Quick question, lacking the ability to get into a detailed search right now...

Drove the truck about 50km since I put the engine back together, was talking with a friend when he called me out on my tires. Seemed odd, since I have great tires on the truck... or I did!

Went outside to take a look and my front tires are torn to pieces (slight exaggeration, but feels like it). He called it 'scalloped' - I've never heard the phrase before, but to describe them they have a "wavy"-uneven wear pattern throughout the entire tread. High points, lower points. Very suspicious. I won't be driving the truck home tonight as I don't want to chew them up anymore until I know what the problem is. Suggestions? If this is an easy fix, I'll tackle it, otherwise I'll take it to a local shop.

Not crying about it, not intimidated about it, but I am unfamiliar wish such a wear pattern. I will admit the truck has a vibration in it that I don't remember, but keep in mind I haven't driven my truck in a little over two months. A bit disappointed I didn't notice sooner as the tires are torn up.

InfO.

 

Scalloped or cupped tires are usually a result of bad shocks, ball joints, trackbar and alignment. Go over all these parts see what's up with them. In most cases a cupped tire is toast some think it will wear flat again.... not. I have a almost new set of Goodyear MTR with K in the barn cupped so bad they are junk for road use.

 

Answer the easy stuff for us. When was the last time the truck was aligned? Also, were there any accidents in the past that might have misaligned suspension components?

The tire wear as you've described, sounds a little like suspension issues...specifically bad shock absorbers or a spring that's shot.

 

Bad wheel alignment. Specifically toe and my guess would be too much positive toe. This happens with age as your truck settles and when parts wear. Get the alignment checked. If the parts are bad then it can not be aligned and they will tell you what is bad. Otherwise a few twists of the tie rod sleeve and you will be straight again. It is too late for your tires. Put them on the back.

 

Thanks all for the feedback and for not flaming/jacking me up for not searching. No accidents on the truck, and the last alignment... I'm thinking last summer when I had the tires put on (not the summer coming to an end). I'll swing it into a local auto shop for an assessment, and likely I'll rotate the tires until I'm ready to buy a new set.

Now... with the issues of shocks, springs, etc... I'm curious how y'all would recommend proceeding. I was planning to lift the truck in my future (Merc, I know you're trackin' what I've done/where I want to go... this was supposed to be DOOOWWWNNN the list... GF is gonna ****); however, given that if I'm going to be replacing parts I'm not one for buying these parts and then within a year replacing them with OTHER parts from a suspension lift.

Putting this in perspective... I can bring the shop to National4WD right now and get a suspension system installed - it's through a bit of a perk being military lets say. Would a suspension lift fix some of the parts that may be suspect? I'm just trying to avoid fixing things that'll be pulled and replaced with a new part. I know it's a bit of an odd questions, but I'm not 100% familiar with what lift kits are out there/what they come with nor am I familiar with the alignment components of my truck.

InfO.

 

Got to find what is wrong first. Pull shocks and test them. Chances are with a lift (how much?) you will need new ones with longer reach. Tie rods and ball joints would not need changed during the lift install, so I would check them as well. If is is alignment, it will have to be realigned after lift installed.

 

Just time for a quick note; There are no parts in a lift kit that will help with this issue, if anything at this time installing one will aggravate the problem. More info to follow later today.

 

I would get to the bottom of the cupped tires before I would throw money into a lift.

 

Sounds mucho good, thanks for the feedback - definitely glad I did not rush into anything. I left the truck at work today, so when I bring it home tomorrow I'll look into how to check the suspension, parts, etc. I'm not too keen on taking it into a shop as I am uncertain what they will say. If I can combine the two, might be worth it.

I suggested the lift primarily as I figured the shop which would install it would see the issues, diagnose it, and move forward with the install and since they are already in there, fix what is broken. Maybe a flawed train of thought, but it was one.

InfO.

 

Reach in and shake all the suspension parts. Have someone shake up and down. You are looking for movement and or noise. Depending on where cupping is, it may be alignment issue.

Cupping is typically a symptom of underinflation, severe out of balance, and or tie rods. Shake the tie rods and see if the joints are loose. If not abnormal movement, it may be alignment, but most likely something else.