Community Forums

jvf3877 · 05-07-2021, 09:26 PM

Have a very odd tire wear issue. Both rear tires on our tow vehicle are wearing smooth/flat 1" on the inside tread of the tires. The rest of the width of the tire tread is perfectly fine and show no signs of irregular tire wear.
Tire inflation is fine and on spec. and when towing the travel trailer we experience no shakes, vibrations, or wondering. Tow vehicle is a Nissan Armada 4 wheel drive with rear independent suspension with air bags and also use a hitch leveler as part of the hitch set-up. RV is a 31' duel axle travel trailer. Didn't want to take any chances so replaced rear tires with new ones .
Tire Dealer is stumped as why this happened. Thinks it may be caused by independent rear suspension vs. a straight rear axle on other kinds of vehicles but not sure, just guessing............

Please see attached picture.

Hope someone can explain why this may be happening???????

arcaguy · 05-07-2021, 09:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jvf3877

Tow vehicle is a Nissan Armada 4 wheel drive with rear independent suspension

Therein lies your problem. Assuming the bearings are in good shape and the axles are not bent you are overloaded on the rear suspension, regardless of what the owner's manual says. Park your Armada on level ground set up with your trailer. Take a level and hold it up to the tire (a 2 foot level will likely fit) and see if the wheel is plumb. I'm betting that it is not. Another way to do this is with a plumb bob. Suspend it a inch or two from the rear tires and measure from the string to the wheel. The measurements should be equal. In your case I'm betting that the top measurement will be larger than the bottom one. The only way to cure this issue is to increase the spring rate on the rear springs whether it's through bigger springs or putting more air in your air bags. This may not be an easy or cheap fix. Good luck.

jvf3877 · 05-07-2021, 10:06 PM

Thank you for this information, I'll check that to see what the measurements are.

One thing I forgot to add is that the travel trailer weight rating is 5,600. lbs. unloaded.

Skip426 · 05-07-2021, 10:24 PM

When I was working , I never saw an independent rear suspension vehicle , that alignment wasn't adjustable . Toe out could be the possible cause and would wear tires faster excess camber due to suspension load .

I'm wondering how much experience the " Tire Dealer " has , that he didn't at least recommend alignment be checked .

ALLOY · 05-08-2021, 12:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jvf3877

Thank you for this information, I'll check that to see what the measurements are.

One thing I forgot to add is that the travel trailer weight rating is 5,600. lbs. unloaded.

How much of the 5,600+lbs is (tanks ahead of the axles?) on the hitch and how much weight is in the tow vehicle?

xc-mark · 05-08-2021, 04:33 AM

load the trailer on the back of the SUV with the hitch connected to travel. take a photo of the side view of the Armada and and trailer so you can get a idea how the weight is carried . then take a photo from the front of the SUV looking down the side wall of the tire , I think your going to find the rear tires tipped in at the top with a load or when its pulling hard the tires are toe in and tipped in at the top. On every truck with power the rear tires wear faster , in your case because it isn't a strait axle the wheel alignment is very important.

tuffr2 · 05-08-2021, 09:52 AM

I think this is a common problem with getting the tires aligned. Without a load the alignment is different than with a load. It is the nature of independent rear suspendion I think.

Even trucks without independent rear suspension. I bet everyone towing a 5th wheel a lot has trouble getting even wear on their front tires. I know i did.

Old-Biscuit · 05-08-2021, 10:04 AM

Independent rear suspension........unknown tongue weight....unknown total trailer weight.....rear tires wearing uneven

Need alignment checked, need go get it weighed...truck/trailer---truck only

As for:
I bet everyone towing a 5th wheel a lot has trouble getting even wear on their front tires. I know i did.
I didn't......

Got 60K on truck tires towing 14K 5th wheel FT
And I didn't rotate tires
Truck/5vr towed level when hitched
Truck tires were 55#/F and 80#/R with 105# on trailer tires

All even consistent wear......

tuffr2 · 05-09-2021, 02:55 AM

OB - do you have a diesel truck with a heavy front end? If not, that might explain getting 60,000 miles out of your front tires.

jvf3877 · 05-09-2021, 07:00 AM

Thanks everyone for all your answers. What everyone is saying makes sense and I'll use your information to hopefully get the tire issue corrected.

Thanks again........

Old-Biscuit · 05-09-2021, 11:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuffr2

OB - do you have a diesel truck with a heavy front end? If not, that might explain getting 60,000 miles out of your front tires.

YEP....sure do

3 sets of Michelin A/T2s during FT
At 60K I replaced...not because the tires were worn out but because I was FTng and didn't need tire issues

And with 5vr connected I was over the MFg GVWR/Payload number, 350# under FAWR (5200) right at RAWR (6200) and carrying a wet pin of 3080#

1bigmess · 05-09-2021, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old-Biscuit

YEP....sure do

3 sets of Michelin A/T2s during FT
At 60K I replaced...not because the tires were worn out but because I was FTng and didn't need tire issues.

Same here. Diesel pickup, heavy front end, no tire issues, I could get many more than 60Kish per set of tires but I usually swap them out if the tread is down right before winter with new Michelin Defender LTX. Money very well spent IMO.

https://www.michelinman.com/auto/tir...fender-ltx-m-s

As for the OP, you need to know the weights: Axles, tongue, total. As much a safety issue as a money issue IMO.