Air bags and tire ware

N-Trouble wrote:
And better yet find a place that can do a "Road Force Balance" and not just a standard balance. Makes a big difference on stiff riding HD trucks.

1st, learn the difference between the standard spin balance and the road hunter road force balance.

2nd, Ask to watch the shop balance you tires.

3rd, notice the vast majority of shops, even Tirerack, NOT doing an actual road force balance. Sure, they will use their Hunter Road Force machine, but almost never go thru the time consuming set up to do the actual road force test. Test my statement...you'll see.

Side note about Tirerack; If you order wheel/tire sets on Tirerack and check the box for road force balance...its not actually done. If it were, the stickers on the tread of the tires must be removed, and they never are!

Air bags wont cause tire wear issues, ever, unless used improperly. Such as using them to lift beyond OEM heights, and changing alignment.

KD4UPL , Who told you airbags wont reduce bounce. They will as they hold the tire to the pavement much better than a shock. I have about 2 million miles of ariride equipped experience and it's why millions of heavy trucks run them. It will also stop cupping. Cupping is cause by tires chattering when you go down the road or because you skidded the tire at one time or another causing a flat spot on it. Bad belts are a last cause. Use ceramic beads to balance tires and proper airbag inflation.
http://www.innovativebalancing.com/index.php

And better yet find a place that can do a "Road Force Balance" and not just a standard balance. Makes a big difference on stiff riding HD trucks.

I'm going to go with severely or not so severely, out of balanced tires.
Both of my Ford Dualies came without balancing on the inner rims. I can't remember if the outside rims were balanced or not.
After getting new tires, after hitting a big bolt, and finding them cupped, I had them all balanced. big improvement in ride. The rears still wear pretty fast.
Air bags? My Neighbor built a custom cross member and had air bags in addition on his F350 Dualie. His Fifth wheel was really heavy though. Shocks on rear do take a beating with 14,000 lbs and more on the rear. An air ride hitch helps a lot and keeps things on the shelves in the fifth wheel too.

Make sure you get a 4 wheel alignment! Have your new tires balanced.

You may also want to check if your rear brake bias is too strong in the rear. If your rear brakes are doing most of the work it could cause wear.
Other items already discussed are shocks and wheel balance, although you said both tires so I am guessing brakes.

Thanks for all your replies. The current tires are pretty worn so I am getting a new set of 4 and having an alignment done. Hope this will correct the problem. If not I will look at the shocks. Have also been told that it might be the ball joint? Will have to see how it performs after the new tires are on.

Personally I think the person who told you that has already had a couple of air bags installed.. IN HIMSELF,, he's full of hot air.

Air bags, if anything, would add to the Springness" cupping indicates an alignment or shocks issue as I recall, Have the shocks checked and a good alignment shop take a look at it.

Air bags may give you a softer ride (See springiness) and have other advantages which is why I plan on putting a set of Air-LIft's on this ride when I can but.... I would be real surpised if they fixed your issue.

I bet you have bad belts (tread separation).

I cannot see you bending the rear differential carrier enough to effect tire wear.