2nd Gen Non-Engine/Transmission Fast Wear on Right Front Tire

[InThinAir]

Okay, I know that you all will be able to help me here. In addition to the 2001 ETH, I have a 96 1500 (see sig) just about to 150,000 miles. I know that this a little off forum here but this truck has recently started to wear through the right front tire very quickly. The tire is not wearing on one side or the other more, looks like normal wear. But it happens about 3x faster then the other tires. I have rotated the tires back to from and I got 9,000 miles out of the last set on the right side. The left side is almost new looking. I have been thinking alignment, but the truck goes down the road perfectly, always has, I wish the 2500 would drive 1/10th as good. You could take a nap in the back and it still would be straight down the road.



What could this be? I know that you all are the masters of the Dodge here, as well, so I am looking for suggestions on what to try. I am about to schedule an alignment, but should I indicate the problem to the alignment guy? I know that it is high mileage and everywhere I take the truck they think that they can convince me that I need major work. Last time in for a radiator flush, the dealer gave me an estimate of $1900 to fix 3 leaks, it does leak, but not that much.



If you guys could give me something specific to tell the mech to look at, that would make me feel much better.



---Doug

 

[TomGolden]

I had a lift kit installed on my truck back in April. Soon thereafter, I had a full alighment done, just to be safe, since the lift kit included all 4 new control arms, and I also had a new DT track bar installed at the same time.



The alignment tech pointed out that one of the specs was quite a bit out of alignment, and that was why my right front tire was wearing a lot on the outside edge. He said that was common on solid front axle 4x4 trucks. Don't know if that is true or not, but... ...



For what it's worth.



Tom

 

[Pit Bull]

What type of tires are you running? Are they new or different than what you ran before this wear problem started?

 

[InThinAir]

I have 2 sets of tires that I run. Studded snows and summer ATs I got the tire place to replace the one under warranty last winter it was a studded snow, Pirelli Norseman. At that time I thought that it might be the tire. That was around April, put the Pathfinder ATs on in May, brand new. rotated front to back several times this summer. Now have 2 tires that are complete slicks, and 2 tires that look new. I just switched back to the studded snows this weekend and am gonna have to figure out what is wrong before I wear out another set of tires.



Can the alignment be off that much and still have the truck track perfectly down the road? And the tires wear perfectly even, there isn't any additional wear on either edge of the tire. If it pulled against the other tire the other tire would have some stange wear on it also.



I just don't want to take to the alignment shop and say "Please figure this out, duh", they seem to take one look at the mileage and say "you'll need all new suspension parts. $2500".



---Doug

 

[Pit Bull]

Doug I would take it to the tire store and ask them if they have ever seen this happen before. I've never heard of what you are discribing. If an experenced tire man that can look at the tires and your truck does not have an answer go to another. Maybe it is the brand of tire?

 

[WDaniels]

I have exactly the same problem but on both front tires. Bought a set of Cooper discoverer A/T's this June and 1/2 the tread is gone. Even wear across the tires.

WD

 

[dresslered]

Same problem here! I normally only get 7,000 miles out of my front tires due to my winding roads, but the right front really looses the outside edge. The truck tire/alignment store was concerned as well and when I had the alignment checked, it was perfect. They even tried giving me a zero toe-in which hasn't helped either. Twenty-two new tires in forty-thousand miles seems a little extreme. I am now trying the Cooper highway tires.

 

[InThinAir]

WOW! That is a lot of tires. I thought 10,000 miles was bad. But I bet they tell me that the alignment is perfect also.



I think that I still am gonna have to take it to the alignment shop and have them take a look. I think that I am NOT going to say I am having any problems with tire wire. I will take a look at the numbers before and after and see if there was anything way out on the right side and go from there.



Last time I talked to the tire guy when I got the last set of tires, they had no 'real' explaination. They said "you prolly take turns on that side faster". I am serious about that.



---Doug

 

[dresslered]

I've actually heard that the way they slant some mountain roads for run-off attributes to this kind of wear. Just seems a little excessive to me? Do a search on the alignment specs on this site and have them check the tighter tolerances. The factory specs are too loose. If you can't find them, email me and I will send you them from my home computer.

 

[Pit Bull]

You guys with the extreme tire wear might want to try a commerical grade tire, like the Michelin XPS Rib. It is all steel so the side wall does not flex as much. I would think that would help your wear on the curves . When I replace my fronts I am going with a set of the XPS Ribs on the front steer wheels to support that big Cummins and improve the front tire wear. I will continue to run the Michelin LTX M/S on the rear. Both types of tires are the same size and rotations are the same in the 235/85/16 size tire.

 

[dresslered]

I already use a Load Range "E". Are these even stiffer?

 

[Pit Bull]

Originally posted by dresslered

I already use a Load Range "E". Are these even stiffer?

Yes, they are retreadable commercial grade tires. Cost $158 per tire at Sam's Club. In the 235/85/16 size.

 

[WDaniels]

I was thinking about changing the tie rods and the other one(brain fart) with Lukes Links to try to alleviate the problem

WD