Increase Pressure Of Stick To Good Rotation Schedule?

Mazer18 · February 28, 2011

I noticed yesterday that outside shoulders of my Wrangler Duratracs were starting to show a little wear but only on the front tires. The rears look brand new still.

I got these tires in November and probably have close to 1,500, maybe a little under 2,000 miles on them.

I had been running them all four at 45 psi.

To help control the wear a little better, would I be better off increasing the front pressures a little to 50? Or should I leave the pressures alone and stick to a strict rotation schedule?

The shop that put the tires on has free rotations every 6,000 miles but I don't know if I should let these tires go that long.

DwayneJ · February 28, 2011

IMO if the wear is getting noticeably uneven in 1500miles either you seriously need an alignment/parts replacement or you have gone too far jacking the pressures and it will be more economical long term to back off some and balance a little extra gas use with longer tire life.

Did you want the title to say "or" instead of "of"?

Mazer18 · February 28, 2011

I just noticed the title....I meant to say "or".

The wear isn't real noticeable. Just the shoulder lugs on the rear tires still have a sharp angle to them. The shoulder lugs on the front tires, just a 1/4" - 1/2" inward maybe, are rounding off slightly.

I'll get a picture if I can. I looked at it this morning and you can't tell any difference between fronts and rears with the tires wet with this rain. Once they dry I'll get a picture though.

SparkySparks · February 28, 2011

I had the same thing happen to my first set of tires. with my current set I am running the same 36psi like before but I rotate the tires every 3,000 miles. The first set was due to crap alignment from the factory and the fact that I was only rotating the tires with the oil changes which were around every 6,000 miles.

K1500Tech · February 28, 2011

Ideally you should align your truck after getting new tires

Superperv23 · February 28, 2011

Front maybe be from cornering.

What are you driving that you run that much pressure in all tires

Mazer18 · February 28, 2011

Ideally you should align your truck after getting new tires

The tires were put on by a Cooper Tire dealer. Wouldn't they make sure the tires were aligned before they took it off of the lift?

Front maybe be from cornering.

What are you driving that you run that much pressure in all tires

It's just a 2007 GMT 900 Silverado 1500 RCLB. I had tried 35psi all around but it seemed like I was getting poor gas mileage like that. So I then upped them all to 45 after asking on here.

I thought that maybe the heavier weight of the engine compartment on the front tires versus the empty bed on the rear tires might cause this. That's why I thought increasing pressure on the front tires to 50 might help.

I tried a "chalk test" when I got the tires to try to find the best pressure but couldn't consistent any results with any chalk I used.

Superperv23 · March 1, 2011

unless you paid for an alignment they did not do it, most places say to you it should be done when u have tires fitted tho

45 seems ridiculous to me, does it ride like a tank now?

8.1HD/ALLISON · March 1, 2011

+1 On the alignment check. I would start there. Should not need to go any higher on tire pressure on 1/2 ton. What load range tires you have? And size?

Mazer18 · March 1, 2011

unless you paid for an alignment they did not do it, most places say to you it should be done when u have tires fitted tho

45 seems ridiculous to me, does it ride like a tank now?

I'll have to check the receipt in the glove box and see if it mentions anything about an alingment as I can't recall if anything was said or not.

Yes, it does ride on the rough side.

+1 On the alignment check. I would start there. Should not need to go any higher on tire pressure on 1/2 ton. What load range tires you have? And size?

These tires are LT285/70/17, Load Range: D, Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs.

Mazer18 · March 1, 2011

Hey fellas,

I just checked the receipt and it does not say anything about an alignment. It does say that they were balanced but nothing on an alignment. So, I'm going to get an alignment scheduled ASAP.

Also, I'll try to get pictures soon. I don't think it's as bad as I'm making it sound and cornering could very well be the cause.

Mazer18 · March 3, 2011

My pictures came out pretty poor quality. Especially the front tires. So, what I'll do is show a decent picture of a rear tire and try to describe the front ones.

Rear Left:

OK on the front tires, it's just the outside "corners" of the outermost lugs worn. Instead of a sharp corner like pictured, they are more of a slightly rounded corner.

In this picture, the red arrows are pointing to the "corners" that I'm talking about.

Mazer18 · March 4, 2011

UPDATE:

Took a look at my tires again just a little bit ago and I'm now believing that this is an alignment issue. I noticed that on the front tires, they are wearing like I described earlier, but only on the outside edges of the tire. The inside edges are still "sharp" and look brand new, just like the rear tires.

When I bought these tires, I did buy a larger size than stock. New (LT285/70/17) - Stock (P265/70/17)

I'm guessing that they are slightly "toed in", causing the slight wear on the outside edge?

EDIT: On the cornering issue; cornering wear would show on both the inside and outside edges of the tire, correct?

buell1238 · March 7, 2011

If its just on the out side its the alignment and if you got 10 plys on there you need to run at leasl 40-45 psi in them if you go in plys you need to put more air in just a rule I guess but don't go more then 45 they will wear down the middle

mhenshaw · March 7, 2011

For one your gas mileage went down because you went to a larger heavier tire. I would run 35-40 psi in all of your tires for ride quality. Unless you tow then I would consider increasing the PSI.

If you truck has a leveling kit you should have had it aligned right after the lift. You do not need alignments that often, like someone stated when you get new tires is a good time for alignment because you would have 40k to 50k miles by then.

Your tires look rounded on the edge because when you turn into parking spaces, into your driveway, when you make a u-turn it wears the outside edge of the tire. The faster you go the more it wears the side and it will roll the sidewall of the tire if your going fast. Street tires have rounded edges so you don't notice this but all-terrian tires have flat tread across and the tread goes down the sidewall.

Go outside and turn your steering wheel all the way. Then look at the tires, neither one of them will be flat to the ground. The wheels will put more pressure on one of the tires sidewall and make it become flat.