While I was changing the oil on my car I noticed that the rear tires were almost bald. I have driven front wheel drive cars since 1981 and have NEVER had bad rear tires. I never rotate tires on front wheel drive cars. When the front tires go bad repair the front end problem, replace the tires and go. The rear tires last 150,000 miles or more, usually dry rot is the reason to change them.

This problem is strange because the car has only 22,500 miles on it and is less than a year old. As in the other complaint it is not covered by Honda. This has been my first foreign new car and it will definitly be my last Honda. My front tires appear to be new. I would expect them to be somewhat worn because the car is front wheel drive and the rear to be perfect. So how can the rear end become unaligned and the front end be good? I know I drive so slow that I drive around pot holes but the rear tires hit them? My 60 mile per day commute takes 30 hours. Yeah right!!

This is a problem from the factory that Honda refuses to acknowledge. I am taking the car for a 4 wheel alignment at the local Meineke to actually see what the problem is. It is strange that the dealer cannot do an alignment which makes me think that something is more seriously wrong with the car. Honda quality?? I do not see it.

This is a generic problem for many, if not all, Civic Hybrids.

Honda Corp. has distributed an internal bulletin and part-kits to its dealers for correction However, the local Dealership did not advise me of the problem. I would not have discovered it (!!) except that I could hear the effect of the damage after two tire rotations. The tires are very noisy at all speeds and have a wavering sound when the car is moving slowly.

I am concerned that Honda Corp. is not taking action on my tire problem after fixing a problem with faulty rear suspension. This has damaged all four original tires on my car after wearing-in of no more than 10,000 miles.

SPECIFICS: At 10,000 miles, in about June, the dealer rotated my tires for the second time. Immediately I noticed very irritating noise that seemed to come from the front end. Upon my return to the dealership, the Service Department informed me of a "Factory Bulletin." The bulletin allows installation of stiffeners to re-align the rear suspension for proper tire contact with the road. The bulletin has a tread depth-vs-mileage table that provides for discounted sale of replacement tires if original tires are severely worn. My tires are significantly cupped, but not enough to qualify for discounted replacement. So, Honda advises (!!) that after several thousand miles, my tires will wear down evenly and the problem will disappear.

At 12,600 miles, I returned yesterday to the dealership. The tires are still not showing excessive overall wear, so they took no further action. However, the Service manager sent word he is raising my concern to the "District Manager."

I went to an excellent independent tire dealer who checked the alignment and inspected the tires. The alignment is now correct. However, the tire dealer says the "cupping" of the tires will not be evened out by future wear.

I am awaiting Honda's response, but am aware they have already published an internal position and they might stick to it.