RTV900 Excessive Rear Tire Wear ?

[dapper]

I have a 2011 RTV900 with about 400hr on it and have what I consider to be excessive rear tire wear. Both rears show tread to be mostly gone from the inside of the tires. This RTV is used mainly around the farm, and rarely used on blacktop roads. Basically light use for the RTV, so was wondering if the tire wear is normal for RTV or if something is going on. Any info would be appreciated.

 

[aczlan]

Pictures of the wear?

Aaron Z

 

[jeff9366]

Are you operating in 2-WD or 4-WD most of the time?

Is your differential lock OFF/DISENGAGED?

On average, how much weight do you carry in the bed?

 

[dapper]

Here are some pics and you can see, that the left tire is worn more than the right, but both are looking pretty bad.

Jeff: Operation is usually 2wd, diff lock DIS-engaged, and usually maybe 50# in bed. As stated, about 450 hr. That's it. Any thoughts?

(sorry for twisted pics)

 

[jeff9366]

Whew, worn is right.

I am going to speculate that your rear axle is bowed.

Or perhaps there is a camber adjustment that is 'out' for the rear wheels.

 

[ovrszd]

Is this a leaf spring model? Couldn't tell for sure by the pics.

If so, have you jacked up the machine and checked the rear hub bearings?

If the bearings are good then the next possible cause would bethat the assembly the hitch is fastened to is bent. Unlikely.

Have you owned it since new?

 

[dapper]

Ovrszd: This is a 2011 model which I have owned since new and yes this is the leaf spring model. I have raised the rear and checked for bad bearings but seem to be ok and no slop or play in rear bearings. Nothing seems bent, and hasen't been used hard enough to cause anything be be twisted unless done from factory, but again I am not seeing that. As wide as the tires are, I don't see how the inside of the tires are worn and not everything else...

 

[ovrszd]

That is very unusual. I frequently haul heavy loads on mine and haven't bent anything. My tires wear evenly.

Maybe add a few pounds of air pressure to make the center carry more load? I run 8ply tires and 20psi.

If you park on flat concrete do the tires appear to lean in?

I've never heard of this problem.

 

[Gary Fowler]

I have about the same amount of hours on my 2009 RTV 900 and the rear tires are worn quite a bit compared to the fronts BUT, the wear is even across the tire. I have hauled lots of heavy loads on mine and nothing appears bent unlike yours. I think something must be misaligned on the axle housing. This is likely a manufacturing defect if you have no bearing slack. To get that kind of inside tire wear your tires have to be angled in at the top.
I don't know how you could go about fixing that problem since there doesn't appear to be any adjustment to the rear tires for camber.

 

[riptides]

Dang, I have a first year model RTV900, what year was that 2003-2004? and none of my tires look like that! The rears are like new. Could it just be the tire brand is not up to quality? Are all four tires the same brand? Any fluid additions to the back? What about parking surface? Heat exposure (excess) or chemical exposure of some sort?