Tire Wear & Axle Alignment

[Davidceder]

I have the below rig with the Trail Air Equa-Flex suspension. At 5790 miles the passenger rear tread was as follows=

Inside=7/32
middle (second from outside)= 7/32
Outside=5/32

The other tires were all in the 7-8/32 range.

I really didn't want any tire issues so I decided with over 1500 miles left to my trip I would put the spare on. Had it balanced and mounted. The new tread depth was 10/32 all around. Now after 1500 miles the tire reads as follows

Inside=8/32
middle=9/32
outside=8/32

So after 1500 miles looks like even ware although seems like they are wearing kind of fast.

I know these are China Bombs (Westlake) and I plan on replacing them with either Carlisle or Maxxis. I follow the tire discussions very close on this forum.

My question- I called Lippert to discuss and the stated they do not recommend aligning the axle as it will take the Chamber out of the axle. They said I should put a 4 foot level under the chamber and make sure I see light between the axle and level. OK, this seems like a good idea no matter what. They could not come up with anything that might cause excessive wear on the one tire on the outside tread. I had two blow outs on my old trailer that caused a lot of damage and do not need that again. The original tire was NOT balanced but I am thinking that out of balance should not cause wear on one tread but would be more of a wobble thing.

Anyone have have any suggestions about alignment, or what might be causing my problem? Could an out of balance tire wear in this manner?

After 8000 miles my lowest tread depth is 6/32 with 8000 miles on the remaining tires.

Any help appreciated.

[OldCoot]

As for then spare tire wear, it indicates under inflation with the outside and inside 1/32" less than the center.

[Davidceder]

Hey Coot;

Never under inflated. Checked every week all the time when on the road. 80 lbs as stated on the tire for cold PSI.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Davidceder

Hey Coot;

Never under inflated. Checked every week all the time when on the road. 80 lbs as stated on the tire for cold PSI.

Just telling you what the wear indicates. Alignment is not the problem.

[Davidceder]

Coot

Ok, I accept the data and appreciate it. In your opinion if the original tire was under inflated when changed why would the outside & inside be 2/32 off? 7 versus 5/32.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by Davidceder

Coot

Ok, I accept the data and appreciate it. In your opinion if the original tire was under inflated when changed why would the outside & inside be 2/32 off? 7 versus 5/32.

I would guess just a crappy tire if nothing else changed. Strange things happen with the oem elcheapo tires. Could be a belt getting ready to let loose.

[bbritt18]

Check for recalls on the tires my Salem is in right now having all the tires replaced under recall. Passenger side rear tire was wearing and finally came apart without blowing out.

[MC9]

Not that this is relavent? but, I had a tire repaired in Ft. Stocton, TX one time and their tire guage was off 12 lbs.

[OldCoot]

Originally Posted by MC9

Not that this is relavent? but, I had a tire repaired in Ft. Stocton, TX one time and their tire guage was off 12 lbs.

Quite common as with all tire gauges unless you pay in excess of $25 for one. Race car suppliers usually have high quality gauges, but you will pay more than $25 for them.
http://www.jegs.com/i/Longacre+Racin...53028/10002/-1

[Davidceder]

I gauge all the tires with the same gauge so they would all be off the same amount. I check this one gauge against my other gauges and the only difference is about 2 lbs. between all of them. I always re-gauge if a dealer does any work on the tires. Like I said I follow the tires issues on this forum closely. They scare me.

[Puma26RLSS]

Fortunately, I have never had a blowout on my travel trailer tires, but I have noticed "strange" wear patterns. I do not measure tread wear as carefully as you do, but I do inspect the tires regularly while traveling and monitor tire pressure very carefully. I did have Camping World check my axle alignment as a matter routine preventative maintenance two years ago after I read an article in Trailer Life magazine recommending it. So, I am a little puzzled about the camber issue and the advice you received about the inadvisability of checking alignment. My experience has been that strange wear patterns can develop fairly suddenly. I don't know if it is the quality of the tires or not. I have just recently come to realize that I needed to spend the money and get the good tires. I had hesitated to buy expensive replacement tires because I just couldn't see spending "hard earned" money on "trailer tires"! But after reports like yours and my own friends' about blowouts on original/cheap tires, I have become a believer in making an investment in the good ones. Sorry I don't have any specific advice, but I can relate to struggling to understand the crazy way these tires can wear.

[Davidceder]

Hey Puma;

Thanks for the nice reply. I do not know why Lippert took that stand but after all IT IS LIPPERT. As of yet I have not decided what I will do next. I will talk to my dealer when I bring it down in a few weeks to have some warranty work done. I have not gone under the unit to check the chamber of my axles yet but intend to do so. I am thinking if I get new tires I will stay with ST tires. I am not convinced about LT tires on a rig. Had the same problem when I rode motorcycles. Lots of guys put on car tires on the rear. As much discussion on that as we have on ST vs LT. I might have my axles checked and if there is anything wrong go back to Lippert and report what was found prior to any action. I really hate to spend $700.00 on tires but I am leaning in that direction and if I do put new ones on I guess will go with Maxxis. All this stuff is part of the mobile lifestyle. I know the rigs could be engineered better but is not where we are and it is not like the auto industry in the 70's. There are no better units coming from Japan or elsewhere to provide competition for the US manufactures. As long as we buy them, they will continue to make them in the manner they currently do.

Take care, be safe

[John McClain]

take it to a frame an axel shop .

[DDC]

Not that I want to defend Lippert but I can see why they would not be too interested in axle alignment with just one tire showing a little irregular wear.

[Davidceder]

It is not that they are not interested. They just stated "do not align the axles, as they will remove the chamber" I do not fully understand that. Can't you align an axles without doing that? Any way I will do to a frame and axle shop and I will take it a step at a time. I am not worried about taking out the rig as no really long trips until next summer and I will keep a good eye on everything.

[Iwannacamp]

Hmm. Any good alignment shop can check the "squareness" of the axle. Caster would not be important in my opinion. Toe would only be possible by shimming the backing plate and camber by shimming or bending the axle. All just my opinion. I am sure there is an expert here.


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[Iwannacamp]

Ohhh. My bad. These are trailers. The spindle is welded. Backing plate does not affect the caster/camber. Move axle/pads or bend for caster/camber. The axle may already be bent causing the problem. JMHO


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[Puma26RLSS]

Not to get the discussion off target too much, but since the issue of ST vs LT was raised, I found this article. I thought it was a good read so here it is.
Trailer Towing – ST Tires vs. LT Tires | RV 101® your education source for RV information

[AquaMan]

I find it very odd that Lippert told you not to attempt any type of axle alignment. Especially when they market and sell a product that does exactly that, aligns your axles. Lippert even did laser alignment measurements on my 5er, and suggested a possible alignment. Odd.


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[Davidceder]

Puma, I tend to agree with the article. I will get ST tires on my next go around for the very reasons stated in the article. I am also concerned with the liability issue of having something NOT spec's on the rig. In the litigious society we live in a lawyer can make a case that the incorrect tires could have had some bearing in the case of an accident. JMHO.

AquaMan. I am going to take another run at Lippert later this week. I will post the results of my conversation.