Tire problem what has caused this?

[deputydog]

Originally Posted by ga traveler

This is called river. Google it and you will find your answer. It is fairly common on motor homes.

Doesn't look like river wear to me. More like heel/toe wear.

[alank]

I forgot to mention an easy way to test my brake theory above. Take the vehicle to a gravel parking lot and make a rather sudden stop from 15 or 20 mph. Have a friend watch to see if that left tire stops and skids on the rocks while the right one doesn't.
The stop won't be nearly so abrupt as it would be if doing the same test on pavement.

[Dutch Star Don]

If you look closely, the tire is wearing evenly side to side, so most likely not an alignment issue. If the wear was in one tread, like just down the center, it could be a tire going bad (bad belt).

Most likely, you had a shock give out or it lost a substantial amount of wheel weight. The tire is hopping, creating that effect, across the entire tire. Look for a leaking shock and have the balance checked.

Unfortunately, once you do that to a tire, it can't be repaired and will continue to wear funny as it will scuff off rubber faster than it will wear off rubber. At minimum, move it to a rear position and keep an eye on it.

Easier to see in this orientation.

[Waiter21]

I have seen this on car tires, my Sonata currently has it. Tire guy says that some tread patterns / manufactures seem like they are more prone to this, but its not like every tire does it. His recommendations was at first sign, verify correct pressure, then rotate the tires side to side (switch sides) so that the wedge shapes will reverse.

This also creates a lot of road noise. my Sonata was experiencing a LOT of noise. When I moved tires front to rear, the noise followed the tire, thats when I discovered this wear (Tire guy called it cupping, but wedging would be a more descriptive term).

Look carefully, both of the outside tread are wedging, the one on the left is obviously much worst. Also notice the treads that are wedging are angled in the same direction.


Its almost like how that small tread section skids a little when it makes contact with the road, or skids a little when it un-contacts the road, and that skidding is what causes the wedge.

[vicm]

Just wanted to say thank you for everyone who responded. It appears that my left shock is leaking. Thanks again, and this form is totally AWESOME!!!

[EyezOpen]

Originally Posted by Dutch Star Don

If you look closely, the tire is wearing evenly side to side, so most likely not an alignment issue. If the wear was in one tread, like just down the center, it could be a tire going bad (bad belt).

Most likely, you had a shock give out or it lost a substantial amount of wheel weight. The tire is hopping, creating that effect, across the entire tire. Look for a leaking shock and have the balance checked.

Unfortunately, once you do that to a tire, it can't be repaired and will continue to wear funny as it will scuff off rubber faster than it will wear off rubber. At minimum, move it to a rear position and keep an eye on it.

Easier to see in this orientation.

Attachment 294552

Great blowup, from here it looks like extreme toe out....something is very loose.

[alank]

Is this type of wear all around the tie, or just one small section?

[Waiter21]

Is this type of wear all around the tie, or just one small section?

On my car, its all around the tire, I suspect his is the same...

[alank]

I still would look at the brakes. That left front tire is doing all the stopping, and being skidded in the process. The right front tire is doing nearly no stopping. Take it to a gravel lot and try the brakes two or three times to see if the left tire slides on the rocks while the right tire continues to turn.

[vicm]

Around the whole tire

[THenne1713]

Originally Posted by vicm

This occurred during the last 400 miles of my last trip. Both front tires were showing even wear and when I got home noticed the left front tire was worn excessively, right front tire still is very normal. Could it be out of balance or Out of alignment? Or ??? 2016 Coachman Freelander on E350.

https://www.bing.com/search?q=tire+f...ANNTA1&PC=HCTS

[Gary RVRoamer]

This is called river. Google it and you will find your answer.

I have to disagree with the river wear suggestion. I don't see any sign of that. Scalloped (cupped) tread is not a characteristic and there is none of the erosion along the grooves that is indicative or river wear. Furthermore, river wear is a long term problem - it doesn't just appear in 400 miles.

This excellent photo from Michelin/Goodrich shows classic river wear symptoms:

https://www.michelinb2b.com/wps/b2bc...eer_BFG_EN.pdf

[leadman]

Have a tire shop check the tire for a possible belt separation. Saw it many times over the 17 years supervising a tire shop attached to our repair shop.
I replaced both front tires on my motorhome last year because of hitting some huge potholes on the freeway that were not avoidable. Right front tire started wearing similar to yours but also started to pull to the right.
You might just have a bad shock but it is worthwhile to get the tire checked. At the least you will want to rotate it off the front as the wear probably won't correct itself.

[Gary O.]

Shock or bad strut will cause that