wassap with my tire wear?

4

4000 psi

Guest

• Dec 30, 2003

• #1

hey everybody,

i drive a 2001 QX4 ... anyways the front set of Michelin LTX M/S is wearing
out on the outside edge ... i have rotated them regularly, etc. ... still
they are almost completely bald on the outside edge ... this is at 60k miles
....

could this be under-inflation, alignment problem or something else?

any ideas?

 

L

L0nD0t.$t0we11

Guest

• Dec 30, 2003

• #2

Roughly 12/29/03 17:23, 4000 psi's monkeys randomly typed:

> hey everybody,
>
> i drive a 2001 QX4 ... anyways the front set of Michelin LTX M/S is wearing
> out on the outside edge ... i have rotated them regularly, etc. ... still
> they are almost completely bald on the outside edge ... this is at 60k miles
> ...
>
> could this be under-inflation, alignment problem or something else?

Inflation tends to wear the outside or the center, but when wearing
the outside, more or less evenly. As for the wear, if it is fairly
smooth with a significant difference from side to side, is most often
camber. Toe-in tends to cause a feathered look to the wear. May
want to ask your tire dealer if this is common on the QX, particularly
if you only did a front/back rotate as opposed to a diagonal. A
4-wheel alignment check isn't as expensive as a set of Michelins.

--
Fan of the dumbest team in America.

 

4

4000 psi

Guest

• Dec 30, 2003

• #3

the wear seems pretty even from side-to-side and it is smooth ... would you
say under-inflation would be the most probable cause?

the center as well as the inside of the tires looks great ... the rear tires
look to be
completely unaffected ... i may have run it under-inflated for a while ... i
am just surprised how fast they shaved the outsides off ... a very expensive
lesson for me




"L0nD0t.$t0we11" <"L0nD0t.$t0we11"@ComcastDot.Net> wrote in message
news:_D4Ib.232158$_M.1021162@attbi_s54...
> Roughly 12/29/03 17:23, 4000 psi's monkeys randomly typed:
>
> > hey everybody,
> >
> > i drive a 2001 QX4 ... anyways the front set of Michelin LTX M/S is
wearing
> > out on the outside edge ... i have rotated them regularly, etc. ...
still
> > they are almost completely bald on the outside edge ... this is at 60k
miles
> > ...
> >
> > could this be under-inflation, alignment problem or something else?
>
> Inflation tends to wear the outside or the center, but when wearing
> the outside, more or less evenly. As for the wear, if it is fairly
> smooth with a significant difference from side to side, is most often
> camber. Toe-in tends to cause a feathered look to the wear. May
> want to ask your tire dealer if this is common on the QX, particularly
> if you only did a front/back rotate as opposed to a diagonal. A
> 4-wheel alignment check isn't as expensive as a set of Michelins.
>
> --
> Fan of the dumbest team in America.
>

 

4

4000 psi

Guest

• Dec 30, 2003

• #4

is there a way to tell if the Canter is even align-able on that model as i
know that not all vehicles have all 3 angles adjustable ...

"L0nD0t.$t0we11" <"L0nD0t.$t0we11"@ComcastDot.Net> wrote in message
news:_D4Ib.232158$_M.1021162@attbi_s54...
> Roughly 12/29/03 17:23, 4000 psi's monkeys randomly typed:
>
> > hey everybody,
> >
> > i drive a 2001 QX4 ... anyways the front set of Michelin LTX M/S is
wearing
> > out on the outside edge ... i have rotated them regularly, etc. ...
still
> > they are almost completely bald on the outside edge ... this is at 60k
miles
> > ...
> >
> > could this be under-inflation, alignment problem or something else?
>
> Inflation tends to wear the outside or the center, but when wearing
> the outside, more or less evenly. As for the wear, if it is fairly
> smooth with a significant difference from side to side, is most often
> camber. Toe-in tends to cause a feathered look to the wear. May
> want to ask your tire dealer if this is common on the QX, particularly
> if you only did a front/back rotate as opposed to a diagonal. A
> 4-wheel alignment check isn't as expensive as a set of Michelins.
>
> --
> Fan of the dumbest team in America.
>

 

L

L0nD0t.$t0we11

Guest

• Dec 30, 2003

• #5

Roughly 12/29/03 19:09, 4000 psi's monkeys randomly typed:
> the wear seems pretty even from side-to-side and it is smooth ... would you
> say under-inflation would be the most probable cause?

Even on a Michelin with the tread belts, underinflation will tend
to wear both sides of the tire. Possibly you may have a slight
camber problem [which may be normal for your vehicle] that kept
underinflation from wearing both sides, just more or less the one.

I wouldn't risk the replacements without checking with at least
two different alignment shops.... and ask them specifically if
your QX4 is notorious for oddball tread wear. And consider
the cross side rotation pattern if it is.

[Hopefully a mechanic familiar with QX4 may read this and comment]


>
> the center as well as the inside of the tires looks great ... the rear tires
> look to be
> completely unaffected ... i may have run it under-inflated for a while ... i
> am just surprised how fast they shaved the outsides off ... a very expensive
> lesson for me

Yeah, the tread on those tires will normally last longer than it
is safe to run the tire itself. You can get a really really good
digital tire guage for about the cost of a couple valve stems.


--
Fan of the dumbest team in America.

 

B

Bret Chase

Guest

• Dec 30, 2003

• #6

On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 19:11:20 -0800, "4000 psi" <nospam@for_me.com>
wrote:

>:|is there a way to tell if the Canter is even align-able on that model as i
>:|know that not all vehicles have all 3 angles adjustable ...
>:|

all vehicles are adjustable, however to do it, you may have to punch
out knockouts (GM FS trucks) or buy "Crash Bolts" (Toyotas)

call a local alignment shop and tell them you want a full alignment
and see what they tell you.

-Bret
>:|"L0nD0t.$t0we11" <"L0nD0t.$t0we11"@ComcastDot.Net> wrote in message
>:|news:_D4Ib.232158$_M.1021162@attbi_s54...
>:|> Roughly 12/29/03 17:23, 4000 psi's monkeys randomly typed:
>:|>
>:|> > hey everybody,
>:|> >
>:|> > i drive a 2001 QX4 ... anyways the front set of Michelin LTX M/S is
>:|wearing
>:|> > out on the outside edge ... i have rotated them regularly, etc. ...
>:|still
>:|> > they are almost completely bald on the outside edge ... this is at 60k
>:|miles
>:|> > ...
>:|> >
>:|> > could this be under-inflation, alignment problem or something else?
>:|>
>:|> Inflation tends to wear the outside or the center, but when wearing
>:|> the outside, more or less evenly. As for the wear, if it is fairly
>:|> smooth with a significant difference from side to side, is most often
>:|> camber. Toe-in tends to cause a feathered look to the wear. May
>:|> want to ask your tire dealer if this is common on the QX, particularly
>:|> if you only did a front/back rotate as opposed to a diagonal. A
>:|> 4-wheel alignment check isn't as expensive as a set of Michelins.
>:|>
>:|> --
>:|> Fan of the dumbest team in America.
>:|>
>:|

 

4

4000 psi

Guest

• Dec 31, 2003

• #7

spoke to a dealer and they said Camber not adjustable on this model ... also
told me that on this model outside tread gets chewed off if not tire-rotated
at every oil change ... since its been approx. 15k mi. since last rotation i
figured that made sense, etc.


"Bret Chase" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 19:11:20 -0800, "4000 psi" <nospam@for_me.com>
> wrote:
>
> >:|is there a way to tell if the Canter is even align-able on that model
as i
> >:|know that not all vehicles have all 3 angles adjustable ...
> >:|
>
> all vehicles are adjustable, however to do it, you may have to punch
> out knockouts (GM FS trucks) or buy "Crash Bolts" (Toyotas)
>
> call a local alignment shop and tell them you want a full alignment
> and see what they tell you.
>
> -Bret
> >:|"L0nD0t.$t0we11" <"L0nD0t.$t0we11"@ComcastDot.Net> wrote in message
> >:|news:_D4Ib.232158$_M.1021162@attbi_s54...
> >:|> Roughly 12/29/03 17:23, 4000 psi's monkeys randomly typed:
> >:|>
> >:|> > hey everybody,
> >:|> >
> >:|> > i drive a 2001 QX4 ... anyways the front set of Michelin LTX M/S is
> >:|wearing
> >:|> > out on the outside edge ... i have rotated them regularly, etc. ...
> >:|still
> >:|> > they are almost completely bald on the outside edge ... this is at
60k
> >:|miles
> >:|> > ...
> >:|> >
> >:|> > could this be under-inflation, alignment problem or something else?
> >:|>
> >:|> Inflation tends to wear the outside or the center, but when wearing
> >:|> the outside, more or less evenly. As for the wear, if it is fairly
> >:|> smooth with a significant difference from side to side, is most
often
> >:|> camber. Toe-in tends to cause a feathered look to the wear. May
> >:|> want to ask your tire dealer if this is common on the QX,
particularly
> >:|> if you only did a front/back rotate as opposed to a diagonal. A
> >:|> 4-wheel alignment check isn't as expensive as a set of Michelins.
> >:|>
> >:|> --
> >:|> Fan of the dumbest team in America.
> >:|>
> >:|
>

 

B

Bret Chase

Guest

• Dec 31, 2003

• #8

On Tue, 30 Dec 2003 16:18:22 -0800, "4000 psi" <nospam@for_me.com>
wrote:

>:|spoke to a dealer and they said Camber not adjustable on this model ... also
>:|told me that on this model outside tread gets chewed off if not tire-rotated
>:|at every oil change ... since its been approx. 15k mi. since last rotation i
>:|figured that made sense, etc.
>:|
>:|

call the dealer back and ask for the parts dept... ask the parts guy
for crash bolts for your truck... My Chevy K2500 is also a "set the
toe and go"... no standard provision for adjusting camber, to adjust
you must punch out the knockouts in the upper A arm.
if there truly is no method to adjust camber on this truck, a
minor accident (like sliding into a curb on a slippery day) will
become extremely expensive.

-Bret


>:|"Bret Chase" <[email protected]> wrote in message
>:|news:[email protected]...
>:|> On Mon, 29 Dec 2003 19:11:20 -0800, "4000 psi" <nospam@for_me.com>
>:|> wrote:
>:|>
>:|> >:|is there a way to tell if the Canter is even align-able on that model
>:|as i
>:|> >:|know that not all vehicles have all 3 angles adjustable ...
>:|> >:|
>:|>
>:|> all vehicles are adjustable, however to do it, you may have to punch
>:|> out knockouts (GM FS trucks) or buy "Crash Bolts" (Toyotas)
>:|>
>:|> call a local alignment shop and tell them you want a full alignment
>:|> and see what they tell you.
>:|>
>:|> -Bret
>:|> >:|"L0nD0t.$t0we11" <"L0nD0t.$t0we11"@ComcastDot.Net> wrote in message
>:|> >:|news:_D4Ib.232158$_M.1021162@attbi_s54...
>:|> >:|> Roughly 12/29/03 17:23, 4000 psi's monkeys randomly typed:
>:|> >:|>
>:|> >:|> > hey everybody,
>:|> >:|> >
>:|> >:|> > i drive a 2001 QX4 ... anyways the front set of Michelin LTX M/S is
>:|> >:|wearing
>:|> >:|> > out on the outside edge ... i have rotated them regularly, etc. ...
>:|> >:|still
>:|> >:|> > they are almost completely bald on the outside edge ... this is at
>:|60k
>:|> >:|miles
>:|> >:|> > ...
>:|> >:|> >
>:|> >:|> > could this be under-inflation, alignment problem or something else?
>:|> >:|>
>:|> >:|> Inflation tends to wear the outside or the center, but when wearing
>:|> >:|> the outside, more or less evenly. As for the wear, if it is fairly
>:|> >:|> smooth with a significant difference from side to side, is most
>:|often
>:|> >:|> camber. Toe-in tends to cause a feathered look to the wear. May
>:|> >:|> want to ask your tire dealer if this is common on the QX,
>:|particularly
>:|> >:|> if you only did a front/back rotate as opposed to a diagonal. A
>:|> >:|> 4-wheel alignment check isn't as expensive as a set of Michelins.
>:|> >:|>
>:|> >:|> --
>:|> >:|> Fan of the dumbest team in America.
>:|> >:|>
>:|> >:|
>:|>
>:|

 

L

L0nD0t.$t0we11

Guest

• Dec 31, 2003

• #9

Roughly 12/30/03 16:18, 4000 psi's monkeys randomly typed:

> spoke to a dealer and they said Camber not adjustable on this model ... also
> told me that on this model outside tread gets chewed off if not tire-rotated
> at every oil change ... since its been approx. 15k mi. since last rotation i
> figured that made sense, etc.

Just for grins, I still think I'd see if a specialty local alignment
shop agrees with the dealer. Not that tire rotation is a bad idea,
and suspect you'd want to change sides as well as front/rear. Would
also think your tire shop would be aware if your vehicle is a
tire chewer.

--
Fan of the dumbest team in America.

 

4

4000 psi

Guest

• Dec 31, 2003

• #10

> Just for grins, I still think I'd see if a specialty local alignment
> shop

how do i find one? how do i tell the shisters from the real guys?

 

L

L0nD0t.$t0we11

Guest

• Dec 31, 2003

• #11

Roughly 12/31/03 13:08, 4000 psi's monkeys randomly typed:

>> Just for grins, I still think I'd see if a specialty local alignment
>> shop
>
> how do i find one? how do i tell the shisters from the real guys?

Depends on where you live and whether or not you hang out with
folks that know cars and the good local shops. The dealer may
be expensive but a good place to start. And the tire dealer that
sold you the tires as well as their replacements. The good shops
won't be cheap and won't try to lowball you.

--
Fan of the dumbest team in America.

 

B

Bret Chase

Guest

• Dec 31, 2003

• #12

On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 13:08:07 -0800, "4000 psi" <nospam@for_me.com>
wrote:

>:|
>:|> Just for grins, I still think I'd see if a specialty local alignment
>:|> shop
>:|
>:|how do i find one? how do i tell the shisters from the real guys?
>:|
>:|
>:|
>:|
you can also call a local body shop that does frame work (they also
invariably have a 4 wheel alignment machine), they're the ones that'll
usually use the crash bolts.

-Bret

 

4

4000 psi

Guest

• Dec 31, 2003

• #13

thats a good idea

"Bret Chase" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Wed, 31 Dec 2003 13:08:07 -0800, "4000 psi" <nospam@for_me.com>
> wrote:
>
> >:|
> >:|> Just for grins, I still think I'd see if a specialty local
alignment
> >:|> shop
> >:|
> >:|how do i find one? how do i tell the shisters from the real guys?
> >:|
> >:|
> >:|
> >:|
> you can also call a local body shop that does frame work (they also
> invariably have a 4 wheel alignment machine), they're the ones that'll
> usually use the crash bolts.
>
> -Bret

 

O

OrygunGuy

Guest

• Jan 1, 2004

• #14

You don't mention how aggressively you drive this beast. Could you be
over-steering and rubbing off the outside ribs on the front tires?
Orygunguy

"L0nD0t.$t0we11" <"L0nD0t.$t0we11"@ComcastDot.Net> wrote in message
news:Q4kIb.78467$VB2.158257@attbi_s51...
> Roughly 12/29/03 19:09, 4000 psi's monkeys randomly typed:
> > the wear seems pretty even from side-to-side and it is smooth ... would
you
> > say under-inflation would be the most probable cause?
>
> Even on a Michelin with the tread belts, underinflation will tend
> to wear both sides of the tire. Possibly you may have a slight
> camber problem [which may be normal for your vehicle] that kept
> underinflation from wearing both sides, just more or less the one.
>
> I wouldn't risk the replacements without checking with at least
> two different alignment shops.... and ask them specifically if
> your QX4 is notorious for oddball tread wear. And consider
> the cross side rotation pattern if it is.
>
> [Hopefully a mechanic familiar with QX4 may read this and comment]
>
>
> >
> > the center as well as the inside of the tires looks great ... the rear
tires
> > look to be
> > completely unaffected ... i may have run it under-inflated for a while
.... i
> > am just surprised how fast they shaved the outsides off ... a very
expensive
> > lesson for me
>
> Yeah, the tread on those tires will normally last longer than it
> is safe to run the tire itself. You can get a really really good
> digital tire guage for about the cost of a couple valve stems.
>
>
> --
> Fan of the dumbest team in America.
>

 

4

4000 psi

Guest

• Jan 2, 2004

• #15

what is considered over steering?

i drive in SoCal and it is 50 MPH on most of the city roads here ... there
are a lot of bends and up-n-down hills ... i am sure i am probably a bit on
the semi-aggressive side when it comes to driving as well ...

"OrygunGuy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> You don't mention how aggressively you drive this beast. Could you be
> over-steering and rubbing off the outside ribs on the front tires?
> Orygunguy
>
> "L0nD0t.$t0we11" <"L0nD0t.$t0we11"@ComcastDot.Net> wrote in message
> news:Q4kIb.78467$VB2.158257@attbi_s51...
> > Roughly 12/29/03 19:09, 4000 psi's monkeys randomly typed:
> > > the wear seems pretty even from side-to-side and it is smooth ...
would
> you
> > > say under-inflation would be the most probable cause?
> >
> > Even on a Michelin with the tread belts, underinflation will tend
> > to wear both sides of the tire. Possibly you may have a slight
> > camber problem [which may be normal for your vehicle] that kept
> > underinflation from wearing both sides, just more or less the one.
> >
> > I wouldn't risk the replacements without checking with at least
> > two different alignment shops.... and ask them specifically if
> > your QX4 is notorious for oddball tread wear. And consider
> > the cross side rotation pattern if it is.
> >
> > [Hopefully a mechanic familiar with QX4 may read this and comment]
> >
> >
> > >
> > > the center as well as the inside of the tires looks great ... the rear
> tires
> > > look to be
> > > completely unaffected ... i may have run it under-inflated for a while
> ... i
> > > am just surprised how fast they shaved the outsides off ... a very
> expensive
> > > lesson for me
> >
> > Yeah, the tread on those tires will normally last longer than it
> > is safe to run the tire itself. You can get a really really good
> > digital tire guage for about the cost of a couple valve stems.
> >
> >
> > --
> > Fan of the dumbest team in America.
> >
>
>

 

O

OrygunGuy

Guest

• Jan 4, 2004

• #16

with hope that I'm not being baited into an explanation...I continue... when
you drive into a corner the car & tire want to continue to go straight
ahead, right? the reason the car turns is because you turn the tire away
from the direction of travel, right? This causes wear, right? If you were
to turn the tire at right angle to the direction of travel you would flat
spot it, right? So, if you drive into the turn fast and wait until late
into the entrance of the turn to initiate the turn you have to turn the
wheel more than if you set the turn up earlier. An aggressive style wears
the outer edge of the steering tire off more quickly than a neutral driving
style would.

So the question that came to mind was: Is he an aggressive driver wearing
off the outer edges of his tires by his driving style? And I couldn't keep
myself from asking it!

I know the Mickey's I have wear evenly until I over drive the 5000 pound
vehicle they are mounted on. I can take the outside edge of the outside
steering tire (i.e.: the right-side tire in a left hand turn) in a few
thousand miles...leaving a set of four tires with very little mid-tread and
inner rib wear after rotating the rear tires to the front axel.

All of this without discussing chassis set-up, caster/camber, vehicle
weight, body roll, acceleration/deceleration in the turn, braking before the
turn or in the turn, oversteer, understeer, a loose or tight condition...you
can find all of this online....

good luck.


"4000 psi" <nospam@for_me.com> wrote in message
news:%x5Jb.180903$J77.161602@fed1read07...
> what is considered over steering?
>
> i drive in SoCal and it is 50 MPH on most of the city roads here ... there
> are a lot of bends and up-n-down hills ... i am sure i am probably a bit
on
> the semi-aggressive side when it comes to driving as well ...
>
> "OrygunGuy" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
> > You don't mention how aggressively you drive this beast. Could you be
> > over-steering and rubbing off the outside ribs on the front tires?
> > Orygunguy
> >
> > "L0nD0t.$t0we11" <"L0nD0t.$t0we11"@ComcastDot.Net> wrote in message
> > news:Q4kIb.78467$VB2.158257@attbi_s51...
> > > Roughly 12/29/03 19:09, 4000 psi's monkeys randomly typed:
> > > > the wear seems pretty even from side-to-side and it is smooth ...
> would
> > you
> > > > say under-inflation would be the most probable cause?
> > >
> > > Even on a Michelin with the tread belts, underinflation will tend
> > > to wear both sides of the tire. Possibly you may have a slight
> > > camber problem [which may be normal for your vehicle] that kept
> > > underinflation from wearing both sides, just more or less the one.
> > >
> > > I wouldn't risk the replacements without checking with at least
> > > two different alignment shops.... and ask them specifically if
> > > your QX4 is notorious for oddball tread wear. And consider
> > > the cross side rotation pattern if it is.
> > >
> > > [Hopefully a mechanic familiar with QX4 may read this and comment]
> > >
> > >
> > > >
> > > > the center as well as the inside of the tires looks great ... the
rear
> > tires
> > > > look to be
> > > > completely unaffected ... i may have run it under-inflated for a
while
> > ... i
> > > > am just surprised how fast they shaved the outsides off ... a very
> > expensive
> > > > lesson for me
> > >
> > > Yeah, the tread on those tires will normally last longer than it
> > > is safe to run the tire itself. You can get a really really good
> > > digital tire guage for about the cost of a couple valve stems.
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Fan of the dumbest team in America.
> > >
> >
> >
>
>