Fast forward 10 months driving through icy/snowy road my XC70 was slipping and sliding. It was very un-Volvo like. In previous winters before the new tires and alignment it was like a tank through snow and ice. Since it was very cold winter and the car was parked outside, I shrugged it off.
Two months ago when weather warmed up I happened to look at the rear tires from back and shocked to find the inside edge of both sides have completely worn down. It looks like racing slicks on the inside 25% of the treads. It was hard to see this from normal viewing angle. Essentially the car was slipping and sliding on the worn slick part of tire the past winter.
I used the string method to measure rear toe, turns out the rears were toed-in 1.27 deg, the spec is 0.20 deg.
When I went to try to adjust the toe it was impossible to do. The wheel alignment tech used heat to loosen the eccentric bolt and all were frozen solid and the rubber in bushing were shot.
I had to order new eccentric bolt, washer, nut and inner tie rod bushing. Had to cut the old bolt on both sides of the old bushing and press the bushing out with ball joint c-clamp. Not easy but do-able in one day.
Lesson learned:
1. watch the tire for uneven wear
2. poor traction in winter may indicate alignment is off
3. insist alignment tech do not use heat to loosen eccentric bolt/nut
My tires are shot, it's worn down to slick on the inside. I had to remove and replace the inner toe adjusting bolt and bushing. I wish my tires can be flipped but they are directional
