How often are folks finding they need a wheel alignment? I'm getting some very wierd tire wear (SP5000 DDST, 23 K). The fronts are definitely wearing on the outside edges much faster than the inside. The rears are very odd, the inside half of the tires are worn in a wave pattern with low spots every 5-6 inches that are very noticable and are now causing a wha-wha-wha sound at moderate highway speeds.
The car tacks very straight & true and has done so since new.
So by NOT following MINI's recommendation of not rotating tires, I'm sure I could have prevented this to some extent. Leason learned - I'll have my alignment checked after I get a new set of tires from Tire Rack and I will rotate very 3000 miles - promise.

 

>>How often are folks finding they need a wheel alignment? I'm getting some very wierd tire wear (SP5000 DDST, 23 K). The fronts are definitely wearing on the outside edges much faster than the inside. The rears are very odd, the inside half of the tires are worn in a wave pattern with low spots every 5-6 inches that are very noticable and are now causing a wha-wha-wha sound at moderate highway speeds.
>>The car tacks very straight & true and has done so since new.
>>So by NOT following MINI's recommendation of not rotating tires, I'm sure I could have prevented this to some extent. Leason learned - I'll have my alignment checked after I get a new set of tires from Tire Rack and I will rotate very 3000 miles - promise.

momini-
Aloha and welcome to MCO,
It sounds like you still have the original tires and at 23,000 miles an alignment is fine to do. About one a year or once every two years is OK depending on your mileage. I plan to do it once a year. Do you have any suspension upgrades? It sounds like your tires are wearing unevenly and that they are already badly affected but it is time for replacements anyway. Whenever you get new tires you should think of doing an alignment so the tires and wear their best. Contact Alex@tirerack to discuss the wear pattern you described. 23K miles is good for original tires. Some people get about 12K. It depends on how your drive.

Tire rotations about every 4000 miles and balance the front wheels only each time is usually OK.

 

The only alignement factors that can be adjusted are toe. The wear on the ouside of your tires is a direct result of no negative camber in the front. Threre is no adjustment and the factory specified range is -.1 to -.9. Your rear wear pattern sounds like a tire pressure problem. Go to a competent tire shop and have them diagnos your wer patterns. You could heve the tires flipped on the rim, so the outside right becomes inside left and vice versa. Hope this helps.
Chris