My wife's 96 Jetta has aprox. 89K miles on it and I just had the 5th set of tires installed. The originals got 31K, the replacements got 26K, then 19K and the Michelins I just replaced only got 13K. My buddy runs a tire store and takes good care of them with rotation at every oil change and monitoring alignment, etc. Anyone have a similar experience with a tire eater like this? The car just gets normal city and interstate use -nothing that would cause excessive wear.

Has this car ever been in an accident? Are you buying all-season tires? What is the ware rating on the tires you are buying? Has your buddy ever recommended a four wheel alignment?

Not just the front but all four wheels. Now I must admit, I don't know if you can correct a misaligned rear end on a Jetta, but you can on most.

Aside from driving habits, the biggest cause of tire ware is alignment. The next would tire inflation. Tires out of alignment will "Scrub" the rubber off as they roll across the pavement as they are not traveling in a straight line.

Have you ever seen the car in front of you "Crabbing" down the road. That's where the rear tires are not in direct alignment tracking with the front. That is the sign of a radical misalignment. I know you stated the he has been checking the alignment, but just for s & grins, take to another front end alignment specialist. I found the one I was useing equipment was out of calibration one time.

Next, tire inflation, to low, you will ware off the edges as most of the vehicles weight will ride on the outside egdes. Also, generate more heat on the tread surface. Over inflation, the weight will ride in the center and the center line will ware out first.

The proper inflation for the type of tire and weight of car will increase the life of your tires.

Most tire shops can "Read" the tire ware pattern to see why tires are waring.

There are more items, like shocks, warn parts and bearings, etc. that can cause it.

Now, are there any Jetta owners out there?

This car has never been wrecked - my wife bought it new. As for the alignment and inflation, it gets checked by the guys in the tire shop at every oil change. They're equally mystified because they have had it under their watchful eyes and are at a loss to explain the poor mileage either. The last tires (Michelins) were rated at 30K+ and I got a nice adjustment because they didn't even last 1/2 as long as rated. I've posted an inquiry on a couple Jetta boards, too.

Blueeagle: Not only is there something wrong with your vehicle but there is something VERY wrong with the place you are taking it. You say this person is a friend and I am sure your friend would not intentionally mislead you, however his alignment equipment most certainly is. Take this vehicle to a dealer that uses newer alignment equipment and I will almost guarantee that they will make radical adjustments. There is a reason for this type of wear and that reason lies almost certainly in the alignment of the four wheels of this vehicle. If this person you are going to is a close friend then I realize it may be difficult for you to go elsewhere and have the vehicle looked at, but if this problem is to be corrected then that is what you will have to do. I have performed alignments on vehicles that "have just been aligned" and found them to be very far off of manufacturers specifications. This is usually due to the improper calibration of the equipment used. Take the Jetta to someone else.

I believe I personally know sae501. If I am not mistaken, sae refers to Society of Automotive Engineers.

Like we have both stated, take it to another Alignment shop. If found to be out of alignment, you would be doing your friend a favor in telling him his equipment was out of calibration. If you car is in alignment, no harm, no foul. At least you'll know.

Even tho your wife brought the car new, the frame still be out (bent). A friend brought a new one and the frame was out of aligemen from the factory...
Totally agree with the other answers...Go somewhere else....

That's the way the germans are getting even after losing WW11.

Heres what it could be, the car has "Kissed"/bumped a raised curb at an angle Knocking one of the front suspension units backwards bending the wishbones/steering arm/rack ect back by as little as a millimetre or 2 look at the top of the suspension legs in the engine compartment if there is anything going to show visually it will be here, there could be a disturbed rubber seal or even a dent on the inner wing surface.
Get an accurate measurement of the wheelbase a kinked (backwards) suspension leg will be found this way (take it to someplace that does accident repairs (who can "Jig" cars (important!)) they will tell you what the score is with your vehicles alignment(cost you about an hours Labour)Maybe able to pull it straight?
I have just had a car in with a small impact in the rear end (creased bumper but the wheel in that corner was pushed forward by quarter of an inch the swinging arm pivot had moved forward (cost to pull out about $100) the car was driving Ok in a straight line but was stiff taking street corners.