Tire Wear vs. Wheel Alignment

[fieroeddoctor]

I think many GTO owners are experiencing rear tire wear as I am. I recently purchased a 2004 with 17K miles after shopping, shopping, shopping.

I am experienced (30+ years) in wheel alignment and tire service. While looking at used 2004 and 2005 vehicles I noticed none had original tires at 30K miles and all were in a progressive state of premature wear because of poor rear wheel alignment. By feeling the tires, my experience indicated the rear tires are 1/8" to 1/4" out of line and the tires are operating in a severe state of toe-in.

Before purchasing my car I negotiated a free wheel alignment. Yes! The salesman cheerfully reported I was correct and they had reset the alignment. When picking up the car, I asked to talk to the Service Manager who apparently did not understand alignments and asked the kid who worked on it to come over. All he could tell me is that he set it according to specs. I then asked to talk to someone with some experience who was able to bring me a copy of specifications and the print out of before/after settings. The man knew what he was talking about but couldn't explain any satisfactory reason for adding more toe-in to correct a toe-in wear problem. Talk about doing things "bass ackwards"! Don't correct the obvious problem, just set it to specs! (reference: Reliable Chevrolet Big Lot, Springfield, MO)

While in Kansas City I visited the Andy Klein Pontiac dealership where I didn't meet with the service manager but a stand in CLOWN who assured me twice that TOE-IN DID NOT CAUSE TIRE WEAR, IT WAS CAUSED BY CAMBER AND CASTER! I looked him in the eye twice and assured him twice that he was DEAD WRONG! After making an ass of himself he put on the icing by assuring me that GTO and Corvette models were not supposed to get more than 20K miles to a set of tires. I looked him in the eye again and assured him that I sell tires and a 400 treadwear rating (G Force T/A) on the tires I sell are normally 50K mile tires if the wheels are aligned properly. He gave me confidence in the service department by concluding that "He could not help me." (I wonder if any manufacturer gives a damn about a customer's problem, I know Ford goes from one extreme to the other)

**The only conclusion to be drawn is that a high level screwup has occurred in the specs for the rear toe and perhaps camber setting also. No recalls of any kind are issued for the car. WE NEED A RECALL! GM Customer Service was nice but hasn't called back. DO WE NEED A CLASS ACTION SUIT?