Way Strange Tire Wear?

[bfrazier]

BT5291, not towing anything. All tires in good shape but front left is terribly worn on inside at 6 O'clock but not at 9, 12, or 3. It is more inside than outside but really this is about it being on one side of the tire and not the other. 7/32 on all tires but to the belts in this one place. Always has a shimmy in the steering, seems likely part of same issue. I've had it 18 months, same tires, the wear has evidently gone unnoticed. Bad tire? (I get that an alignment wears the inside or outside depending on camber but not just in one area does it??)

My "expert" (Bob Winfield) couln't tell me but maybe one of you can?

Thanks,
Bob F

[Restorium]

That is a bad steel belt inside the tire. Believe it or not they rust and do that. Then they blow out. Had it happen on the back a few years ago. Tire expert showed me the rusted belts.

[bfrazier]

That is a bad steel belt inside the tire. Believe it or not they rust and do that. Then they blow out. Had it happen on the back a few years ago. Tire expert showed me the rusted belts.

I'm at a tire store right now they are showing me that the front right has the same symptoms just not as much wear. They're saying it's worn shocks and they're pretty positive. Not sure what to do or who to trust it's a tough call when you're traveling like we are. Thanks for your info I'll ask them about that specifically.

[Restorium]

Sounds like new shocks and tires are needed. Hard to figure how shocks could make one spot of extreme tire wear and not all the way around.

[bfrazier]

For anyone who ever sees odd front end tire wear, patches of tread cupped and missing, consider shock replacement.

My ride went from a continuous bump bump bump to incredibly smooth and much quieter too.

Good luck out there!

Bob F

[Restorium]

I have had bad shocks and springs ruin tires but it's always all the way around the tire.
Glad you got new tires! No telling how close you were to a front end blow out and disaster.

[mrcee237]

Agree change shocks solved my problem.

[bfrazier]

Here is the badly worn side. Other side of tire still had 7/32nds. I guess the moral is to check your tires in more than one place.

[Restorium]

The moral is to open your eyes and look at your tires. To let them get that bad is a terrible failure and a danger to everyone around you on the road.

[CaryL]

bfrazier, Thanks so much for putting your ordeal on the forum. What you've shown could definitely save a lot of us from some life threatening accidents!