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JTrac's avatar
JTrac
Explorer
Feb 22, 2016

Weird Tire Wear

Was visiting my daughter today and my son-in-law noticed some tire wear on the rear passenger side dually set. I am getting some significant cupping on the inside of the outside tire and the outside of the inside tire (I know, but it's the only way I can describe it). No other tire on the truck is showing any signs of anything but normal wear. I have 22K on the truck. I have not felt any vibrations, drifting or any other unusual handling issues. I keep the tires at the recommended 65 psi and they were rebalanced about 6 months ago. They are Michelin's, by the way.

I will take it in to the dealer tomorrow but just curious if any ideas why this would happen. Doesn't seem like it should be possible.
  • So basically all this abnormal wear has happened in less than 7,000 miles. Where did the tires that are showing wear start out originally? I'd be looking at the shop that did the alignment and tire dismounting and rotation. Since it sounds like the wear started around that time, they are the ones I'd be talking to about the problem. Sounds like they screwed something up somewhere.
  • This is just a "shot in the dark" thought - did you rotate tires front to rear or did you do a criss-cross rotation? I'm wondering if you are having some cord separation that might have been caused by moving the tires left to right. Just a thought. I'm old school and always keep the left tires on the left and the right tires on the right.
  • Usually most DRW trucks don't rotate tires, especially if you have nice wheels with steel on the insides. Dismount and mount at 3k miles??? Give me a break. I never did and didn't get that cupping problem. Of course I didn't have Michelin's either
    You need to contact Michelin directly and have some photos ready.
  • A little history. When I took the truck in for it's first service under the 2 year free maintenance, which includes tire rotation, the service manager told me they never rotate dually tires. I should have questioned it but didn't. At about 15K I took it to a local shop for an alignment and they said I should do a rotation by dismounting the tires since the front and rear wheels are different. There was no abnormal wear at that time. I did that and everything seemed fine for a couple of 1600 mile trips. We drove it about 125 miles yesterday and it still drives normal.

    I took it back to the original place that did the rotation and they said I need to rotate and balance again but had no reason for the cupping. I took it to the dealer and a different guy said I need to rotate and that the abnormal wear could be from the heavy load. Go to another tire shop and they said I need to do a complete dismount rotation and balance every 3K miles since it is a dually ($$$$). They thought the cupping happened because that tire was on the front for too long. I left.

    A friend of mine who owned a tire shop for many years thinks it could be balance but I feel nothing in the steering wheel. I'm thinking something mechanical but it is hard to say. I do have a set of Air Lift bags on the rear but that should not matter. I keep them at 5 pounds when empty and only run 25 when pulling the Winslow. I'm due for the last of free maintenance from the dealer. I will have them check the shocks, do a rotation and balance and then just watch them. Not sure what else I can do.
  • Yes, that is unusual especially on a new truck. Please let us know the outcome.
    Might also ask the Michelin dealer.
    I suspect a truck issue not a tire issue.