Tires Wearing Unevenly...Help!

trogers · 05-11-2008, 07:13 PM

Hey Guys,

I bought my truck used about a year ago and the front tires on it were shot, worn completely on the inside and barely worn on the outside.

So when I bought some new tires (take-offs) I made sure to have the guy check that it was aligned properly and what not...

Well its been about 6 months since I put the take-offs on and they are worn completely on the insides again.

I read some of the old threads and I think it has to do with the camber...

My question is, what do I need to do to fix this? I am getting new tires this summer and I don't want them to get all messed up also...

If it helps, I have a 2005 LE with a 6" Fabtech lift and 35s...

Thanks!

HRTKD · 05-11-2008, 07:28 PM

I believe negative camber would cause the outside of the tire to wear out prematurely. If the front suspension was changed without getting it properly aligned then I can see where you would trash your tires. After I added my PRG UCA's and SAW coilovers I had an obvious negative camber. An alignment with the alignment bolts (at extra cost) took care of it.

It doesn't sound like you have lower control arm problems. But if you find that your truck pulls one way or the other you could have the problem outlined in this thread.

huntingtonbh1 · 05-11-2008, 07:58 PM

I have an 05 se and have had a problem with the inside of the tires wearing even after an alignment 2wd no lift anyone have any answers

HRTKD · 05-11-2008, 08:02 PM

Check the play in your lower control arm bushings.

MuskyHunter · 05-11-2008, 10:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HRTKD

I believe negative camber would cause the outside of the tire to wear out prematurely. [/url].

Negative camber would cause the inside of tires to wear prematurely (as viewed from front of vehicle) //---\\

Positive camber would cause the outside edge of the tires to wear. \\---//

HRTKD · 05-11-2008, 10:27 PM

OK, I'll take your word for it. Positive, negative, I never can keep those straight. It's probably a good thing I'm not an electrician or an alignment tech. But your diagram for positive camber is exactly what I had. The top of the tire was out further than the bottom.

miketan · 05-12-2008, 01:45 AM

Sounds like you may need to get a frontend alignment again. Are you getting the alignments done at a dealer or at a tire shop? I'd seriously consider going to the dealer to have it done. The average tire shop couldn't do a frontend alignment on a Titan if their life depended on it. Take it to the dealer.

When I got my new tires installed, I had the tire shop do the frontend alignment and it steered like an old 50's Cadillac afterward. I got my money back and went to the dealer and the sportcar-like steering precision returned. You might want to check the camber bolts on the lower control arms. They have a habit of stripping after the first one or two alignments. I didn't notice mine until I started getting a clunk in the suspension going up driveways with the wheels turned. I always had a front tire wear problem so I thought is was just normal for a truck like this. I replaced the stripped LCA bolt then had it aligned by the dealer and everything's been fine since.

trogers · 05-12-2008, 08:32 AM

Can someone show me a picture of where these camber bolts are located?

thanks!

baseballfanz · 05-12-2008, 08:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trogers

Can someone show me a picture of where these camber bolts are located?

thanks!

Take a look here at #14

Pops · 05-12-2008, 08:43 AM

Go to the DEALER to have it aligned, the tire shop adjusted your toe wrong and the dealer charges only $75.

For some reason, road force pushes our tires back more than most other trucks (maybe due to softer more flexible suspension??) so our Toe MUST be set close to all the way to the inside of the green on the OEM Specs. Tire Shops do not usually know this and they usually try to set our toe to '0' and the road force pushes them outwards and then the center of your tires wearout like you're describing.

Smoke05 · 05-12-2008, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Pops

Go to the DEALER to have it aligned, the tire shop adjusted your toe wrong and the dealer charges only $75.

For some reason, road force pushes our tires back more than most other trucks (maybe due to softer more flexible suspension??) so our Toe MUST be set close to all the way to the inside of the green on the OEM Specs. Tire Shops do not usually know this and they usually try to set our toe to '0' and the road force pushes them outwards and then the center of your tires wearout like you're describing.

Tire Shop just did the 3rd alignment on my truck today after my leveling kit was installed (other two were a freebie with new tires and after my fender bender 2 winters ago). No abnormal wear after any of them. $74 out the door. If your tire shop doesn't have a computer alignment machine and the software that gives them manufacturer specs for the alignment, go to a better tire shop.

Blownbayou · 05-13-2008, 06:59 PM

CAMBER BOLT ISSUE!!!! There is a TSB on it and I just had my stocker camber bolts replaced. They come from the factory with no adjustment functions AT ALL!!!! This is your problem WITHOUT A DOUBT!!!! I bet when you hit 70mph your steering wheel shakes like a mug doesn't it....... My truck rides like I am on a cloud at speeds of 70+ now that I had the bolts replaced and another alignment.

Good Luck!!!

**blavis** · 05-13-2008, 07:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by trogers

Hey Guys,

I bought my truck used about a year ago and the front tires on it were shot, worn completely on the inside and barely worn on the outside.

So when I bought some new tires (take-offs) I made sure to have the guy check that it was aligned properly and what not...

Well its been about 6 months since I put the take-offs on and they are worn completely on the insides again.

I read some of the old threads and I think it has to do with the camber...

My question is, what do I need to do to fix this? I am getting new tires this summer and I don't want them to get all messed up also...

If it helps, I have a 2005 LE with a 6" Fabtech lift and 35s...

Thanks!

What kind of wheels do you have? What is the offset? If the offset causes the wheel to stick out from the side of the truck, the tires can wear prematurely on the inner edge as well. Also, do the tires get rotated on a regular basis?

theponi · 05-13-2008, 07:57 PM

Take the truck somewhere and get the alignement checked ($60 at Firestone..I think). When I bought my truck, apparently the previous owner has some huge tires/rims and put the stockers back on to sell it. They never adjusted the alignement after putting the old tires back on...and I tore up those tires fast. When I got my new Revos put on Firestone checked the alignment and it was totally off. Best $60 I spent; saved me from destroying new tires.