Strange Tire Wear Pattern

[dmccarty]

Since we have a few truck and tire threads, here is another. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I have a F350 Crew Cab with an 8 foot bed. The tires are Steeltex Load Range E that where on the truck when I bought it new. They are wearing fine on the rear but the fronts have strange wear patterns. I wish I had a digital camera but I don't so here is what I am seeing.

The front tires are wearing in the middle at a different rate than the rest of the tire. Now one might think this is over inflation but I don't think so. Say there are four rows of tread pattern, 1, 2, 3, and 4. The outside rows, 1 and 4, are fine. The inside rows are wearing. BUT the are not wearing consistently across.

If the tread is:

Row 1 -> 1 2 3 4
Row 2 -> 1 2 3 4
Row 3 -> 1 2 3 4

The treads in bold are wearing wierdly.

The tread on row 1, tread 3 might be worn but the tread right next to it at 2 will not be worn. Sometimes you can see that there is drit on tread 3 but not on 2. Its like the tire only sits on part of the tire. If the tire was over inflated tread 2 and 3 should be worn but they are not.

To make it more interesting the pattern is not consistent. If the tread 2 is wearing on one part of the tire another part of the tire on tread 3 will wear. It alternates around the tire. Both tires are doing this.

Any ideas?

Thanks,
Dan

 

[tc35dforme]

A guess....time for shocks ???

 

[roccon31]

i was a mechanic for a construction company for a couple years, working specifically on these trucks. i have NEVER seen those stock steeltex tires wear evenly on a ford front end if they werent rotated every couple thousand miles. they are just not good tires. most of the replacement tires had no trouble. for some reason, it seems like the ford front ends are very picky in which tires they like. i could never figure out why though. /forums/images/graemlins/confused.gif

 

[DmansPadge]

Rotation is very important. I normally rotate my tires every 6k miles, you might want to do it sooner. Also make sure the air pressure is set to spec.

I assume it is a twin I beam suspension? In my mind that is a poor design. They are notorious for wearing out tires. If it has quite a bit of miles you might want to have the alignment checked. Those are not adjustable from the factory and require an aftermarket caster/camber bushing to be installed when correcting alignment. Also make sure the shocks are not leaking and are in good condition.

Good luck!

 

[roccon31]

that was my first thought, and i agree, the twin i beam has its advantages, but tire wear is not one of them.

his f350 should have a solid front axle though.

 

[Bully]

Sounds like shocks worn out. Have someone drive along side you at 50-60mph, see if the fronts are hopping. you can also take the nut off the lower shock stud and feel if the is any dampening left in them.

 

[dmccarty]

Thanks for the help.

I DON"T rotate tires. I never have. I'm a bad boy. /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

But I have never seen this problem before either. I had to have the annual inspection done last month and the inspector said it was likely the shocks.

I have NEVER replaced shocks on a vehicle before. The truck only as 43,000 miles on it. Should it really need shocks at this point? I hear thumping noises from the front end if I am driving under 25 mph. I assumed its from the wear pattern on the tires. So it could be shocks or just crappy Steeltex tires.

If not for the wear pattern the tires have been doing fine. This is the first vehicle I have had where the rear tires have LESS tread the the fronts. Even my old Z28 would loose the front tire tread because of the turns I used to do.

It sounds like its either the tires are junk or I have a front end problem. If its a front end problem me thinks its been there from day one and of course the three year 36,000 mile warrenty is gone at this point...

How long should shocks last? I have had some loads in the truck but they have been below the GVW of the truck.

Later,
Dan

 

[tc35dforme]

<font color="blue">I hear thumping noises from the front end if I am driving under 25 mph </font>

That's some info...thumping could be worn suspension bushings, a bad shock mount, totally shot shocks, or even a ball joint problem. Maybe you only hear it at slow speeds due to reduced road noise ???

Time for a good mechanic to have a look.

As for mileage before replacement...that depends. We Dodge Dakota owners know that front upper ball joints only last 15000 - 20000 miles !!!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif

 

[DmansPadge]

</font><font color="blue" class="small">( As for mileage before replacement...that depends. We Dodge Dakota owners know that front upper ball joints only last 15000 - 20000 miles !!!! /forums/images/graemlins/mad.gif )</font>

I knew there was a reason I always drove Chevy's! /forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif

 

[dmccarty]

Yep you only hear it at low speed due to the reduced road noise. The noise has been there for quite some time. I have looked at the front suspension when I change the oil and lube the fittings and nothing jumps out as being wrong. It would have to be internal. The truck only has 43,000 miles. If there is something worn or bad other then the tires its been bad for well over 15,000 miles.

I changed the oil the other day, lordy but it was cold out! I looked at the tires again when I was checking the filter and drain plug for leaks. It looks like the wear pattern is changing....

Strange.

Later,
Dan