tyre fitters as well) to show their support for the women they love by doing something that isn’t typically considered very manly.The McGrath Foundation has an important message for all Australians, and that is to be breast aware.  Initiatives like this help create awareness and support for the Foundation and the important work it does.  Importantly, they also help spread the breast awareness message to communities where the topic isn’t often spoken about.No one ever plans to have breast cancer and no partner ever really knows what to do when the tidal wave of emotion and physical drama hits.  We simply have to make it up as we go along. For me, when surgical options and treatment choices were offered – even though I knew I had to make the final decision – having a clearer mind than my own, in John, was a relief.  I sometimes thought my brain was like an asteroid flying around the galaxy.  I never knew when or where it would land or for how long.Today, I believe men are so much more aware and engaged with breast cancer than ever before. The McGrath Foundation has enabled this.  When you see sports teams proudly wearing a pink shirt or holding a pink cricket bat it sends a strong message that it’s okay to get involved and to talk about this disease.So I encourage all those reading this, even if you don’t know someone who’s battled breast cancer, to wear pink and make a donation to the McGrath Foundation. When breast cancer is diagnosed it is not just a woman or person and their body that is affected, it’s the whole family.  Support your mates and loved ones, by helping us share the McGrath Foundation’s message.You can get involved by visiting your local Kumho Tyre dealership to make a donation and buy merchandise, where all funds will go to the cause. Please help ensure that every Australian family experiencing breast cancer has access to a breast care nurse – no matter where they live or their financial situation.  Find your nearest participating Pink Fitters Day dealership here.   

I really like the new Hyundai Santa Fe but I am concerned about the negative camber I see they have at the back wheels. The previous model did not have it, and none of the other Hyundai vehicles do either. Since the Santa Fe is not a performance vehicle, one would not expect negative camber be a design future. The vehicles in dealerships seem to be fine, so it looks like the vehicle develops negative camber after some usage. As you would agree this puts great stress over independent rear suspension and is a tyre killer. Are you able get any sort of decent comment about this from Hyundai?

I was interested to read the letter (Carsguide, December 13) from Des Brown about his VW Toureg chewing up its tyres, because I have a 2011 VW Caddy Maxi Life and it too shows abnormal tyre wear. Like Des's Toureg, my Caddy was also fitted with Dunlop tyres by VW. At its first service I reported a noise coming from the tyres and that there was abnormal wear. The dealer said that it was scalloping and "it was standard for that type of vehicle". Basically, no way to argue as it was "standard". I put up with it and then after it had done around 34,000 km I noticed some odd colouring of the tyre tread that suggested that not all of the tread was in contact with the road. I reported this to Dunlop who had me go to a Beaurepaires outlet to have things checked out. I did not expect anything, and true to form was told it was because I had the tyres underinflated (they were correctly inflated), and then told the wheel alignment was out, even though it was within spec as far as VW was concerned. So, is it a VW problem, or a Dunlop problem, or both?

After reading the complaint in your column of December 6, 2013 about a Mercedes-Benz pulling to the left I thought I would tell you about a similar problem I endured for nearly a year and a half before I went to a tyre repairer and was told that the problem was my tyres. The front tyres were too wide and I was told to go to a narrower tyre and see if it didn't fix the problem. It did. The reason was that the load on the tyre was too great and the car was moving on the tyre and then pulling to either the right or left. My car wasn't a ML300, it was a 380 SEL, but it had the same problem.

In April this year I purchased a current model VW Touareg V8 TDI R Line 4.2-litre with Dunlop 275/40x21 tyres. In July, at 4354 km, I noticed both front tyres were wearing excessively on the outer edges. A local tyre retailer checked the alignment told me it was within specification, but said that the front tyres were wearing excessively and that there must be something wrong with vehicle and to take it back to a dealership. The dealer checked the alignment and confirmed that it was within specs and that I should try that. A short time later I noticed it had a slight pull to the left. I took it back in August for the alignment to be checked and rectified. I was informed that three alignments were done with VW's involvement. I was asked to try that and the settings were all within spec. In November I took it back to the same dealer for the same problem, only this time both front tyres had worn excessively on the outer edges and were close to unroadworthy condition. Both the rear tyres are wearing excessively on the outer edges as well after 8631 km. I was informed again all setting are within specs and there was nothing else the dealer could do to help me. He suggested I contact the VW customer service and was given the number. I did, and received a call from them to discuss the problem. The explanation I wad given was that "it is a heavy car with big rims and low profile tyres and the settings were as per specs, so there is nothing VW could do". After paying in excess of $120,000 I cannot accept that I have to replace a set of tyres before its first service. I am a 64-year-old gentleman who takes pride in his vehicle and it is only driven on suburban roads and freeways. I hope you can help me with a suggestion or lead me in the right direction.

If scaring the living daylights our of your target audience is the way to make them buy your products, this Japanese tyre company has struck gold.Watch the desktop version of the scary Japanese tyre commercial hereAutoway Tires came up with the ad to show how the company's tyres can peform in treacherous and dangerous conditions, The Daily Mail reports. It even starts with a health warning which reads: "Not for the faint of heart."Also watch: funny or scary videoThe ad - which is reminiscent of the Japanese horror film The Ring - shows the view from a car windscreen as the driver heads down a lonely laneway. In the distance, the figure of a lone girl appears. As the car approaches, the girl's ghoulish face looms.Also watch: how to apply make-up while driving videoWhat happens next has left viewers jumpy, shaken and horrified, with one viewer taking to Twitter saying: "The most terrifying ad you will ever watch! Turn up the volume."Read the full story at news.com.au 

What do you know regarding about steering issues with the 2011 Mercedes-Benz ML300? I have one with an AMG pack with 21-inch alloys and low profile tyres that pulls to the left. When we first bought it I had a wheel alignment done which made no difference. A few months later I took it back to Mercedes who agreed it wasn't right and made a number of adjustments. It was much better after that, but still not 100 percent. After a few more months it began to pull to the left again and you can feel it through the steering wheel. There is something not right. Mercedes hinted that they may be able to change the front left wheel positioning somehow but didn't elaborate.