FWD only actuates one wheel?

[Donut]

Hello guys and gals,

just came back from an oil change at the dealership and was told that my tires soon need replacement. In particular, it was pointed out that one tire had serious wear (rear right tire, which was at the front a tire rotation before).
My question as to whether this could be caused by a real wheel misalignment was shrug off by commenting on how the Mirage actually actuates the front wheel drive.
I must confess that I am confused, because I was told that the FWD only applies torque on the right front wheel and this would be the reason for the increased wear on that single tire.

Can you please help me to better understand this? Is this correct, only one tire is propelling the whole car?

thx a lot for your insights

[Eggman]

I'm pretty sure our manual transaxles have a differential.

I don't think that is how differential gearing works.

I think it works as depicted in this video:
YouTube: Around The Corner (1937) How Differential Steering Works (A Jam Handy Picture)

[Cleartec]

If one tire would move the entire car, the whole car would not drive straight

[flatbroke]

Both front wheels drive the car, but it doesn't have posi-traction, so in slippery conditions, the wheel with the least amount of traction will spin first, taking all the driving forward force, so you get stuck. I would say check alignment and go from there.

[foama]

Of course both front wheels pull the car forward. If a mechanic tells you otherwise, he is an imposter or a crook! Go some other place!

If you have an alignment-related tyre-wear problem, get it fixed! In the mean time, and also as a general rule, rotating the tyres more frequently saves more money. You can do that yourself.

A simplified explanation: If a wheel has excessive camber, (wheel not standing vertical on the ground, being an issue with some Mirage rear axles) the tread will wear out much more quickly on the side of the tyre closer to the ground.

[Daox]

Flatbroke is correct in that both front wheels propel the car, and that once one tire starts to slip all the power goes to that one tire. It could be the right or left one, just which ever one slips first. Pretty much every single front wheel drive car is the same way. The only ones that aren't have limited slip differentials which is rare and only used on high powered cars.

Thus, I can almost guarantee its an alignment issue.

[cyclopathic]

It is most likely alignment issue, have it checked