Tire wear on one side of tire only

vcrt · 05-31-2012, 08:40 PM

Here are pictures of the tread of a Goodyear Marathon radial tire I purchased 5 years ago (bought all four at same time). The first picture shows the side where the tread has worn very badly. As you follow the tread in either direction away from this spot around the tire, it gradually gets thicker until it looks like the second picture (which is on the opposite side of the tire). The other tires look like the good tread picture all around. Does anyone know what might have caused this wear pattern? I have a new tire on order (Tire Rack, $100.00 + $21.00 shipping).

Also, I remember researching tire longevity when I bought these (very hard for me to believe they've been on there for five years

) but to refresh my memory, should I be replacing at 5 years, or was it 6 or even 7?
The date codes are from between March and November 2006, so they sat in a warehouse for a few months to a year before I got them.

Thanks,
Rich

frank_a · 06-01-2012, 04:30 AM

Usually wear on a tire like that means the camber is off, but on a trailer it usually affects both tires on an axle. Camber is fixed on these axles we have unless for some reason it gets out of whack (like continual overloading). Not sure why just one would wear. Good luck!

I don't know how long the bias belted tires have been on our T-1550 we just bought, but they will get replaced within the next year by radial trailer tires. I have radials on my boat trailer which gets hauled long distances often. I love 'em!

Frank

Frank

beecrazy · 06-01-2012, 11:59 AM

If the tire is funny in just that spot not all the way around, then you have a tire coming apart!

Most likely the belt is separating inside the tire. If you try to roll the tire or put it on the hub and spin it, it should look like it is not round- or it will soon.

My advice is to purchase 4 new tires since the other 3 are the same age, alot cheaper then stuck on the side of the road or getting in an accident if something happens. Not to mention the damage that can occur to the trailer if it has a catastrophic blow out and shreds of tire whack away at the camper

Walmart just had a sale on these for $112 a piece- just a thought.

Good luck!

Don

Jim-Bev-2363 · 06-01-2012, 03:25 PM

Looks like tire seperation to me. I think a alignment problem would be seen all the way around instead of in one spot. Tire age alone might mean new tires are in order.

EMD_Driver · 06-01-2012, 04:52 PM

BTW: Trailer tires are 5 years old... Max... It's best that you replace all five of them.

vcrt · 06-01-2012, 08:43 PM

Quote:

If the tire is funny in just that spot not all the way around, then you have a tire coming apart!

Most likely the belt is separating inside the tire. If you try to roll the tire or put it on the hub and spin it, it should look like it is not round- or it will soon.

Exactly what the repair guy who I brought the new tire to said as soon as he saw it. I say we're fortunate to not have had it blow out on us and all the advice here about replacing the others is well taken!
Thanks,
Rich

**JohnB** · 06-05-2012, 12:23 PM

Rich,

What you are showing "looks" like internal belt separation from the tread. You dodged a bullet by getting that tire off before it let go.

If the wheel alignment was out, the wear would of have been 360 degrees around the tire. And it would be more to a toe setting as it is on only one outer end of the tread.

I myself just had a belt separation (delamination) in one of my Denman’s. Only a little over 3 years old. I found it while I was still lucky and it did not let go. Me being curious as I am, sent if off for analysis to a retired tire engineer buddy I know. We cut it up and he showed me where the tire delaminated from the steel belts in the tread area of the tire. I wanted to make sure I myself did not cause the failure as I would need to fix that to not mess up a new one.

He is now highly encouraging me to file a report with the NHTSA as I have all the documentation to show this type of failure should not have happened, including weight slips, VIN for the camper, proper tire pressure, not exceeding max speed and the complete DOT code of the tire.

If you want to help the cause of RV trailer tire failures, keep that tire and file a report NHTSA. If you let the tire go to the trash now there is no evidence left. Out of all the trailer tire failures out there, very few ever get reported.

I’ll get you some info here later tonight. I will create a post on my saga in the near future.

Good for you for observing this.

John

**JohnB** · 06-05-2012, 10:22 PM

Rich,

If you still have the tire or at least the full DOT code off of it, here is the site you file a tire failure complaint with.

The NHTSA form is at https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/index.cfm

Select Tire Complaint in center and simply follow the instructions. Be sure to get the tire size correctly entered and the tire name spelled correctly. The tire DOT is critical.

I have not yet been through the process but will in the near future.

Hope this helps

John