Unusual Trailer Tire Wear Question
 

Or maybe not unusual.
2 full seasons (I have not rotated the tires)
Season .5 - 2 times a week 6 miles round trip (2 months)
Season 1 - 2 times a week 6 miles round trip (5 -6 months)
Season 2 - 50 Miles round trip 1 time per week (5-6 months)
- 1 - 250 mile round trip

Would completely bare tread on the inside quarter of the tire tread on both tires indicate to much stress on the axle? or maybe the axle is out of wack? or does that sound like normal wear?

axle - spindle is not aligned correctly when welded.
I had this happen to an axle I bought from a local shop.
They rewelded the spindle and replaced the tire for me.
However, I reported the issue the first 6 months of use.

that's were i'm kinda leaning.

im wondering if its going to be easier just to get a new axle.
If i get new tires it's just going to happen again.

tires are pretty cheap. I don't think axles are.

axles are 100 - 175 bucks

trailer tires usually rot out before there's any real tread wear, sounds like an axle problem. Did you ever check to see if the bearings were hot, just out of curiosity?

yep.. the bearings are always cool.

ill do some measurements tonight. we did have to adjust the axle when I first go the trailer but all squared up then so it's time to double check that.

I had a strange wear pattern a few years and ruined a set of tires. I figured it out to be a tongue weight issue. moved the axle back and inch and solved the problem. You also want to keep the tire pressure up at the high point too. You getting any sway or bouncing while in tow.

funny you should ask that. I just traded up to a bigger tow vehicle. the explorer bounced all over the place. is it possible that if the trailer is not level while in tow it could cause this problem? it may have even had a slight down angle while pulling.

the bounce I am talking about is the trailer. If you don't have enough tongue weight I found that the tailer swayed and bounced a lot, thus wearing the tires on the outsides. Once I moved the axle back and increased the tongue weight the problem disappeared. The strange wear pattern was the tire bouncing along the road not in constant contact with the road. I would think you would want a nice level trailer. Might have to get a step down ball for your hitch to achieve that. Like I said before tire pressure is very important too.

If the axle is movable. Like the springs can be adjusted on the frame.
Make sure it is straight, I had that issue on an old trailer.

Take a tape measure and check from tongue to same spot on each end of the axle. Maybe its a simple as that. Hope so.

Have Salty sit on your trailier tongue

wheels are toe'd out. climb underneath and measure the distance between the edge of the rims, in front and in the back..
Flip axle only.{ backing plates/ brake set ups are Left & right i believe} 180 degrees. toe'd in a little is ok.

Thats just Wrong

And now for a serious answer....... What has happend is the axel is out of phase, Trailer axles should toe in so they do not wander, if it is rotated 90 degrees off it becomes caster/camber isue not toe in/toe out. this will account for the abnormal wear pattern. If you need more info PM me. this is a Q&D explanation.

the tires are worn on the insides. wouldn't that be a camber issue?

good find!

update:
checked the axle distance to one of the front cross support beams on the trailer.
(before I read go to the tounge) same on both sides. Why should I go all the way to the tounge?

I've noticed there is a slight camber no more than 5 degrees I would say.

the tire pressure was way down, and I've had this problem with these tires from the beginning.

old towing vehicle was underrated for the pull and there was not towing on an even plane.

new tow vehicle is much more suited for the job and definitely tows even.

would low tire pressure and having the trailer in more of a down position while towing cause the toe in problem?

Since I can properly tow now I think I will replace the tires, make sure the pressure stays where it should and see what happens. Hopefully that's all it is.

Thanks for all the great info!

low tire pressure could possibly exaggerate the camber problem. Proper inflation and the new truck should make it ok.

Mr. Hunter,

Five degrees of camber is a huge amount. Did you measure this or is this just a guesstimate?

Mike

absolutely a guesstimate. :tooth:

im not sure how to measure that,.

trig. with some measurements. or homedepot or someplace should have something to measure angles.

what are you doing about this?