Is this safe or a warning sign?

Here's what the interwebs say:

"What causes a steer tire to wear on the outside?

Front tires wearing on the outside edge is usually a result of aging coil springs. As they lose height, so does the vehicle, causing the whole suspension to misalign, especially in camber. If the leaf springs are also sagging or wearing out, they cause caster misalignment, which may worsen the situation."

 

To add to that, shocks will cup tires too, rear shocks for some reason can destroy a set of steers.

 

Also, a lot of tight turns will cause steer tires to wear on the outside. I did a lot of Chicago, and steers wore like that. Good trailer tire.

 

Loose bearings can cause that also . Your shop should pull tires before they get worn that bad and use them as drives in summer or trailer tires .. make sure you check tires a few times a day and stop driving if they start bulging in wear area

 

The company I drive for has Volvos and majority of them have steers wearing like this on passenger side. Even brand new ones. Don't remember what exactly the mechanic said, but something about something in the suspension on one side being taller from factory.

My thought would be to align it offset to counter whatever geometry issue from Volvo's design is causing it, but I don't know if that's an option lol.

That tires legal and 'safe' though... for now. My vote would be sort out the underlying cause, pull both steers off and throw em on a trailer, and put a new set, but most accounting departments aren't a fan of that idea lol.

 

It can be difficult to know when your drives shocks are gone bad especially if someone as wiped the oil.

 

I feel them with my hands. I also give a little tug to see if the bushings are giving way.

 

I was also told, left steer tires will wear on the edge because you are more likely to roll around right turns, and usually stop for a left turn.