Help Diagnosing Tire Wear

[dfromfresno]

I'm having kind of a strange tire wear problem on my '03 4x4 XLT. I bought the truck used about 10 months ago with 53k miles on it, and at the time it appeared to have new tires, and all four looked the same. They are Bridgestone Duelers. Now, after 14,000 miles, the front tires are wearing faster and they have a lot of wear on the outer edges.

Specifically, both front tires are at 3/32 on the outer edges, 8/32 in the center, and 5/32 on the inner edges. The back tires are both 8/32 all the way across, so the front tires are wearing faster (should be the opposite on a rear-wheel drive), and are both wearing the same.

Pretty sure it's not an alignment problem. I had the alignment done and tires balanced when I bought the truck, and again today, and both times the alignment was only very slightly off, not enough to cause significant wear.

It's also not an inflation problem (both outer edges normally indicate under-inflation). I have my inflation checked every 3k miles when I get the oil changed, and they have never been low.

I run the truck in 2H at least 95% of the time, so I don't think it's 4wd related.

Any thoughts on what might be causing this? Shocks or struts maybe?

I would also note that the truck gets a little 'uncomfortable' above 80 mph on the freeway. The road noise gets a lot louder and it feels like there is less control. I don't know if this is normal, as I have never driven any other 2nd gen Expedition.

Thanks for any input.

 

[toms89]

Under inflated with maybe a bit too much positive camber. (wheels tilted out at the top)

Lifted??

 

[dfromfresno]

Under inflated with maybe a bit too much positive camber. (wheels tilted out at the top)

Lifted??

Thats what I would have thought too, but nope... Tires have definitely never been under inflated, and alignment was checked this morning and camber was well within the spec.

Everything is completely stock.

 

[tonydiv]

I would take it in to get an alignment. They will check over all the front end parts as part of the alignment. I'm thinking it may be a toe in issue.

If the wear is even all the way around the tire, then it probably isn't shock related. Usually when the shocks are gone the tire cups, which is wear in a few spots.

 

[dfromfresno]

I would take it in to get an alignment. They will check over all the front end parts as part of the alignment. I'm thinking it may be a toe in issue.

If the wear is even all the way around the tire, then it probably isn't shock related. Usually when the shocks are gone the tire cups, which is wear in a few spots.

Yeah, definitely NOT alignment. Got it done when I bought the truck, and got it done again today. They adjusted the toe a little but even that was within the spec. Same thing when I bought the truck. Rear tires were actually more out of line that the front, and they wore evenly.

Not alignment, not under-inflation, not 4wd. That's what normally causes this problem. But it must be something else... which is what brings me here.

Does not appear to be any cupping. And BOTH from tires have exactly the same wear pattern.

 

[panda24619]

fill the tires up a little more in the front than the back. more weight up front. since it is wearing on both sides. then i would check out all bushings and ball joints. and the cvs. everything. check for cracks, slices, uneven wear on those parts. i would since its about time just replace the struts. all 4 just because. unless you just want to do the front two.

 

[toms89]

What makes you say they are not underinflated? Tire pressure recommendations on the door are not necessarily best for tire wear. Its a compromise between ride, handling and tire wear.

Different tires can wear differently and may require adjustment to tire pressure. Stock are goodyear wrangler 255/70-16's I believe. Not sure of any larger rims availability in 2000.

I have been running 35psi front and back and they are wearing even. Think it recommends lower pressure for the front.

 

[tonydiv]

With large off road tires, I've always used this method to find the 'road' pressure.

Take some chalk and draw a thick line across the tread of the tire. Then roll the truck back several feet and inspect the chalk line. You will be able to see where the tire is hitting the ground by where it is worn off. Change the pressure until the line wears off the tire evenly.

If there's more chalk left in the center, start inflating. If there's more chalk left on the edges, then deflate.