Unusual Tire wear on my 13QBB

[jasper]

Outside tread on passenger side tire with 1500 miles ?
Camper weighs 2550 lbs. Axle Gross weight is 3000.
Load inside is centered around axle.
Dexter Axle says Bias Ply tires are junk and switch to Radials!
Any suggestions would be. God send!
George Union,NJ

[djsamuel]

Just came back from a more than 5,000 mile trip with my 21BHS.  The original 14" tires that came with the camper still look like new, everything very even.  The 21BHS is a dual axle camper, so not sure if that makes a difference.  I would think a single axle would be less sensitive to axle alignment.  Does it seem to track straight while you're towing?  What was the wear pattern on the other side?

[jasper]

Hi DJ !  I think I will be looking to trade up to 21BHS . Four months of 13QBB ownership and don't think I can find a work around on this single axle tire wear issue. The drivers side tires outside tread is wearing as well but at a lesser degree. Don at Livin Lite says due to the galley/refrigerator weight on the passenger side will yield a weight distribution/ balance issue. The camper tracks straight but is pretty sensitive to crosswind and passing tractor trailers. Denise at Dexter Axle has no explanation other then LivinLite specs out the axle they need and will work with the camper then installs them and what you see is what you get. Tire pressure is at recommended 50psi cold for ST175/80D13

[jasper]

Here is the sidewall passenger side tire picture..thinking the Bias Ply sidewall is not standing up to the camper sway and weight. What are your thoughts?

[djsamuel]

I wonder if the wear you are seeing is due to the sway induced by crosswinds and trucks.  Since they are both wearing on the outside, I doubt it is an axle alignment issue.  I guess the camber could be off, but I doubt it.  The picture you show in your last post really looks like the sidewall is getting scuffed due to the side to side loading.  Perhaps radials would help, especially with a single axle.  

The 21BHS tows great.  After some initial issues that are pretty much straightened out, it has been a great camper.  Plenty of room for my wife and I and also for our daughter and her husband if they decide to join us.  The dual axles work well, and combined with an Andersen hitch, the trailer was great to tow during the 5,000 mile trip from Florida to the Grand Canyon and Utah.  

[tinkeringtechie]

That last picture is pretty scary. Almost looks like you're driving on the sidewall. I would ask a buddy to follow me while driving under windy conditions and make observations (or video it). I would imagine some pretty dramatic scrubbing to make those kind of marks.

[djsamuel]

[quote timestamp="1412618903" source="/post/4091/thread" author="@tinkeringtechie"]

That last picture is pretty scary. Almost looks like you're driving on the sidewall. I would ask a buddy to follow me while driving under windy conditions and make observations (or video it). I would imagine some pretty dramatic scrubbing to make those kind of marks.
[/quote]
That is a scary picture.  I don't think it is a constant condition since I would think after 1500 miles, the wear would be even more severe if it was constantly riding the sidewalls.  It does make me wonder if the tire is rolling over onto the sidewall during sway conditions caused by crosswinds and trucks as George indicated.  The 13QBB has a dry weight of 2350 pounds, so there isn't much room before he is approaching the weight limit of 3,000 pounds. 

Radials would help keep the tread area flat on the road, but I wonder if it could potentially roll over to the sidealls easily as well?

[tinkeringtechie]

[quote source="/post/4092/thread" timestamp="1412622384" author="@djsamuel"][quote source="/post/4091/thread" timestamp="1412618903" author="@tinkeringtechie"]That last picture is pretty scary. Almost looks like you're driving on the sidewall. I would ask a buddy to follow me while driving under windy conditions and make observations (or video it). I would imagine some pretty dramatic scrubbing to make those kind of marks.
[/quote]That is a scary picture.  I don't think it is a constant condition since I would think after 1500 miles, the wear would be even more severe if it was constantly riding the sidewalls.  It does make me wonder if the tire is rolling over onto the sidewall during sway conditions caused by crosswinds and trucks as George indicated.  The 13QBB has a dry weight of 2350 pounds, so there isn't much room before he is approaching the weight limit of 3,000 pounds. 

Radials would help keep the tread area flat on the road, but I wonder if it could potentially roll over to the sidealls easily as well?

[/quote]It could just be riding toe in. A couple minutes with a helper and a tape measure should be able to verify that. I don't know of any way to align the axle, though Dexter would probably replace it if it came that way.

[djsamuel]

[quote source="/post/4094/thread" timestamp="1412624339" author="@tinkeringtechie"]


[quote source="/post/4092/thread" timestamp="1412622384" author="@djsamuel"]

That is a scary picture.  I don't think it is a constant condition since I would think after 1500 miles, the wear would be even more severe if it was constantly riding the sidewalls.  It does make me wonder if the tire is rolling over onto the sidewall during sway conditions caused by crosswinds and trucks as George indicated.  The 13QBB has a dry weight of 2350 pounds, so there isn't much room before he is approaching the weight limit of 3,000 pounds. 

Radials would help keep the tread area flat on the road, but I wonder if it could potentially roll over to the sidealls easily as well?


[/quote]It could just be riding toe in. A couple minutes with a helper and a tape measure should be able to verify that. I don't know of any way to align the axle, though Dexter would probably replace it if it came that way.
[/quote]
It could be tow in, but after 1500 miles of riding on the sidewall, I would expect more tire damage than that.  But you're correct, it is certainly worth verifying.

[david]

That looks like a classical toe in problem- tread wear on the outside. A tape measure will confirm it in 5 minutes. You want the toe to be neutral or at least a little toe in- 1/16".

David

[djsamuel]

Was there a time where you hit a curb or anything like that?

[daplumbr]

It looks like abnormal wear on the inside edge too. It looks to me like a very under inflated tire. That would induce rolling on the sidewall, accentuate sway in passing and wind, and give the wear pattern shown. Are you confident the pressure gauge you use is accurate? At least try another pressure gauge to make sure the tires are at 50 psi. I would replace the tires. The wear on those have ruined them and I don't think they are safe. 

[djsamuel]

[quote source="/post/4109/thread" timestamp="1412648018" author="@sandroad"]It looks like abnormal wear on the inside edge too. It looks to me like a very under inflated tire. That would induce rolling on the sidewall, accentuate sway in passing and wind, and give the wear pattern shown. Are you confident the pressure gauge you use is accurate? At least try another pressure gauge to make sure the tires are at 50 psi. I would replace the tires. The wear on those have ruined them and I don't think they are safe. [/quote]That is another viable possibility and easy to check. Certainly would explain rolling on the sidewall.

[jasper]

I always pre-flight my equipment, weather aircraft, camper, motorcycle or motor vehicles! I double check pressures with two different gauges! You guys are on the money with your observations. I have a couple of days off before I go back to work. I will get out the ole 'Go Pro' and find a means to attach it and post the video.  Thanks fellas

[jasper]

After arriving in Richmond after a 7 hour ride, I used my Harbor Freight Infra Red Temperature gauge and checked tire tread temps on both tires. The range on both went from approx. 84 degrees F on the inside tire treads to 104 on the outside treads!