Does the use of the exhaust brake increase rear tire wear?

[Dan_69GTX]

Has anyone noticed if the use of the exhaust brake increases the rear tire wear? Just thought of that the other day as I was towing and saw the 115 HP rating on the exhaust brake scale. Thought that all that braking is going to 2 tires instead of 4 truck and 4 trailer tires.

Just curious what others with more miles have seen.

I have not noticed anything, but I've only got 5500 miles on it now. I had more issues getting the dealer to align the tires correctly than anything else regarding tire wear.

 

[Jared Herzog]

I think it does. These trucks are heavy and have a lot of power. If you run the exhaust brake then the rear tires have friction when they accelerate the heavy truck forward. Then they have friction to slow you down. It is a pretty small contact patch where all this occurs. However, wear has to happen either to the service brakes and all four tires or the exhaust brake and only rear tires. There is also a heavy Cummins in the front beating up the front tires. I would just drive and rotate the tires to spread all the different wear around a bit. Then get better tires when it is time. My 14 2500 showed a ton of wear on the rear running the exhaust brake often. My current 3500 drw is not showing as much wear as there are four tires spreading the friction out in the rear.

 

[TRAMPLINEMAN]

My opinion, no. Unless the tires are skidding when the brake comes on. I've got almost 90K miles on my truck and the brake has been on for every mile. My current 50K mile rated tires have almost 60K miles on them and will probably last another 10-15K miles. If the brake caused premature tire wear, these tires would have been shot *by now.

 

[jhenderson]

The exhaust brake MAY cause slightly higher tire wear but no where near as much as the throttle, especially when towing.

 

[kthaxton]

I would say in theory.....yeah, they probably do add a bit of wear, but in reality, it is probably not even noticeable. The wear that is naturally incurred on front tires is far greater IMO.

 

[Jim W]

I have a 2008, 6.7L Ram truck with the single stage exhaust brake similar to the newer version 6.7L engines but there are some differences. I have driven close to 105K miles on this truck and the exhaust brake is used 99% of the driving time. The 1% is when I forget to turn it the brake on right away. In these 105K miles I have never seen any abnormal tire wear on the rear tires. My tires are rotated every 5,000 miles when I do an oil change.

Now let’s think about this (I could be wrong on this idea)! But answer me this question how can the VGT effective the brakes on your truck thus your tire wear. The VGT exhaust portion of the turbo is using the back pressure of the turbo to retard the truck engine not to apply the brakes to your vehicle thus effecting tire wear. At least on my truck this is the way the VGT exhaust brake works. The truck is still moving and slowing down do to engine retarding until the brakes are applied and will come to a full stop than.

 

[kthaxton]

Now let’s think about this (I could be wrong on this idea)! But answer me this question how can the VGT effective the brakes on your truck thus your tire wear. The VGT exhaust portion of the turbo is using the back pressure of the turbo to retard the truck engine not to apply the brakes to your vehicle thus effecting tire wear. At least on my truck this is the way the VGT exhaust brake works. The truck is still moving and slowing down do to engine retarding until the brakes are applied and will come to a full stop than.

I'm not sure I'm following your thought process here, but any time the truck is accelerated or decelerated, it relies on the tires' friction regardless of whether the engine is slowing it down or the brakes. Therefore, in theory, they would wear more....although it is minimal. The OP's thought is that since it is only one set of tires that is slowing the load (as opposed to 4, or 8 etc when the service brakes are used) they would be more prone to wear.

 

[Travelin Man]

Question regarding my 2016 Ram 3500 Laramie CCLB Dually; Is there some way in the settings to make is where the exhaust brake comes on automatically when the truck is started instead of having to press the dash button every time? I know this is a little off topic but since the topic here involves discussion about the exhaust brake I thought it might be relevant.

 

[sag2]

I suppose the answer is with the truck only, the wear to the rear tire is twice as much as all four would get using the service brakes. If you had a trailer the wear would be even higher. The unknown is how much wear do you get from just using the service brakes. My thought would be that you probably stop harder using the brakes than you do with the EB, so it is possible that your tires could last longer with your EB than service brakes.
In real life I would say you get much more wear to the rears from a quick turning start because you tend to slip the tires a bit, and that does wear them out pretty quickly. Just ask my kid how I know that.

 

[EDankievitch]

I haven't noticed any faster tire wear with this 2013 compaired to the 2005 I use to own.

 

[alyoops]

I have a 2016 Ram 2500 TD. *As long as the trailer is hitch up, turning off or on the truck, it will remember to stay in smart exhaust mode. *However, once I unplug the trailer, and start up the truck, it turns off the brake exhaust option.

 

[jhenderson]

Question regarding my 2016 Ram 3500 Laramie CCLB Dually; Is there some way in the settings to make is where the exhaust brake comes on automatically when the truck is started instead of having to press the dash button every time? I know this is a little off topic but since the topic here involves discussion about the exhaust brake I thought it might be relevant.

No way to program that feature on a stock truck. Aftermarket tuning allows it but it's big bucks to save pushing a button. You could do a search here for the thread on how to dummy up a plug for the trailer harness that tells the truck it's towing.*

 

[Newsa]

Alot of interesting input here.

I have an additional question. I do notice a bit of tire slip (squeal) noise when turning sharp on slick concrete like the surfaces of some parking garages. Especially if they concrete has concrete paint on it. Does the limited slip differential cause this or is it from the resistance of the solid front axle 4x4 (even when disengaged). And does this contribute to tire wear on rough surfaces?

 

[sag2]

Alot of interesting input here.

I have an additional question. I do notice a bit of tire slip (squeal) noise when turning sharp on slick concrete like the surfaces of some parking garages. Especially if they concrete has concrete paint on it. Does the limited slip differential cause this or is it from the resistance of the solid front axle 4x4 (even when disengaged). And does this contribute to tire wear on rough surfaces?

It is the limited slip. On hard surface you might feel a bit of hop or binding if you have a lot of weight in the bed.

 

[Deleted member 995608]

I don't care. If it wasn't for the TH or EB option, I still be rolling through gears manually with a standard transmission. TH/EB is the only reason I chose my first ever auto transmission.*

 

[Newsa]

I don't care. If it wasn't for the TH or EB option, I still be rolling through gears manually with a standard transmission. TH/EB is the only reason I chose my first ever auto transmission.*

I would like to add, that the EB works really well with the g56. Except with quick downshifts (and dumping the clutch) on wet pavement, it might slide the tires for a split second unloaded as engine speed catches up. (Even with the limited slip differential.)

 

[Brocky]

Question regarding my 2016 Ram 3500 Laramie CCLB Dually; Is there some way in the settings to make is where the exhaust brake comes on automatically when the truck is started instead of having to press the dash button every time? I know this is a little off topic but since the topic here involves discussion about the exhaust brake I thought it might be relevant.

There MIGHT(??) be a cure???? My 3500 is a cab and chassis rather than a dually and my EB switch has stayed on for the many stops and starts in 45k miles. But the TH shuts off each time#@$%! the switch turns off?? Maybe Sag2 or Bob 4X4 have an answer???

 

[Dan_69GTX]

Thanks for all who answered. I was just wondering and it seems like there shouldn't be much more, if any, tire wear. Even if there was I'd still use the exhaust brake. Almost put one on the old truck last year. Glad I didn't since I ended up getting a new truck but am wondering why I waited too.

 

[Bob4x4]

There MIGHT(??) be a cure???? My 3500 is a cab and chassis rather than a dually and my EB switch has stayed on for the many stops and starts in 45k miles. But the TH shuts off each time#@$%! the switch turns off?? Maybe Sag2 or Bob 4X4 have an answer???

I am pretty sure FCA could change the function but will not because of safety concerns.

 

[Brocky]

I am pretty sure FCA could change the function but will not because of safety concerns.

Thanks.. The lawyers always know more that us simple users!!!
BUT Why the difference between a C&C (work truck) and a dually (pleasure truck)??????