Deuce Tire Wear

[319]

Anyone know what causes this wear? Both outside (RR & LR) tires on the rear axle are like this. The rest of the tires are fine. I don't remember the tires being like this when I picked it up in March and have put about 50 miles on it since.

 

[gimpyrobb]

Can't see it too good. Are they cupped? Might be a bad dog bone. Check the rubber in them and/or see if they are loose.

 

[emr]

That tire got that wear from the front, does your truck have a sprag? that is the most common with that type of where, it was run engaged for maybe 40 miles or more, that would do that much and type of wear, it is Not from the rears, if U do not have a sprag, your front axle may have been engaged in a past run, it is not smooth wear so just a front end being out of toe would probably not be the culprit.But it sure is worth checking, take a tape measure and measure the center on the tire in front and the rear of the front tires, one can use a 24 inch level straght down the center to lower the measuring area to where u can easily reach it, they should be slightly toed in, now this is an opinion from experience, there is not alot that goes wrong with these trucks, there was steering wheel wobble when the guy was driving with the front engaged, they put it on the back to get the use out of the tire, there is nothing wrong with useing up the good tread, I would and have...it is not uncommon not to notice every detail on these trucks untill it all starts to sink in, that tire was like that when u got it...

 

[319]

I was thinking that they may have been on the front (of something) in the past as the paint on the rims do not match any other rims or paint on the truck. My front tires now are in great shape. I will check toe this weekend. I'm hoping it was from a different truck.
It is an air shift
I will check the dog bones but wouldn't that affect both tires on the axle?

Thanks for the suggestions!

 

[FreightTrain]

NDTs will always wear like that on the front.Even perfectly aligned.Nature of the beast.Sprag or airshift doesn't matter.Due to the slight arch engineered into the axle and the fact that the rear tandams are pushing the truck straight while the front end is dragging the truck in the direction you want to turn.

 

[emr]

I totaly agree with that statement, even the air pressure being to low in the front will make that problem worse...But the pic seems to be a bit harsh and not a very even wear , like I mean over time,it is very even in another way though , I think the center line tread would have been being scuffed also over time to me, that is why i think it was driven with the front accidently locked in for what i have experienced to be about 40 to 80 miles of driving to cause such a serious immediate wear only sharply on the one side on those babys..my view is from experience and an opinion...

 

[aboonski]

I am adding on to another thread about this subject. My deuce eats front tires excessively! The passenger side front seems to be the worst and the wear is on the outer portion of the tire - almost like I am dragging the tire down the road at an angle or something. I have an Air Assist system on my truck and it feels like it pulls to the right when I want to go straight. I just wonder if anyone else has this problem, I am concerned something in my front end is wearing out or I need to align the front end. The picture of the tire is the one I just removed from the passenger front. I robbed one of the fairly new-looking tires off of my lube trailer and used it on the truck. Tires are expensive for these things!

 

[rosco]

If its on the front, check the toe in. You can do it pretty close with just a tape measure, otherwise, make a set of pointers with a piece of emt conduit. Then measure the left & right side spacing of the center tp center of your axles - compare each side. Your "dog bones" can cause that, on a rear axle.

Lee in Alaska

 

[aboonski]

Thanks for the info! The wear on that front tire indicates something is not right.

 

[AZDeuce]

SOMETIMES that tire wear scenario can be linked to worn King Pins. Jack up the front of the truck have somebody try to move the tire in and out at the bottom, if there's ANY movement, it's either worn King Pins or loose wheel bearings......I know! Been there done that.

 

[aboonski]

That's what I was thinking AZDeuce. I was hoping it would be something simple though. Thanks for the tips!

 

[Yaivenov]

I seem to be having a wear problem like this as well on my front left tire. The outer half of the NDT treads have an odd sloping wear pattern from front to back. As for the whole tire, from the front of the truck it does look like that tire is canted outwards at the top very slightly. Does this sound like the worn kingpin you mentioned or perhaps one of the other issues? I don't think it's the bearings as there isn't any sound deviations that would suggest bad bearings when the truck is traveling.

 

[neilhendrix]

That tire got that wear from the front, does your truck have a sprag? that is the most common with that type of where, it was run engaged for maybe 40 miles or more, that would do that much and type of wear, it is Not from the rears, if U do not have a sprag, your front axle may have been engaged in a past run, it is not smooth wear so just a front end being out of toe would probably not be the culprit.But it sure is worth checking, take a tape measure and measure the center on the tire in front and the rear of the front tires, one can use a 24 inch level straght down the center to lower the measuring area to where u can easily reach it, they should be slightly toed in, now this is an opinion from experience, there is not alot that goes wrong with these trucks, there was steering wheel wobble when the guy was driving with the front engaged, they put it on the back to get the use out of the tire, there is nothing wrong with useing up the good tread, I would and have...it is not uncommon not to notice every detail on these trucks untill it all starts to sink in, that tire was like that when u got it...

Been there done that.. TOE IN

 

[cornrichard]

I know I am bringing back a old thread here but I had something to add. The front tires on my air shift deuce had the same kind of wear as in the earlier posts. I did the toe adjustment as recommended in the TM. The truck still pulled to the left bad. I ran it like that for about 6 months to see if the tires might wear back straight. That was a pipe dream. I use this truck for a mobile shop in the fall for harvest. It has a lot of different drivers this time of year. I decided to put on some new rubber up front to make it a little easier to use. I should have done this 6 months ago and not been such a cheap skate. The new tires are a better steering improvement than the air-o-matic kit I installed last year. I will keep an eye one the tire wear, but I think I can call this problem solved. I have a couple of pics. I don't think the cupping shows up very well. The new rubber looks nice though.

 

[jollyroger]

I have to say that once a tire starts to cup you need to rotate it to the back. You should always check to see if you have a part that is worn or bad but front tires on anything will cup. Once the tires get cupped they will pull or steer funny and enhance the cupping/wear problem. Tire rotation and proper air pressure will greatly increase the life of tires on the front of your deuce.

 

[319]

Forgot about this thread. Well, a year later, i'm guessing those rear tires were either from another truck, or if they were from the front of this truck, the issue had been resolved. Toe was good, bearings adjusted properly, king pins good. No noticable "unusual" wear on the tires in the last year.

 

[jollyroger]

Forgot about this thread. Well, a year later, i'm guessing those rear tires were either from another truck, or if they were from the front of this truck, the issue had been resolved. Toe was good, bearings adjusted properly, king pins good. No noticable "unusual" wear on the tires in the last year.

Well then it looks like the front was locked in for some time on the pavement or they cupped and were not rotated out. Then someone put them on the back and said "Good to Go".

At least you don't have a mechanical issue and they will be fine as duals.