Uneven Tyre Wear, Any Ideas?

[rayinkrabi]

Hi All, I noticed the front tyres on my 6 mth old mitsu truck have developed a 'feathering' effect on the tread pattern. The raised part of the 'feather' is on the front of each section of the pattern and I'm at a loss as to how this is caused. Any ideas? I've googled this a lot but only came up with the obvious stuff and not the front to back wear I have.

For the record I've always driven carefully (just over 11000 Km to date), never hit pot holes or kerbs and have just had the wheel alignment checked and adjusted. To end this with a smile, the first place I called into this morning simply suggested swapping the wheels around :-)

[transam]

Get your tracking alignment checked. On a newish ride it won't be shocks.

[br12stol]

Yes get your tracking checked, preferably somewhere that has a 4 wheel laser tacking setup? don't let somchai do it

[WarpSpeed]

OP= never hit pot holes or kerbs and have just had the wheel alignment checked and adjusted.

Get your tracking alignment checked. On a newish ride it won't be shocks.

Yes, do that .......

It is possible for it to be bad shocks just because it's new doesn't eliminate the possibility the shocks installed were not from a faulty batch like so many millions of parts have been in past recalls.. Try having the balance checked first though on a high speed balancer not a bubble balancer, if possible preferably on the vehicle but that's pretty hard to find these days and rotate the tires to see if it happens again.. Check your tire pressure as well, they may be under-inflated causing it to run out of round at speed like a big balloon not supporting the sidewall well enough. Also notify the dealership right now with a complaint so if the problem is not solved you'll be on record with a complaint if you have to go back and what you've done to rectify the problem previously.

[WarpSpeed]

Yes get your tracking checked, preferably somewhere that has a 4 wheel laser tacking setup? don't let somchai do it

Do Mitsu trucks have independent rear suspension? If not a four wheel laser alignment is unnecessary as there is no rear adjustment for the alignment as they are fixed..

[mdechgan]

It could be the front toe in or toe out. I don't think the rear thrust angle is adjustable on pickups.

Even on new cars the alignment is not 100% green light.

[Semper]

I noticed the front tyres on my 6 mth old mitsu truck

Bring it back to the dealer. I'll guess you have at least 1 year warranty.

[rayinkrabi]

I noticed the front tyres on my 6 mth old mitsu truck

Bring it back to the dealer. I'll guess you have at least 1 year warranty.

Hmm, not a good idea really with the krabi mitsu dealer as they've been extremely unhelpful & rubbish since day one. It does have a 5 yr warranty but I'm certain mitsu will insist this isn't covered.

Good idea tho Warp to let them know of the problem in case it developes..which is the reason I'm making inquiries now.

The place I took it to this morning seemed to have all the right equipment, when all was hooked up the computer read out was 3.8 and 2.5 in red and after adjustment was v low numbers in green. Not sure what the figures mean but I guess something was 'out' and they put it right.

I understand how misaligned wheels can scrub and wear tyres unevenly but I'm really curious still how this strange 'feather' wear (or 'saw tooth pattern' as one web site calls it - but that was across the tread) can occur?

[John 1]

I think you will find any company will cover wheel alignment under warranty you should realize there are some dick head drivers around. As for your problem 400bt for a wheel alignment should have fixed it did they swap rear tyre's to the front.

[rayinkrabi]

Just re-checked the tyre pressures again, 29 psi front and 32 rear, (the book says rear between 29 & 42 so I guess this is ok).

To clarify, the feathering, or, uneven wear, is on the outer edge of the nearside front tyre and the inner edge of the offside. I can distinctly feel the small step or discrepancy between every section of the pattern when i run my hand along the tyre compared to the normal even feel on the rear tyres.

Thanks for any advice.

[Semper]

I noticed the front tyres on my 6 mth old mitsu truck

Bring it back to the dealer. I'll guess you have at least 1 year warranty.

Hmm, not a good idea really with the krabi mitsu dealer as they've been extremely unhelpful & rubbish since day one. It does have a 5 yr warranty but I'm certain mitsu will insist this isn't covered.

Good idea tho Warp to let them know of the problem in case it developes..which is the reason I'm making inquiries now.

The place I took it to this morning seemed to have all the right equipment, when all was hooked up the computer read out was 3.8 and 2.5 in red and after adjustment was v low numbers in green. Not sure what the figures mean but I guess something was 'out' and they put it right.

I understand how misaligned wheels can scrub and wear tyres unevenly but I'm really curious still how this strange 'feather' wear (or 'saw tooth pattern' as one web site calls it - but that was across the tread) can occur?

Hmm, not a good idea really with the krabi mitsu dealer as they've been extremely unhelpful & rubbish since day one

Send a complaint to the main office.

[WarpSpeed]

Just re-checked the tyre pressures again, 29 psi front and 32 rear, (the book says rear between 29 & 42 so I guess this is ok).

To clarify, the feathering, or, uneven wear, is on the outer edge of the nearside front tyre and the inner edge of the offside. I can distinctly feel the small step or discrepancy between every section of the pattern when i run my hand along the tyre compared to the normal even feel on the rear tyres.

Thanks for any advice.

That alignment was waaaay off!! And it was likely the cause of your problem it was the 'toe' or scrub angle and one was basically pushing outwards and the other inwards from the direction of travel which places all the wear on the edges of your tires. You should have had some pull to the left while driving and under braking before the alignment was corrected.. Did you notice anything like that? Any difference now? Should track straighter and brake more evenly.

I'd bring up that front pressure a bit too 35 would not hurt it at all.. Did you get the tires rotated with the alignment? If not, do so, it will extend the life of all of your tires if the problem has now been corrected which it sounds as if it may have been..

Other wise the fronts will continue to wear unevenly at a faster rate on the damaged edges once they've been scuffed the way you say and they will wear even more prematurely then they are now..

[transam]

It is tracking and perhaps camber setting. Think if it were me l would go back to main dealer and have them check both for your ride application. Show them the tyre problem. Take photos of the tyre wear for head office in case their factory settings were incorrect and tell the dealer your going to pass the pics on if no satisfaction.

[rayinkrabi]

That alignment was waaaay off!! And it was likely the cause of your problem it was the 'toe' or scrub angle and one was basically pushing outwards and the other inwards from the direction of travel which places all the wear on the edges of your tires. You should have had some pull to the left while driving and under braking before the alignment was corrected.. Did you notice anything like that? Any difference now? Should track straighter and brake more evenly.

I'd bring up that front pressure a bit too 35 would not hurt it at all.. Did you get the tires rotated with the alignment? If not, do so, it will extend the life of all of your tires if the problem has now been corrected which it sounds as if it may have been..

Other wise the fronts will continue to wear unevenly at a faster rate on the damaged edges once they've been scuffed the way you say and they will wear even more prematurely then they are now..

Good advice Warp, thx again. Yes, the steering has always felt a bit heavy & it does now feel better but I wasn't sure if it was just my imagination, and yes, the wear pattern now makes sense from your explanation. Are you saying that the front tyres will continue to wear badly even though the geometry has (hopefully) been corrected? I will also take your (and John1) advice and swop the front & rear.

[transam]

[

That alignment was waaaay off!! And it was likely the cause of your problem it was the 'toe' or scrub angle and one was basically pushing outwards and the other inwards from the direction of travel which places all the wear on the edges of your tires. You should have had some pull to the left while driving and under braking before the alignment was corrected.. Did you notice anything like that? Any difference now? Should track straighter and brake more evenly.

I'd bring up that front pressure a bit too 35 would not hurt it at all.. Did you get the tires rotated with the alignment? If not, do so, it will extend the life of all of your tires if the problem has now been corrected which it sounds as if it may have been..

Other wise the fronts will continue to wear unevenly at a faster rate on the damaged edges once they've been scuffed the way you say and they will wear even more prematurely then they are now..

Good advice Warp, thx again. Yes, the steering has always felt a bit heavy & it does now feel better but I wasn't sure if it was just my imagination, and yes, the wear pattern now makes sense from your explanation. Are you saying that the front tyres will continue to wear badly even though the geometry has (hopefully) been corrected? I will also take your (and John1) advice and swop the front & rear.

Yep, swop em round and keep an eye on what happens to the good boots on the front. Really should swop them round, diagonally every 10K.

[rayinkrabi]

Yep, swop em round and keep an eye on what happens to the good boots on the front. Really should swop them round, diagonally every 10K.

Cheers Trans, will do, I'll also have them balanced. Don't reckon it's worth going to mitsu tho as they've proved to be such incompetent rubbish in the past.

Warp, I know it will make the steering lighter if I add another 6 psi to the front but won't this cause excess wear to the tyre centres?

[transam]

Yep, swop em round and keep an eye on what happens to the good boots on the front. Really should swop them round, diagonally every 10K.

Cheers Trans, will do, I'll also have them balanced. Don't reckon it's worth going to mitsu tho as they've proved to be such incompetent rubbish in the past.

Warp, I know it will make the steering lighter if I add another 6 psi to the front but won't this cause excess wear to the tyre centres?

Yes it will.

GO to a competent shop with computer lining up gear and double check stuff. Your problem WILL be solved by guys who's apparatus is set up correctly.

[WarpSpeed]

Yep, swop em round and keep an eye on what happens to the good boots on the front. Really should swop them round, diagonally every 10K.

Cheers Trans, will do, I'll also have them balanced. Don't reckon it's worth going to mitsu tho as they've proved to be such incompetent rubbish in the past.

Warp, I know it will make the steering lighter if I add another 6 psi to the front but won't this cause excess wear to the tyre centres?

Yes it will.

GO to a competent shop with computer lining up gear and double check stuff. Your problem WILL be solved by guys who's apparatus is set up correctly.

No it won't, not anything noticeable anyways. You already mentioned the minimum and maximum tire pressures recommended by the manufacturer and this is a mid-range compromise to those numbers. If you were to over inflate them I.E. over the max tire pressures or around those levels constantly then you'll wear out the centers prematurely. The rear pressures are a wide range, recommended fluctuation because of loads carried but the fronts are always carrying a load so a mid-range compromise is best..

[WarpSpeed]

It is tracking and perhaps camber setting. Think if it were me l would go back to main dealer and have them check both for your ride application. Show them the tyre problem. Take photos of the tyre wear for head office in case their factory settings were incorrect and tell the dealer your going to pass the pics on if no satisfaction.

Yes it would have changed things a bit if the OP had mentioned the differences and corrections made on the alignment instead of it sounding like there was no variance, good call..

[rayinkrabi]

It is tracking and perhaps camber setting. Think if it were me l would go back to main dealer and have them check both for your ride application. Show them the tyre problem. Take photos of the tyre wear for head office in case their factory settings were incorrect and tell the dealer your going to pass the pics on if no satisfaction.

Yes it would have changed things a bit if the OP had mentioned the differences and corrections made on the alignment instead of it sounding like there was no variance, good call..

Hmm, as posted before this is all I saw on the computer screen when the chap was working,

" when all was hooked up the computer read out was 3.8 and 2.5 in red and after adjustment was v low numbers in green. Not sure what the figures mean"

I was hoping to get a print out of the readings after to refer to, not that the figures mean anything to me (mm or % etc.) but I know you chaps know, however the green and red were easy to understand so it looked good to me when all was green on the screen.

I realise what you are saying re talking to mitsu makes sense, and I surely would do that if I thought they would be helpful or professional in any way..as you prob know from my previous topic when I bought the truck, this crowd are seriously and dangerously inept so I'm quite happy to sort this problem out without their 'help'.

[WarpSpeed]

It is tracking and perhaps camber setting. Think if it were me l would go back to main dealer and have them check both for your ride application. Show them the tyre problem. Take photos of the tyre wear for head office in case their factory settings were incorrect and tell the dealer your going to pass the pics on if no satisfaction.

Yes it would have changed things a bit if the OP had mentioned the differences and corrections made on the alignment instead of it sounding like there was no variance, good call..

Hmm, as posted before this is all I saw on the computer screen when the chap was working,

" when all was hooked up the computer read out was 3.8 and 2.5 in red and after adjustment was v low numbers in green. Not sure what the figures mean"

I was hoping to get a print out of the readings after to refer to, not that the figures mean anything to me (mm or % etc.) but I know you chaps know, however the green and red were easy to understand so it looked good to me when all was green on the screen.

I realise what you are saying re talking to mitsu makes sense, and I surely would do that if I thought they would be helpful or professional in any way..as you prob know from my previous topic when I bought the truck, this crowd are seriously and dangerously inept so I'm quite happy to sort this problem out without their 'help'.

Yeah but you didn't post those numbers in the OP it was well down the thread before you posted them..

[transam]

It is tracking and perhaps camber setting. Think if it were me l would go back to main dealer and have them check both for your ride application. Show them the tyre problem. Take photos of the tyre wear for head office in case their factory settings were incorrect and tell the dealer your going to pass the pics on if no satisfaction.

Yes it would have changed things a bit if the OP had mentioned the differences and corrections made on the alignment instead of it sounding like there was no variance, good call..

Hmm, as posted before this is all I saw on the computer screen when the chap was working,

" when all was hooked up the computer read out was 3.8 and 2.5 in red and after adjustment was v low numbers in green. Not sure what the figures mean"

I was hoping to get a print out of the readings after to refer to, not that the figures mean anything to me (mm or % etc.) but I know you chaps know, however the green and red were easy to understand so it looked good to me when all was green on the screen.

I realise what you are saying re talking to mitsu makes sense, and I surely would do that if I thought they would be helpful or professional in any way..as you prob know from my previous topic when I bought the truck, this crowd are seriously and dangerously inept so I'm quite happy to sort this problem out without their 'help'.

Yeah but you didn't post those numbers in the OP it was well down the thread before you posted them..

AND remember a computer alinement set up is only as good as '' it's' '' set up accuracy. Bit like a garage tyre pump gauge, says 30psi in use but go home and double check with your own gauge to find it reads 35 psi. Just had some tyres changed and they had an automatic stand up air machine preset to 35 psi, thought that's OK cos l will use my own gauge when l get home, l did, 30 psi .

Previously l suggested a main dealer set up cos it '' should '' be accurate (perhaps).

[WarpSpeed]

Yes it would have changed things a bit if the OP had mentioned the differences and corrections made on the alignment instead of it sounding like there was no variance, good call..

Hmm, as posted before this is all I saw on the computer screen when the chap was working,

" when all was hooked up the computer read out was 3.8 and 2.5 in red and after adjustment was v low numbers in green. Not sure what the figures mean"

I was hoping to get a print out of the readings after to refer to, not that the figures mean anything to me (mm or % etc.) but I know you chaps know, however the green and red were easy to understand so it looked good to me when all was green on the screen.

I realise what you are saying re talking to mitsu makes sense, and I surely would do that if I thought they would be helpful or professional in any way..as you prob know from my previous topic when I bought the truck, this crowd are seriously and dangerously inept so I'm quite happy to sort this problem out without their 'help'.

Yeah but you didn't post those numbers in the OP it was well down the thread before you posted them..

AND remember a computer alinement set up is only as good as '' it's' '' set up accuracy. Bit like a garage tyre pump gauge, says 30psi in use but go home and double check with your own gauge to find it reads 35 psi. Just had some tyres changed and they had an automatic stand up air machine preset to 35 psi, thought that's OK cos l will use my own gauge when l get home, l did, 30 psi .

Previously l suggested a main dealer set up cos it '' should '' be accurate (perhaps).

Which is why I always carry my own high quality pressure gauge that's been calibrated in my trunk, though it is correct it doesn't matter if it's correct or not necessarily, as long as you always use the same one your pressures remain consistent..

[rayinkrabi]

yea ok, I hold my hands up to not putting the alignment figures in the first post but I was trying to keep it as brief as poss..can you through any light onto what the numbers mean?

I will get it all double checked as you suggest..I'm off to Phuket on Thurs so plan to call into the mitsubishi dealers there, will be interesting to compare them to the krabi nonsense.

[transam]

yea ok, I hold my hands up to not putting the alignment figures in the first post but I was trying to keep it as brief as poss..can you through any light onto what the numbers mean?

I will get it all double checked as you suggest..I'm off to Phuket on Thurs so plan to call into the mitsubishi dealers there, will be interesting to compare them to the krabi nonsense.

Keep us informed.

[rayinkrabi]

Cheers Trans, will do.

[wandrinstar]

Did you have it from new or from a dealer or relation.?.

[rayinkrabi]

Did you have it from new or from a dealer or relation.?.

Bought it new from krabi mitsu end of Feb this year, never lent it out to anyone and always driven carefully..come to think of it, I did come across some huge puddles (or 'standing water' as the posh call it) at night & at speed during the floods a while back, I guess this could knock the alignment out?

[WarpSpeed]

yea ok, I hold my hands up to not putting the alignment figures in the first post but I was trying to keep it as brief as poss..can you through any light onto what the numbers mean?

I will get it all double checked as you suggest..I'm off to Phuket on Thurs so plan to call into the mitsubishi dealers there, will be interesting to compare them to the krabi nonsense.

I understand but "brief" sometimes overlooks important details.. In any case it's been narrowed now, I already mentioned what the numbers mean previously they mean your 'toe' or scrub angle was way off to the left. On a rear wheel drive vehicle they should be slightly toe'd in on both sides but your's were toe'd in excessively on the right side and excessively toe'd out on the left side which should have been toe'd in slightly..

They toe in the fronts on a rear wheel drive car/truck because the rear tires are pushing so when the fronts contact with the pavement the friction then pulls them outward to track straight and true down the road with the least amount of rolling resistance which equals less tire wear and provides the best fuel mileage. Conversely a FWD car is toe'd outward because the front wheels pull and create even more friction through their grip on the pavement (= more suspension flex) and pull the tires inward when moving the car forward.. The numbers take into account the amount of flex in the front suspension under rolling friction and torque loads and that is the parameters which they use represented by the 'green' readings on the screen, anything red is either toe'd in or out too much depending on what type of car it is..

Also conversely if a vehicle has independent rear suspension those settings will be opposite the fronts regarding which wheels are the driven wheels. This is where so many people who circuit race stock based cars get it all wrong as they continue to use the factory settings in their alignment when the entire suspension geometry is all off now with the multitude of performance changes now made to it and the only way to discover what it should be is to test and make changes accordingly.. Having years of experience with these type of set ups gives you a decided advantage of a starting point but still hours of testing has to be done to determine the given set up on a given car and on a given track surface, there is no "one size fits all" application..

Here's a nice article and illustrations

Edit: Forgot to add, they also mention the importance of correct tire pressures and how it effects steering, tire wear and alignment as a package.

[wandrinstar]

Did you have it from new or from a dealer or relation.?.

Bought it new from krabi mitsu end of Feb this year, never lent it out to anyone and always driven carefully..come to think of it, I did come across some huge puddles (or 'standing water' as the posh call it) at night & at speed during the floods a while back, I guess this could knock the alignment out?

Hard to say, ive hit some bloody great potholes and been amazed nothing moved. I scrub my fronts quick so i never rotate..I can recall Goodtear Aquatreads going Willy n Harry for no good reason one time..