Unusual Tire Wear

[dchemi]

I have a Magnum RT with just over 6,000 miles on it. I was washing the car and noticed some unusual tire wear on both front tires. On the outside edge of both tires they are uneven to the touch. The best I can describe is they are like hills and valleys. I looked around on the internet and in tech terms they are scalloped or cupped. I looked up on several forums and tire manufactures web sites and found that this is caused by the tire "bouncing".

Now it makes sense. In another forum I posted that when driving down the hihgway if I hit a bump the car seems to bounce around,and the steering wheel jerks violently in my hands.

From the information I have found, this problem points to faulty suspension or a balance problem. I wonder if the freebie locking lug nuts the dealer installed on my car (and I am sure they didn't rebalance the tires after installing them) might be causing this problem.

Has anyone else seen unusual wear like I described on the front tires?

[MagnumFreak]

I wouldn't think that the locking lug nuts would be the issue. They are too close to the center of the wheel to be the problem. It could be that they came FROM the factory improperly balanced. I have about 4500 miles on my car and the tires look to be wearing even. Take it back to the dealer and have them CHECK the balance.

[bipto]

I wouldn't think that the locking lug nuts would be the issue. They are too close to the center of the wheel to be the problem. It could be that they came FROM the factory improperly balanced. I have about 4500 miles on my car and the tires look to be wearing even. Take it back to the dealer and have them CHECK the balance.

I dunno, MagnumFreak - seems to me if these tires were far enough out of balance to cause feathering or cupping, that would make for one hell of a rough ride at highway speeds... and what are the odds that both front wheels would be that far out of balance?

[Rev.Hammer]

If one tire is causing a problem, it causes a problem for the whole front end. See, if one tire is out of ORDER then the entire front end is out of order. Why? because the incorrect "behavior" of that one tire affects how the entire front suspension behaves. It is a working pair sort of idea. Front ends being out of alignment FROM the factory is fairly common., so are mislocated or thrown wheel weights. Also you may have knocked it out by hitting a pothole or large bump.
Get it checked ASAP. It is causing accelerated front end component wear right now.

[henry]

Scalloped treads usually indicate a toe-in or toe-out problem.

[jeepgrady]

Scalloped treads usually indicate a toe-in or toe-out problem.

I agree. If it was an out of balance condition, you would get a vibration.

[zonian]

Start with the basics....check tire pressure.

"Tread should wear evenly. Inspect each tire for unusual tread wear. A rounded edge on the inside and outside edges of tread could indicate under-inflation."

[Reddog67]

I too have the same problem. Things were fine until I had the rt pull TSB done at 3K miles, and within 700 miles of that, I noticed the feathering began to appear. I took it back to the dealer and they "assured" me that the car was aligned within spec, that this must be a tire pressure issue, therefore my fault. I can tell you I am one of those anal guys who checks his pressure ever 1-2 weeks, so that is NOT the problem unless the factory tire pressure guide on my door jamb is incorrect. I suspect that is unlikely.

I have taken the car to 2 different tire shops that are Continental dealers and both have told me that the wear is due to improper alignment. Since the dealer won't budge, I am contacting the DM in my area. At this rate of wear, i will be going through tires every 10K miles...NOT!

I'll keep you posted, but would like to get as much feedback FROM all of you out there so that I can prove to the DM that this is not an isolated case.

Keep on rollin...

[lilguyhemi]

I noticed yesterday that I am HAVING the same problem. both front tires are feathering. It is not bad enough to see with the naked eye, but running your hand across it, the trailing edge of the tread is wearing faster. I have checked the tire pressure and it is right on. I will not have the opportunity to get it to the dealer before the first of next week, but, I will keep you informed.

[Rev.Hammer]

Hold to your guns, boys.

[henry]

From the "Right Pull TSB" #02-003-04

FRONT WHEEL ALIGNMENT PREFERRED SETTING ACCEPTABLE RANGE
CAMBER - LEFT -0.1° -0.60° to +0.40°
CAMBER - RIGHT -0.20° -0.70° to +0.30°
Cross-Camber (Maximum side-to-side difference)
0.20° -0.30 to +0.60°
CASTER - LEFT +10.30° +9.00° to +12.10°
CASTER - RIGHT +11.10° +9.00° to +12.10°
Cross-Caster (Maximum side-to-side difference)
-0.80° -1.30 to -0.50°
INDIVIDUAL TOE 0.10° -0.05° to +0.15°
TOTAL TOE** +0.20° 0.00° to +0.40°
Maximum side-to-side difference 0.00° 0.06°

If our cars are pre-set with 0.1 degrees of toe at each wheel for a total of 0.2 degrees, that means the front wheels are angled out by .1 degrees each. This will help the car track in a straight line and give more on-centre feel. However 0.1 degrees is enough to SHOW feathering in the tire tread in about 10,000 km or so (about 6000 miles). Rotate your tires every 5000 miles to avoid this. It will not help tire wear unfortunately.

Henry

[1cobrakid]

I had exactly the same effect, feathering at the outside edge of my front tires but at 4000 miles. I told the dealer and they gave me the standard line "its within spec." I was not happy, but had the tires rotated. I plan to ask another dealer to look at the alignment.

[zonian]

I am currently over 11,000 miles, tires not rotated yet (plan to soon) and I do not notice any unusual wear pattern. I did NOT take it in for the right pull TSB...

Paul

[dchemi]

Well I am glad that I am not the only one with this problem. I won't be able to take my car in until next week. I will let everyone know what the dealer says.

[zonian]

Can we see a photo of exactly what type of abnormal wear you are experiencing? It might be wise to document this anyway...