Tire Chipping

[Snowman]

I noticed some uneven ware on my rear tires and had my mechanic check it out. He described it as "chipping". After checking the tire pressure and balance he concluded it was the shocks. He stated that the tires were more less bouncing on the road due to the shocks not dampening the vibration. I have OME heavy shocks and springs that are less than 3 years old with only 31Kmi on them. Does this sound right?

- Chris

 

[toadermcgee]

I had a 1 ton GMC that would eat the front tires. I talked with the guys from Carrera Shocks ( I think I spelled their name right) in Atlanta GA and told them what we were doing and they made us two shocks for the front and the tire ware problem went away. So yes your mechanic maybe right.

 

[MUSKYMAN]

nope

have you been wheeling on rocks at all?

what brand tires?

maybe post some close up pics .

 

[btp98w]

Also called "cupping", and yes, it is most likely due to bad shocks.

 

[Snowman]

Cooper Discoverer ST 235/85/16 tires. Looks like every other knob on the tread is worn more than the rest. Only light off road, fields and fire access roads. Is there any real definitive test to determine if it is bad shocks?

 

[MUSKYMAN]

Also called "cupping", and yes, it is most likely due to bad shocks.

yes cupping can be from bad shocks as well as incorrect inflation pressure.

Chipping or chunking is more often from use on sharp rocks or in some cases from being over inflatted and run to hot.

they are two different types of wear.

 

[MUSKYMAN]

Cooper Discoverer ST 235/85/16 tires. Looks like every other knob on the tread is worn more than the rest. Only light off road, fields and fire access roads. Is there any real definitive test to determine if it is bad shocks?

this is one of those times that a pic is worth more then 1000 words

 

[Snowman]

Here are a few evidence photos. Now the verdict?

 

[MUSKYMAN]

the second picture is what is called heel toe wear and is caused by under inflation ...heavy use in stop and go traffic will also make this worse.

third pic looks like classic cupping...although this can be bad shocks its most common to be from under inflation.

are these load range D or load range E?

what pressure do you run them at?

 

[BTALBERT]

you might want to keep up with your rotations a lil more also. that can cause the prob as well.

 

[RoverInTheRockies]

I have some Nanking Mudstars 245/75/16 lr E I havd a problem like that cause I was only running what Discount tire recomended 35psi come to find out after one of my tires cupped really bad (small leak in the bead that had gone un-noticed resulting in even lower psi) I put the tires to 60psi (80psi max) and havent had any problems since so I concurr with Musky

 

[p m]

what pressure do you run them at?

- Deah, in Hahwahd, we nevah end the sentence with a preposition.
- Oh yeah? So, what pressure do you run them at, muthafucka?

 

[BTALBERT]

60 psi? i bet that truck bounces all over the road.

 

[MUSKYMAN]

all depends on the sidewall ...a 255 55 18 C or D would feel like a rock at 60psi but a 235 85 16 E will feel firm but compliant.

the heel toe wear pattern is a product of the tread flexing out of place as it comes around and makes contact with the ground, higher pressure prevents that.

something to keep in mind is that to low of pressure will also lengthen your stopping distance because the tread blocks are flexing and rolling over and that puts less rubber on the road.

___________________


as far as the OP

by rotating the tires in a cross pattern you will even out this wear some but the overall wear of the tire will still be greatly reduced.

keep in mind that with a directional tread pattern you cant cross rotate so running the correct pressure on the street is very important.

 

[RoverInTheRockies]

60 psi? i bet that truck bounces all over the road.

As Musky said:

all depends on the sidewall ...a 255 55 18 C or D would feel like a rock at 60psi but a 235 85 16 E will feel firm but compliant

The ride is a bit stiffer but I figure that is ok it does not bounce much at all...
I did notice once the psi was correct it felt like I had better controll of the truck and also my mpg did go up by almost 1mpg.

now on the trail those tires get dropped to aprox 22-25 psi... but they get filled back up with the portable compressor.