Weird drive tire wear

Discussion in 'Trucks [ Eighteen Wheelers ]' started by Edjahman, Aug 29, 2016.

  1. Edjahman

    Edjahman Medium Load Member

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    I have a Peterbilt 579 and it has 43k miles on it. I have Bridgestone drives and I pull cryogenic tankers.

    I've noticed recently that the lugs on the center of the drive tires seem to be wearing weird... At an angle.. It seems to just be the center lugs. The pictures don't really show the problem properly. I've kept a close eye on tire pressures so that's not the problem.

    I was just wondering if anyone knows if this is normal sometimes when the tires are really new.

    I haven't taken it to an alignment shop yet and from what I've read you will get varied opinions about tire wear.

    Any advice would be helpful or maybe some assurance that it's really no big deal. I understand that tire wear is affected by many factors.

    I've searched around on the internet and I cannot match my wear pattern up with the usual suspects.

    Thank you and Good Day

    EJM

    I uploaded a couple photos for your viewing pleasure.
     

    Attached Files:

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  3. x1Heavy

    x1Heavy Road Train Member

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    Nice photos.

    Stoop over your drives from the outside in look straight down from the top of the drives inside your frame directly past the inner wheel (Not the duals, but the main wheel they are on) from top to ground.

    See if there is any angle dragging on that wheel possibly a bearing loss pending, if you are going to lose that bearing on one of those 4 drive wheels you might see a part of a failing bearing ring or races poking out a tiny bit.

    That is one idea.

    The next idea would be to check your alingment and I know going to a heavy frame, spring and shop to check full alingment is a expensive problem. But check it and if your drives are crabbing because you are out of whack... it might be a vital clue to your frame etc before something else gets bent.

    A third and last idea, check your hangers and clamps along your entire suspension where the axles are held to the frame. You want those axles nice and strong.

    Finally I guess touch each of your lug nuts, all of them and see if you got loose ones.

    That is all the ideas I have. It might be something, it might be nothing.
     
  4. BoxCarKidd

    BoxCarKidd Road Train Member

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    Some of these new tires have 36/32 tread depth. That has a lot of length on those lugs that allows them to move around a lot. Rotate them in an X pattern to change direction.
    Wear in the center can be from over inflation. I have seen some companies only running 85 psi in the drives.
    Alignment does not wear out the center of the tire.
    Odd tire wear rate escalates rapidly if not corrected.
     
  5. Edjahman

    Edjahman Medium Load Member

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    Thank you, guys, for the suggestions. Ill get cracking on something here soon. I did consider rotating in an X pattern and i've also heard shocks. Its also a brand new tractor but i know that doesnt mean much. The tractor and the drives have 43k miles on them.
     
  6. Ezrider_48501

    Ezrider_48501 Road Train Member

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    heal toe wear is common on new tires with big lugs, just the lugs flexing under tq, just keep them rotate as the wear down they wont flex as much and it will even out
     
    pokryshkin Thanks this.
  7. swaan

    swaan Road Train Member

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    This is quite normal with those deep lug type when new. Especially if pulling heavy wieghts with some power.Rotate often and after they get some miles on them and wear down some ,you'll notice they will start wearing flat again.
    It might also help to air down to 85 psi to get the tire to settle down on the outside ribs more. This will also help with that new tire squirm in the corners feeling.
     
  8. sawmill

    sawmill Road Train Member

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    Those look like Bridgestone M726 tires. You need to rotate them pretty regular to make sure they wear evenly. Sometimes the deeper tread will wear faster than tires that start out new with less tread depth. Those tires start new with 32/32 tread depth. They just require more frequent rotating, especially during the first half of the tire life to make sure you get the most out of them.
     
  9. daf105paccar

    daf105paccar Road Train Member

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  10. DustyRoad

    DustyRoad Road Train Member

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    Is this a personal vehicle or a company owned?

    I found the companies dont put a lot of money into things that extend tire life. They don't worry, they have plenty of tires, just run it until its got cupping and then replace the worn rubber....
     
  11. Chris50

    Chris50 Medium Load Member

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    I had a couple tires do this, angled wear on the center lugs. The tires had over 300k miles on them... It was a bad shock or two... I replaced them all and now the tires have smoothed back out for the most part.
     
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