abnormal tire wear

[delkelso]

purchased new, 16 ft single axle (torsion suspension) trailer. has been towed less than 5000 miles and is wearing both tires out on both inside and outside edges. tread on curb side tire outside edge is gone. normally, i would interpret this as due to under-inflation, but tires have been inflated to 50 psi (max on tire) for every trip. tires are Trail Express (which i gather from other posts are garbage) rated at 1760 pounds, trailer ways approximately 2900 pounds, so within spec.

wonder if this is "excessive scuffing" caused by misalignment of axle and / or defective axle. with long straight edge on outside of tire, front edge of tire is about 3/16' further from frame than same measurement at back of wheel. curbside tire appears to be slightly farther from edge of camper than driver side.

is this enough "slop" to cause excessive scuffing on tires? if so, doesn't look like there is any adjustment in the axle mount...how would this be fixed?

[OldCoot]

If it is wearing both tires on the inside and outside, the tires are overloaded. Regardless of the 50# pressure. The footprint has to be one with the center of the tread not having the same contact as the outside & inside areas of the tread.

Axle mis-alignment will cause outer wear on one tire and inner wear on the other or if the axle is bent down in the center, it will wear the inner sides of both tires and if the axle is bent up in the center or forward, it will wear the outer edges of both tires.

[delkelso]

appreciate the response...and please forgive what may be a stupid question, but if the tires are rated for more weight than the camper, how could the tire fail like this? unless the tire isn't up to spec?

again, thanks for sharing your knowledge.

[OldCoot]

Tires are just not holding the wt they are rated at. Another 10# of air might help, but that is going over the max on the tire.

[delkelso]

well, actually that is good news...new tires are cheaper than a new axle and or alignment of an axle that positioned incorrectly with no adjustment mechanism.

THANKS!!!