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tirewear.jpg | Hits: 5998 | Posted on: 10/24/07 | View original size (137.96 KB)

Tire Wear Symptoms & Solutions

- Tires show excess wear on edge of tread.
Possible Source(s): Under-inflated tires.
Action(s) to Take: Adjust air pressure in tires.

Possible Source(s): Vehicle overloaded.
Action(s) to Take: Correct as required.

Possible Source(s): High-speed cornering.
Action(s) to Take: Correct as required.

Possible Source(s): Incorrect toe setting.
Action(s) to Take: Set toe to specification.

- Tires show excess wear in center of tread.
Possible Source(s): Tires over-inflated.
Action(s) to Take: Adjust air pressure in tires.

- Other excessive tire wear problems.
Possible Source(s): Improper tire pressure.
Action(s) to Take: Adjust air pressure in tires.

Possible Source(s): Incorrect tire/wheel usage.
Action(s) to Take: Install correct tire and wheel combination.

Possible Source(s): Loose or leaking shock absorbers.
Action(s) to Take: Tighten or replace as necessary.

Possible Source(s): Front end out of alignment.
Action(s) to Take: Align front end.

Possible Source(s): Front wheel bearings out of adjustment.
Action(s) to Take: Adjust front wheel bearings.

Possible Source(s): Loose, worn or damaged suspension components, bushings and ball joints.
Action(s) to Take: Inspect, repair or replace as required.

Possible Source(s): Wheels and tires out of balance.
Action(s) to Take: Balance wheels and tires.

Possible Source(s): Excessive lateral and/or radial runout of wheel or tire.
Action(s) to Take: Check, repair or replace as required. Use dial indicator to accurately determine runout.

Possible Source(s): Tires need rotating.
Action(s) to Take: Rotate tires.

- Wheel mounting is difficult.
Possible Source(s): Improper application or mismatched parts, including studs and nuts.
Action(s) to Take: Follow manufacturers' specifications.

Possible Source(s): Corroded, worn or damaged parts.
Action(s) to Take: Clean or replace.

- Wheel-rust or corrosion.
Possible Source(s): Poor maintenance.
Action(s) to Take: Keep clean and protect with paint.

- Excessive vehicle vibration, rough steering, or severe tire wear.
Possible Source(s): Loose or improper attaching parts.
Action(s) to Take: Tighten or replace.

Possible Source(s): Overloading or unbalanced loads.
Action(s) to Take: Check wheel and tire specs against workload requirements. Recommend correct tire and rim. Check on loading procedure.

- Vehicle vibrations.
Possible Source(s): Tires/wheels mismatched.
Action(s) to Take: Install correct tire/wheel combination.

Possible Source(s): Inflation pressure too high or low.
Action(s) to Take: Adjust air pressure in tires.

Possible Source(s): Uneven tire wear.
Action(s) to Take: Refer to Tire Wear diagram.

Possible Source(s): Out-of-balance wheel and/or tire or hub and drum assembly.
Action(s) to Take: Determine the out-of-balance component and balance or replace.

Possible Source(s): Bent or distorted wheel disc from overloading, road impact hazards or improper handling.
Action(s) to Take: Replace wheel. Attempts to straighten wheel can result in fractures in the steel and weakening of the disc or the weld between disc and rim. Check loading and operating conditions and shop practices.

Possible Source(s): Out-of-round wheel or tire (excessive radial runout). Use a dial indicator to accurately verify runout reading.
Action(s) to Take: Replace the wheel or tire and check for overloading and unbalanced loads, rugged operating conditions, proper wheel and tire specifications.

Possible Source(s): Improperly seated bead.
Action(s) to Take: Verify correct tire/wheel usage and re-mount tire.

Possible Source(s): Excessive lateral runout (wheel or tire). Use a dial indicator to accurately verify runout reading.
Action(s) to Take: Replace wheel or tire.

Possible Source(s): Loose wheel mountings -- damaged studs, cap nuts, enlarged stud holes, worn or broken hub face or foreign material on mounting surfaces.
Action(s) to Take: Tighten or replace worn or damaged parts. Clean mounting surfaces.

Possible Source(s): Defective wheel bearings.
Action(s) to Take: Replace defective bearing sets.

Possible Source(s): Brake rotor imbalance.
Action(s) to Take: Check for uneven rotor wear. If present, turn both rotors. Check fins for caked mud or debris. If no external causes are evident, rotor may have a heavy spot. To confirm, substitute a known-good rotor or shift rotor to other side of vehicle and road test again. If heavy spot is indicated, replace rotor.

- Vehicle vibrations (Continued)
Possible Source(s): Wheel stud runout.
Action(s) to Take: Replace hub or axle shaft.

Possible Source(s): Water in tires.
Action(s) to Take: Remove water.

Possible Source(s): Loose or worn engine or transmission mounts.
Action(s) to Take: Tighten or replace.

Possible Source(s): Improper pinion angle.
Action(s) to Take: Realign assembly to specifications. If damaged, replace pinion and ring gear as a set.

Possible Source(s): Improper front end alignment.
Action(s) to Take: Align front end.

Possible Source(s): Loose or worn driveline or suspension parts.
Action(s) to Take: Identify location of vibration carefully as it may be transmitted through frame making a rear end vibration appear to come from the front. Repair or replace loose and worn parts.

Possible Source(s): Excessive driveshaft runout or imbalance.
Action(s) to Take: Balance or replace driveshaft as necessary.

Possible Source(s): Faulty U-joints.
Action(s) to Take: Replace worn U-joints.

- Cracked or broken wheel discs (center portion of wheel). Cracks develop in the wheel disc from hand hole to hand hole, from hand hole to rim, or from hand hole to stud. Stud holes become worn, elongated or deformed. Metal builds up around stud hole edges, cracks develop from stud hole to stud hole. Related driver complaints; unusual operating noise or vibration and on the road failures.

Possible Source(s): Metal fatigue resulting from abusive handling.
Action(s) to Take: Replace wheel. Check position of wheel on vehicle for working load specifications.

Possible Source(s): Truck operated with loose wheel mounting.
Action(s) to Take: Replace wheel and check for:
* Installation of correct studs and nuts, and recommended exact specifications.
* Cracked or broken studs, and replace.
* Worn hub face. Machine if not excessive, or replace if severe.
* Broken or cracked hub barrel, replace.
* Worn stud grooves, replace or install recommended serrated bolts.
* Clean mounting surfaces and re-torque cap nuts periodically.
* Rust streaks fanning out from stud holes are a sure indication that the cap nuts are or have been loose.

- Cracks develop in rim base back (rim bead seat) or the gutter area (drop well radii).
Possible Source(s): Overloading or abusive use.
Action(s) to Take: Replace wheel. Check loading and operating conditions. Avoid over inflation of tires. Check specs for rim load capacity, working loads, tire size, ply rating and tire construction.

Possible Source(s): Improper use of tools.
Action(s) to Take: Check mounting, demounting, and maintenance procedures.

- Dual tires rubbing (kissing).
Possible Source(s): Insufficient wheel spacing.
Action(s) to Take: Check tire and wheel sizes. Make certain proper size tire and wheels are used.

Possible Source(s): Overloading.
Action(s) to Take: Reduce weight.

Possible Source(s): Underinflation.
Action(s) to Take: Inflate tires to specifications.

- Damaged stud threads.
Possible Source(s): Sliding wheel across studs during assembly.
Action(s) to Take: Replace studs. Follow proper wheel installation procedure.

- Loose drum.
Possible Source(s): Stud too long.
Action(s) to Take: Replace stud with proper length stud.

- Loose inner wheel.
Possible Source(s): Excessive stud standout from mounting face of hub permitting wheel nut to bottom out.
Action(s) to Take: Replace stud with proper length stud.

- Broken studs.
Possible Source(s): Loose lug nuts.
Action(s) to Take: Replace studs. Follow proper torque procedure.

Possible Source(s): Overloading.
Action(s) to Take: Replace studs. Compare actual load against vehicle load ratings.

- Stripping threads.
Possible Source(s): Excessive torque.
Action(s) to Take: Replace studs. Follow proper torque procedure.

- Rust streaks from stud holes.
Possible Source(s): Loose lug nuts.
Action(s) to Take: Check complete assembly. Replace damaged parts. Follow proper torque procedure.

- Damaged lug nuts.
Possible Source(s): Loose wheel assembly.
Action(s) to Take: Replace lug nuts. Follow proper torque procedure.

Possible Source(s): Over tightened lug nuts.
Action(s) to Take: Follow proper torque procedure.

- Frozen lug nuts.
Possible Source(s): Corrosion or galling.
Action(s) to Take: If corrosion is slight, wire brush away corrosion. If corrosion is excessive, replace studs and nuts. If condition persists, lubricate first three threads of each stud with a graphite-based lubricant.
CAUTION: Do not permit lubricant to get on cone seats of stud holes or on cone angle of lug nuts.

Possible Source(s): Overloading.
Action(s) to Take: Reduce weight.

See also:
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