Weird Tire Wear

Ram2K1 · #1 04-17-2009, 02:03 PM

I just noticed today that my right side tires, both front and back, seem to be wearing a lot faster on the outer edge than the left side tires. I found it odd, since it is BOTH right side tires...any ideas? 4 wheel alignment needed? I'm stumped...

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PartsChaser · #2 04-17-2009, 02:17 PM

It is kinda odd to have both on the same side rubbing. Is there anything noticeable in the suspension on that side that might be causing it? I have seen trucks that were wrecked in the past do that, might be a tweek in the frame or something thats scrubbing the tires on that side.

I am sure if you go in for a 4 wheel alignment they will let ya know if they find something out of whack. Good luck!

dakotas ram · #3 04-17-2009, 02:20 PM

how long have you owned the truck?......a previous owner couldve swapped one of the front tires to the rear?

Ram2K1 · #4 04-17-2009, 02:30 PM

I've had the truck since Aug '07. It has never been wrecked (according to the Carfax anyway), and I had the tires rotated about 5K miles ago and just haven't really paid close attention since. When I had it rotated, the front tires were wearing the same on the outer edges, and so were the rears. All I can figure off the top of my head is that the tire shop left the right front and left rear in place and swapped the left front with the right rear...but why would they do that? I wonder if it would hurt to leave the left front in place, put the left rear on the right front, and put the right front on the left rear? That way, the fronts and the rears would have even wear, and I could watch them to see what happens. Just not sure about crossing the left rear to the right front...

EDIT: My tires do not have any rotation direction markings on them, which means it doesn't matter which way they turn, right? I thought of another scenario. It is unorthodox, but it could be the case: The shop could have used a box rotation and went LF to RF, RF to RR, RR to LR, and LR to LF...that would make sense.

Silver_Dodge · #5 04-17-2009, 02:36 PM

My front passenger side tire wears on the outer edge. It has ever since I have owned the truck, and it has done it on 3 different sets of tires. I have my truck aligned at least once a year, sometimes twice, and it always passes with flying colors. I have never been able to figure it out. I just rotate the tires about every 5k to keep them wearing even.

One shop even told me that maybe it is from my driving style, that's all they could think of since everything checked out perfect.

Ram2K1 · #6 04-17-2009, 02:56 PM

I think I am just going to swap the left rear and the right front tires myself. That way, the fronts and the rears will be evenly matched in wear, and I will watch them more closely to see if it is a wear problem or a shop's rotation process problem. If you want something done right, do it yourself, I guess...we'll see. Thanks for the input guys...

sungod · #7 04-17-2009, 04:19 PM

You have a solid rear axle. There is nothing to adjust in the rear. It is impossible to get a 4 wheel alignment. The fact that your tires have been rotated make it clear that the problem is your alignment. Most likely your toe angle is off. The only thing you can do now is get it aligned and live with the tires the way they are. Once they have a wear pattern there is nothing you can do to correct it.

Cereal Killer · #8 04-17-2009, 04:27 PM

I'm sure you've already done this, but I'll say it just because we all forget the simplest things from time to time.

Make sure you have even tire pressure.

Ram2K1 · #9 04-17-2009, 06:38 PM

For now, I swapped the right front and left rear. Now the front and rear have even wear on the outer edges. I am going to monitor the situation from here on out... I really think it was the shop's screwy method of rotation, since the tires were wearing perfectly fine and even before. I am pretty sure what they did was rotated the tires in a box pattern, starting with the left front going to the right front, right front to right rear, right rear to left rear, left rear to left front. Only time will tell...

dodge15004x45.9 · #10 04-17-2009, 10:19 PM

Nah my front right did the same thing. I had an aligned do on it and it pulls to the right.