Uneven Tire Wear on Tow Dolly

[akadeadeye]

Someone told me trailer tires are not typically balanced when you buy a trailer. My tires did not have balancing lead on the wheels when I bought the tow dolly new.

Now, there is noticeable uneven tire wear on each tire. I have been good keeping them inflated at the correct pressure (50psi). Is this problem a balancing issue only or is there something going on with the tow dolly?

Don

[WSRG]

If your tow dolly came with Carlisle tires, replace them as soon as you can. They will only go about 3000 to 4000 miles before they either go bad or fail completely.

Bill

[Steve N Sal]

The dolly might be out of allignment. I would contact the mfg and get the specs.

[Elkhartjim]

There have been many posts on premature tire wear on Master Tow dolly's and as I recall (?) the resolution is to find a shop that can heat the axle and bend it enough to get it in alignment. Seems one poster was wearing tires out in less than 1000 miles.

You might try a forum search on the problem.

[CD]

Quote:

Originally Posted by akadeadeye Someone told me trailer tires are not typically balanced when you buy a trailer. My tires did not have balancing lead on the wheels when I bought the tow dolly new. Now, there is noticeable uneven tire wear on each tire. I have been good keeping them inflated at the correct pressure (50psi). Is this problem a balancing issue only or is there something going on with the tow dolly? Don

Discribe the wear pattern. Out of balance will usually show as cupping spots. Too much toe will be on the outside of both tires and toeout will be the inside. Too much wear in the middle of tire is too much pressure and wear on the both outside edges not enough pressure. I think camber is also outside edges.

[Mr_D]

I've never balanced a trailer tire, the tires on our Demco KK 460 dolly are not balanced. The rear tires on our DSDP are not balanced and I don't notice them until I get to about 80 mph.

[Hikerdogs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Elkhartjim There have been many posts on premature tire wear on Master Tow dolly's and as I recall (?) the resolution is to find a shop that can heat the axle and bend it enough to get it in alignment. Seems one poster was wearing tires out in less than 1000 miles. You might try a forum search on the problem.

Heating the axle to bend it sounds like a bad idea. When the metal is heated to the point it will bend it's lost its strength. It may be easier to bend hot but it will also bend easier again in the same area when it's cold.

When you bend a straight axle on a truck to correct the alignment it's done cold. It takes more pressure to bend but it won't soften the metal and will retain it's shape.

[Mekanic]

If I bought a dolly and the tires tracks are not paralell to each other then I would say it left the factory with a defect and I'd want a repalcement or a refund.
It should not have to be heated or bent straight.

On balencing trailer or dolly tires.
I just bought a new set of tires and I too usually do not balence them.
But this time I'm trying a some what new way to balence.
Air soft BBs. I put 250 grams of the BBs inside the tire befor seatring beads.
I have done this on my Jeep with its 32x11.50 tires and it worked quite well.
the only down side you cant use any type of "fix a flat" in them again.

[akadeadeye]

Thanks for the input. I called the dealer I bought it from and he suggested that it could be a bad wheel bearing.

Would that cause the uneven tread wear?

Don

[CD]

Quote:

Originally Posted by akadeadeye Thanks for the input. I called the dealer I bought it from and he suggested that it could be a bad wheel bearing. Would that cause the uneven tread wear? Don

I would think it would have to be worse than bad. Like ready to fall off.

[RVNeophytes2]

Quote:

Originally Posted by WSRG If your tow dolly came with Carlisle tires, replace them as soon as you can. They will only go about 3000 to 4000 miles before they either go bad or fail completely. Bill

I just hit 3,000 miles on my Carlisles (they came with the new Roadmaster dolly).

They look pretty pristine to me.

In the interest of full disclosure, one was FOA (Flat on Arrival) due to an errant staple -- Roadmaster replaced it immediately -- and then DW caught a curb and suffered a catastrophic tire failure with attendant destruction of the fender, no fault of the Carlisles.

At 2,000 miles I aligned the wheels and calibrated the brakes. The wear pattern seems idea, you'll probably agree.

So, what ply/size/age of Carlisles are we having trouble with?

[wa8yxm]

Define "Uneven tire wear" This line applies to many different wear patterns and each pattern is a different problem.

Some examples:

Wearing in the center, outer edges of tred still good
You read where it said "xx PSI" on the tire and inflated to said pressure, YOU DID NOT READ the full iine which is Maximum Load of yyyy pounds at maximum pressure of XX psi and have thus over inflated the tires.

Wearing along the outer edges but not in the middle.. Note enough PSI.

Wearing at inner, or outer edge only.. Axle bent or bearings bad.

Dupping or scalloping,, could be balance or alignment

Photographs or a visit to a tire EXPERT would be a very good thing.

[Hikerdogs]

Quote:

Originally Posted by akadeadeye Thanks for the input. I called the dealer I bought it from and he suggested that it could be a bad wheel bearing. Would that cause the uneven tread wear? Don

An extermely loose bearing could definately cause a tire to wear. But to CD's point, if it were loose enough to cause the wear it wouldn't be long for this world.

As a side note I've seen a new car come in for a tire wear problem. When it went on the hoist for inspection the wheel was removed to find the inner race of the outer bearing was missing. The car had been driven almost 1,000 miles with a bearing race missing. Obviously the rotor and spindle had to be replaced, but the point is the car ran down the road with the only owner complaint being tire wear.