Opel Frontera UE. Manual - part 1282

WHEEL AND TIRE SYSTEM

3E–5

Erratic Steering When Braking

Worn wheel bearings.

Replace wheel bearings.

Broken or sagging springs.

Replace spring (pairs).

Leaking caliper.

Repair or replace caliper.

Warped discs.

Replace brake disc.

Badly worn brake pads.

Replace brake pads.

Tires are inflated unequally.

Inflate tires to proper pressure.

Low or Uneven Trim Height

Broken or sagging springs.

Replace springs (In pairs).

Vehicle overloaded.

Reduce load.

Incorrect springs.

Adjust or replace torsion bar.

Suspension Bottoms

Vehicle overloaded. 

Reduce load.

Faulty shock absorber.

Replace shock absorber.

Incorrect, broken or sagging springs.

Replace springs.

Body Leans

Loose stabilizer bar.

Tighten stabilizer bar bolts or 
replace bushings.

Faulty shock absorber, struts or 
mounting.

Replace shock absorber.

Broken or sagging springs.

Replace springs (In pairs).

Vehicle overloaded.

Reduce load.

Cupped Tires

Worn wheel bearings.

Replace wheel bearing.

Excessive tire or wheel run out.

Replace tire or wheel.

Worn ball joints.

Replace ball joints.

Tire out of balance.

Adjust tire balance.

Condition

Possible cause

Correction

SECTION

3E–6

WHEEL AND TIRE SYSTEM

Irregular and Premature Wear

480RS001

Irregular and/or premature wear has many causes.   
Some of them are incorrect inflation pressures, lack of 
tire rotation, poor driving habits or improper wheel 
alignment.  Incorrect inflation is common cause of tire 
premature wear.

NOTE:  Due to their design, radial tires tend to wear 
faster in the shoulder area, particularly on the front tires.   
This makes regular rotation especially necessary.  After 
rotation, be sure to check wheel nut torque, and set tire 
pressures. 

Tire Rotation

Tire rotation is recommended to equalize wear for 
longer tire life.

480RS002

Legend

EndOFCallout

If the following conditions are noted, rotate the tires:

• Front tire wear is different from rear.

• Uneven wear exists across the tread of any tire.

• Left and right front tire wear is unequal.

• Left and right rear tire wear is unequal.
Check wheel alignment if the following conditions are 
noted:

• Left and right front tire wear is unequal.

• Wear is uneven across the tread of any front tire.

• Front tire treads have a scuffed appearance with 

“feather" edges on one side of the tread ribs or 
blocks.

Tread Wear Indicators

480RS006

The original equipment tires have built-in tread wear 
indicators(1) to show when tires need replacement.   
These indicators may appear as wide bands.   When the 
indicators appear in two or more grooves at three 
locations, tire replacement is recommended. 

(1) Spare Tire

SECTION

WHEEL AND TIRE SYSTEM

3E–7

Inflation of Tires

710RX004

Tire pressure, in cold condition (after vehicle has set for 
three hours or more, and driven less than one mile),  
should be checked monthly or before any extended trip.  
Tire pressure increases approximately 15% when the 
tires become hot during driving.   Tire pressure 
specification is shown on the label located on the left 
door lock pillar.

NOTE:  Check the tire pressure whenever irregular wear 
is found.  Tire inflation greatly affects tire wear.   If the 
alignment check does not reveal any alignment 
problems, check the condition of the shock absorbers 
and wheel/tire balance.

Diagnosis List

If the following conditions are noted, rotation is required.

1. Front tire wear is different from rear.

2. Uneven wear exists across the tread of any tire.

3. Left and right front tire wear is unequal.

4. Left and right rear tire wear is unequal. 

If the following conditions are noted, check the wheel 
alignment.

1. Left and right front tire wear is unequal.

2. Uneven wear exists across the tread of any tire.

3. Front tire treads have scuffed appearance with 

“feather" edges on one side of tread ribs or blocks.

4. There is cupping, flat spotting etc. 

Higher than recommended pressure can cause:

1. Hard ride.

2. Poor steering stability.

3. Rapid and uneven wear at center of the tread.

Lower than recommended pressure can cause:

1. Tire squeal on turns.

2. Hard steering.

3. Rapid and uneven wear on the edges of the tread.

4. Tire rim bruises and rupture.

5. Tire cord breakage.

6. High tire temperatures.

7. Reduced handling.

8. Reduced fuel economy.

Unequal pressure on same axle can cause:

1. Uneven braking.

2. Steering lead.

3. Reduced handling.

4. Swerve on acceleration.

Radial Tire Waddle

480RW011

Waddle is side-to-side movement at the front and/or 
rear of the car.  It can be caused by the steel belt not 
being straight within the tire, or by excessive lateral 
runout of the tire or wheel.  It is most noticeable at low 
speed, about 8 to 48 km/h (5 to 30 mph).  It may also 
cause rough ride at 80 to 113 km/h (50 to 70 mph).
The car can be road tested to see which end of the car 
has the faulty tire.  If  the tire causing the waddle is on 
the rear, the rear end of the car will “waddle". From the 
driver's seat, it feels as if someone is pushing on the 
side of the  car.
If the faulty tire is on the front, the waddle is more easily 
seen. The front sh eet metal appears to be moving back 
and forth. It feels as if the driver's seat  is the pivot point 
in the car.
Another more time-consuming method of determining 
the faulty tire is substituting tire and wheel assemblies 
that are known to be good. Follow these steps:

1. Drive the car to determine if the waddle is coming 

from the front or rear.

2. Install tire and wheel assemblies known to be good 

(from a similar car) in place of those on the end of 
the car which is waddling. If the waddle cannot be 
isolated to front or rear,  start with the rear tires.

SECTION

3E–8

WHEEL AND TIRE SYSTEM

3. Road test again. If improvement is noted, install the 

original tire and wheel  assemblies one at a time 
until the faulty tire is found. If no improvement is 
noted,  install tires known to be good in place of all 
four. Then, install the originals one at a time until the 
faulty tire is found.

Radial Tire Lead/Pull

“Lead/Pull" is vehicle deviation from a straight path, on a 
level road with no  pressure on the steering wheel.
Lead is usually caused by:

1. Poorly manufactured radial tires.

2. Uneven brake adjustment.

3. Wheel alignment.

The way in which a tire is built can produce lead in a car.  
An example of this  is placement of the belt. Off-center 
belts on radial tires can cause the tire to  develop a side 
force while rolling straight down the road and the tire will 
tend to roll like a cone.
The “Radial Tire Lead/Pull Correction" chart should be 
used to make sure that front wheel alignment is not 
mistaken for tire lead.
Rear tires will not cause lead/pull.

Radial Tire Lead/Pull Correction Chart

Typical examples of abnormal tire ahead wear and 
major causes:

CAUTION:  Similar wear patterns can be caused by 
worn suspension parts, misalignment of wheels and 
tires, and other suspension related problems.
Spotty wear – wear localized on shoulder sections, and 
in an extreme cases, the tire becomes polygonal in 
shape.

480RW002

Step

Action

Yes

No

1 

1. Inflate tires to recommended pressure.

2. Road test vehicle on level uncrowned road.

Was a problem corrected?

End.

Go to Step 2

2

Switch front tires side to side and road test again.
Was a problem corrected?

If roughness 

results,replace 

tires.

Go to Step 3

3

Did the vehicle lead in same direction?

Go to Step 4

Go to Step 5

4

Put tires back in original position and check alignment.
Was a problem corrected?

End.

Go to Step 5

5

Install known good tire on one front side.
Was a problem corrected?

Replace tire.

Install a known 

good tire in 

place of other 

front tire.

If lead 

corrected, 

replace tire.

SECTION