Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

I'm posting this here because I have no other people to ask...

The wife's Mazda 3 has an issue with it's rear tires. They are both splayed outwards at the bottom, one more than the other. So much so that when I took the tires off to put the winter rubber on yesterday one side had worn the tread completely off the inside 1/4 of the tire.

It was suggested to me that an alignment would fix this. But I had always thought that an alignment was just to get the wheels pointing in the same direction...

What I'm wondering is: Is this an alignment issue or a symptom of something bigger? Does an alignment job correct vertical problems or just side to side? I'd like to know as much as possible so I don't just go to the mechanic and say "Solve this problem."

Thanks in advance!

Paul

A Short Course on Wheel Alignment.
Highly recommended.

Hi Paul

If you google it, both the Mazda 3 and 5 have this problem. Rotating tires more often than the recommended interval and adjusting the camber is the solution.

Not sure if yours is still under warranty but if it is, I would take it back to the dealer.

My ford Escort is on this platform (Mazda seats bolt in no modifications) and eats back tires..

jfarsang wrote:Hi Paul

If you google it, both the Mazda 3 and 5 have this problem. Rotating tires more often than the recommended interval and adjusting the camber is the solution.

Not sure if yours is still under warranty but if it is, I would take it back to the dealer.

It should still be under warranty..

Thanks for your help everyone!

Hi Paule, usually a REAR tire problem is a serious suspension issue. But if you mean the front wheels the yes its a wheel alignment problem.