Unusual tire wear

[Tarkean]

I have a slow leak on the passenger rear tire on my 300 SRT-8, so I take the wheel off to see whats causing it, and the very inside edge is wore to the point that belts are showing. Its only like the very edge of the tread though. I've had tires wear before because of improper inflation or alignment, but never seen this before. The tread is wearing fine across the rest of the tire and so far only about 18 inches of the edge are worn like this, it doesn't go all the way around

Obviously I need some new tires, but I would like to know what might cause this before I put em on. Is it possibly a tire issue and not a suspension issue? Tires are Goodyear RS-A EMT. I have had quality problems with Goodyear before and would never put them on anything, but these came with the car.

BTW, the air leak was a small nail in the middle of the tire, not from this.

[MikahB]

If that wear pattern is not found all the way around the tire (or most of the way) it's probably not an alignment issue.

That said, wear like this is almost always an alignment problem - I suspect improper toe-in. Have it aligned when you put the new tire on and you should be okay. If there is any excessive play in any of the rear bushings (again - particularly the toe link) the alignment shop should notice while doing the alignment.

[Jim McVeigh]

Contact Goodyear. It appers the tread may be delaminating.