Posted 2005-07-14 10:35 AM (#28050) Subject: Tire wear
Member
Posts: 7
Location: Knoxville, TN
Hello folks, I have a 2001 Featherlite 4 horse that wears the tires on the outside 1/3 of the tire. This is true for all 4 tires. Any ideas why and what can be done to stop this. I typically run pressure right at MFG. max cold rating of 80psi (I usually run 75-80). We pull mostly on the interstate so it's not a curvy road issue. It seems to be more of a trailer issue than a tire issue. Thanks
Posted 2005-07-14 1:50 PM (#28057 - in reply to #28050) Subject: RE: Tire wear
Elite Veteran
Posts: 634 Location: Tipton, IN
REG,
Whoa, where did somebody come up with not rumming tires at recommended psi? That's a bad idea from everything I have read. The way the tires today are designed you need to run within 10-15% of Max pressure. Otherwise the belts can start coming apart inside the tire. Info from both Goodyear and Bridgestone both point this out as one of the major causes of blowouts.
Posted 2005-07-14 1:53 PM (#28058 - in reply to #28050) Subject: RE: Tire wear
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 366 Location: Albany, Oregon
Max pressure normally wears the center of the tire ..... low pressure wears the inside and outsides. About how many miles have they been used? If you are running the max pressure then it may be a camber issue..I'll be watching this one...I have a 2003 Featherlite with maybe 6,000miles on it. Tires look good! Oh yea.....I run a few pounds under (75ish) Max preassure also!
Posted 2005-07-14 1:59 PM (#28059 - in reply to #28058) Subject: RE: Tire wear
Member
Posts: 7
Location: Knoxville, TN
This trailer probably has 50-60000 miles on it (probably more than that)so I am not really disputing tire wear, just puzzled that all 4 are wearing on the outside (not both edges, just the outside). The rest of the tire is probably at 50-60% of original. Since torsion axles are set up a bit different, I just wondered if there is something that needs to be adjusted. I have never heard of alignments on trailers.
Posted 2005-07-14 2:07 PM (#28061 - in reply to #28059) Subject: RE: Tire wear
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 366 Location: Albany, Oregon
Originally written by volreiner on 2005-07-14 1:59 PM
This trailer probably has 50-60000 miles on it (probably more than that)so I am not really disputing tire wear, just puzzled that all 4 are wearing on the outside (not both edges, just the outside). The rest of the tire is probably at 50-60% of original. Since torsion axles are set up a bit different, I just wondered if there is something that needs to be adjusted. I have never heard of alignments on trailers.
60,000 miles!! Sounds like they are doing good! The camber may be slightly off. I believe they have to do that to compisate for the flex in the axles with different loads. If you had carried the maximum load rating of the axles all the time they probably would have worn evenly....just my opinion
Posted 2005-07-14 2:09 PM (#28062 - in reply to #28055) Subject: RE: Tire wear
Member
Posts: 7
Location: Knoxville, TN
O.K. I'll buy that, but to my knowledge there is no tag recommending the inflation of the tires on this trailer. We are often pulling 1-3 horses so not at full load (trailer is 4 horse). I still find in unusual that only one edge of the tires is wearing. Also, if they were over-inflated I would think the center would be wearing more.
Posted 2005-07-14 2:13 PM (#28063 - in reply to #28061) Subject: RE: Tire wear
Member
Posts: 7
Location: Knoxville, TN
60,000 miles!! Sounds like they are doing good! The camber may be slightly off. I believe they have to do that to compisate for the flex in the axles with different loads. If you had carried the maximum load rating of the axles all the time they probably would have worn evenly....just my opinion
Like I said, I'm satisfied with the overall life of the tires. I am thinking about having them take off the rim and swapping sides before they get worse. I think I could get another 20k out of them before replacing. Even the worn edge still has some tread left, so they are not dangerous by any means.
Posted 2005-07-14 2:17 PM (#28064 - in reply to #28050) Subject: RE: Tire wear
Member
Posts: 7
Location: Knoxville, TN
Originally written by volreiner on 2005-07-14 11:35 AM
Hello folks, I have a 2001 Featherlite 4 horse that wears the tires on the outside 1/3 of the tire. This is true for all 4 tires. Any ideas why and what can be done to stop this. I typically run pressure right at MFG. max cold rating of 80psi (I usually run 75-80). We pull mostly on the interstate so it's not a curvy road issue. It seems to be more of a trailer issue than a tire issue. Thanks
This brings about another question, what kind of trailer tire do you guys recommend. This one had Uniroyal's on it and they have done O.K. Anybody got any suggestions.
Posted 2005-07-14 2:35 PM (#28066 - in reply to #28050) Subject: RE: Tire wear
Veteran
Posts: 225 Location: Kansas City
I would suggest that you have gotten your money's worth from this set of tires. Personally, I would not rotate. Pitch them and get new. By keeping them you only increase your risk of a blowout, flat, etc. possibly at a bad time. Since they are wearing unevenly you may have belts wearing or seperating that you can't see.
Posted 2005-07-14 5:52 PM (#28081 - in reply to #28057) Subject: RE: Tire wear
Expert
Posts: 2689
Originally written by efaubert1 on 2005-07-14 1:50 PM
REG,
Whoa, where did somebody come up with not rumming tires at recommended psi? That's a bad idea from everything I have read. The way the tires today are designed you need to run within 10-15% of Max pressure. Otherwise the belts can start coming apart inside the tire. Info from both Goodyear and Bridgestone both point this out as one of the major causes of blowouts.
Just about everything I've seen (from credible sources, e.g. tires mfgrs) says that tires should be inflated for the load they carry - NOT to the max that they COULD carry in some different, perhaps theoretical application. Hence there are load/pressure tables for every size.
Would we feel good if our tires were carrying their max rated load ?
Probably not.
Do most of us have axles that are rated lower than the tires on them ?
Probably so.
Tires is tires (they're also tyres and pnues), the fact that we put equines over them doesn't change what they are or how they should be inflated.
PS "Rumming" : Present tense of the verb to Rum ?
Zzounds good to me (-:
Posted 2005-07-14 6:04 PM (#28082 - in reply to #28081) Subject: RE: Tire wear
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Originally written by Reg on 2005-07-14 6:52 PM
Originally written by efaubert1 on 2005-07-14 1:50 PM
REG,
Whoa, where did somebody come up with not rumming tires at recommended psi? That's a bad idea from everything I have read. The way the tires today are designed you need to run within 10-15% of Max pressure. Otherwise the belts can start coming apart inside the tire. Info from both Goodyear and Bridgestone both point this out as one of the major causes of blowouts.
Just about everything I've seen (from credible sources, e.g. tires mfgrs) says that tires should be inflated for the load they carry - NOT to the max that they COULD carry in some different, perhaps theoretical application. Hence there are load/pressure tables for every size. Would we feel good if our tires were carrying their max rated load ? Probably not. Do most of us have axles that are rated lower than the tires on them ? Probably so. Tires is tires (they're also tyres and pnues), the fact that we put equines over them doesn't change what they are or how they should be inflated. PS "Rumming" : Present tense of the verb to Rum ? Zzounds good to me (-:
i believe youre both half right, but what youre both overlooking is having the "correct(size and weight rating)" tire for the vehicle.
Posted 2005-07-14 6:18 PM (#28083 - in reply to #28082) Subject: RE: Tire wear
Expert
Posts: 2689
Originally written by chadsalt on 2005-07-14 6:04 PM
Originally written by Reg on 2005-07-14 6:52 PM
Originally written by efaubert1 on 2005-07-14 1:50 PM
REG,
Whoa, where did somebody come up with not rumming tires at recommended psi? That's a bad idea from everything I have read. The way the tires today are designed you need to run within 10-15% of Max pressure. Otherwise the belts can start coming apart inside the tire. Info from both Goodyear and Bridgestone both point this out as one of the major causes of blowouts.
Just about everything I've seen (from credible sources, e.g. tires mfgrs) says that tires should be inflated for the load they carry - NOT to the max that they COULD carry in some different, perhaps theoretical application. Hence there are load/pressure tables for every size. Would we feel good if our tires were carrying their max rated load ? Probably not. Do most of us have axles that are rated lower than the tires on them ? Probably so. Tires is tires (they're also tyres and pnues), the fact that we put equines over them doesn't change what they are or how they should be inflated. PS "Rumming" : Present tense of the verb to Rum ? Zzounds good to me (-:
i believe youre both half right, but what youre both overlooking is having the "correct(size and weight rating)" tire for the vehicle.
Not so much "overlooking", more "assuming" - and that there is some margin,
i.e. "This ain't the smallest possible tire that will support this load."
Posted 2005-07-14 6:21 PM (#28084 - in reply to #28050) Subject: RE: Tire wear
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 366 Location: Albany, Oregon
Do you think those truckers let the air out of their tires when they deadhead? I don't...I'll bet the tire experts would also say a tire inflated to the max psi cold is safer than an under inflated tire anyday. The post stated he ran max psi and is wondering about outer edge wear at 60,000 miles. I hope mine wear that good! I'm with him...when in doubt max psi! But seriously I agree with all the statments. But to do it right I would have to load my trailer weigh it, go to the tire manufacturer and see if they would stick there neck out and give me a chart for the recomended tire preasure at different weights. Just another of my silly opinions.
Posted 2005-07-14 6:32 PM (#28086 - in reply to #28083) Subject: RE: Tire wear
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Originally written by Reg on 2005-07-14 7:18 PM
Originally written by chadsalt on 2005-07-14 6:04 PM
Originally written by Reg on 2005-07-14 6:52 PM
Originally written by efaubert1 on 2005-07-14 1:50 PM
REG,
Whoa, where did somebody come up with not rumming tires at recommended psi? That's a bad idea from everything I have read. The way the tires today are designed you need to run within 10-15% of Max pressure. Otherwise the belts can start coming apart inside the tire. Info from both Goodyear and Bridgestone both point this out as one of the major causes of blowouts.
Just about everything I've seen (from credible sources, e.g. tires mfgrs) says that tires should be inflated for the load they carry - NOT to the max that they COULD carry in some different, perhaps theoretical application. Hence there are load/pressure tables for every size. Would we feel good if our tires were carrying their max rated load ? Probably not. Do most of us have axles that are rated lower than the tires on them ? Probably so. Tires is tires (they're also tyres and pnues), the fact that we put equines over them doesn't change what they are or how they should be inflated. PS "Rumming" : Present tense of the verb to Rum ? Zzounds good to me (-:
i believe youre both half right, but what youre both overlooking is having the "correct(size and weight rating)" tire for the vehicle.
Not so much "overlooking", more "assuming" - and that there is some margin, i.e. "This ain't the smallest possible tire that will support this load."
you know what they say.....ass-u-me.
seriously though, if the manuf. did it right and the tire size is on the decal/plaque then we dont have to assume, but then what are the chances the manuf. did it right? probably not too good.
Posted 2005-07-14 6:40 PM (#28088 - in reply to #28084) Subject: RE: Tire wear
Expert
Posts: 1416 Location: sc
Originally written by xyzer on 2005-07-14 7:21 PM
But to do it right I would have to load my trailer weigh it, go to the tire manufacturer and see if they would stick there neck out and give me a chart for the recomended tire preasure at different weights. Just another of my silly opinions.
you mean we havent all done that? i dont think that qualifies as a silly opinion, reg posted a link to the goodyear chart, carlisle is on the web, seems like ive also seen uniroyal somewhere, and michelin faxed theirs to me when i started asking about installing LT tires on my suv. saftey first, cut out the middle man.
Posted 2005-07-14 9:21 PM (#28093 - in reply to #28058) Subject: RE: Tire wear
Expert
Posts: 2689
OK, back to the original poster's question.
Based on what we now know, a) He is "running light" and b) he is inflating to max cold pressure.
I'm guessing that it is due to camber, iow the tires aren't running "flat" on the road because the trailer isn't loaded enough to get them there (make sense ? better wording might help). There isn't anything much to do about it without messing the trailer up as a 4 horse carrier. There probably isn't much WORTH doing about it, given the miles these tires have put in.
Well, maybe set the pressur...... nevermind (-:
I wouldn't bother with flipping them around on the rims, just replace them.
BTW, since they've lasted so well and apparently not perished or dry cracked, please tell if you have been doing anything special to preserve them. Maybe not special to you, but do you coat the sidewalls with anything ?, is it parked on concrete or grass ?, do you put it up on blocks for the winter ?, those kinds of things.
Posted 2005-07-14 11:11 PM (#28096 - in reply to #28050) Subject: RE: Tire wear
Expert
Posts: 2453 Location: Northern Utah
How much turning do you do? Do you flip a tight "U" when you come home and back in. Tandem tires are always scuffing a little tread off in tight turns. In 50,000 miles it could be what you are seeing. I sure wouldn't complain about that kind of mileage. Even if they were an "F" or "G" rated tire.
Posted 2005-07-15 12:36 AM (#28097 - in reply to #28066) Subject: RE: Tire wear
Extreme Veteran
Posts: 366 Location: Albany, Oregon
Originally written by barry on 2005-07-14 2:35 PM
I would suggest that you have gotten your money's worth from this set of tires. Personally, I would not rotate. Pitch them and get new. By keeping them you only increase your risk of a blowout, flat, etc. possibly at a bad time. Since they are wearing unevenly you may have belts wearing or seperating that you can't see.
Posted 2005-07-15 4:49 PM (#28122 - in reply to #28050) Subject: RE: Tire wear
Expert
Posts: 2828 Location: Southern New Mexico
I just replaced the tires on my 98' featherlite. They were the original tires and were still in good shape except for dry rot. Those Uniroyals were great.
Posted 2005-07-17 3:42 PM (#28156 - in reply to #28050) Subject: RE: Tire wear
Expert
Posts: 2689
Camber: Don't wince at my ascii art work (-:
As I understand it an unloaded trailer axle looks a bit like this
\-----/
OK, that is a gross exageration
the ideal is a bit more this
|-----|
a lightly loaded axle will be somewhere in between.
Even with torqueflex axles there will be some tendancy to "bend up and splay out" when loaded, i.e. it isn't just about bending of the main axle beam, so some preset angle is desirable.
With more camber the tires will tend to wear more on the outside, the tendency will increase with increasing pressure. This is ONE of the reasons to not put heavier - I mean WAY HEAVIER - axles on a trailer than are needed.
Tire wear
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