Uneven Tire Wear

[adros1987]

Hello,
I have a 1998 Escort trailer that carries a 1998 Bayliner 1750. Every 18-24 months the right tire becomes really bold and I have to replace it. The left tire looks better but still doesn't wear evenly. What could be the problem and how can I fix it without buying a new trailer?

 

[fire831]

Re: Uneven Tire Wear

Could be anything from tires not properly inflated, wheel bearings bad or to loose, or bent axle. Are you running trailer tires on it? Some people run car tires which is a no,no on trailers. There not made for the load.

 

[mikeneal]

Re: Uneven Tire Wear

I am betting bent axle or bent wheel. (both would scrub tire sideways and cause rapid wear. )

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Uneven Tire Wear

Park on a level surface like an empty parking lot. Stand well back from the rear of the trailer (25 feet or so) and eyeball the tires. Do they stand perfectly straight (90 degrees to the surface) or do the tops tip inward slightly. If they are not standing straight up the trailer may be overloaded or there is a fair chance you have a bent axle or spindles. Now eyeball the axle itself. Squat down if you need to. If the axle bows downward but the wheels remain straight, that's ok. If it bows downward and the wheels are tilted inward as well, you need a new axle or have this one reinforced by a fabrication shop.

 

[adros1987]

Re: Uneven Tire Wear

Thanks everyone for the tips. Actually I've been using trailer tires at the specified pressure until last Wednesday when I had to stop in the middle of the desert at a gas station to replace both tires that were untowable and the only tires they had were the same size car tires. Anyways, I had no choice and I bought those, to take me home. I will change them back eventually to trailer tires, however I will try to get my money worth by using the car tires for a while. I couldn't see anything obvious with the naked eye but if the axle is not mounted straight who could tell and more important who could repair the problem?

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Uneven Tire Wear

Does sound like a bent axle to me.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Uneven Tire Wear

If the axle is not mounted straight the trailer will dog track (not be in line with the tow vehicle). But that won't cause significant tire wear on a single axle trailer. When the axle is bent, spindles are bent up or down, or forward to back then that tire will wear. Overloading will generally wear the inside edge of the tire. Underinflation will wear the outside edges. What exactly is the type of wear you are experiencing.

 

[adros1987]

Re: Uneven Tire Wear

OK, the right tire wears badly on the outside and the left tire wears twice less on the inside, compeared to the right tire. More exactly, since I've got the boat (1998) I've changed 6 right tires and only 3 left tires.
Before this boat I had a 1988 Bayliner 17' and when I traded it in, in 1998, the trailer still had its original tires. That's how I know something is not right with this trailer. Each tire is rated for max weight of 1734 lbs. for a total of3468 lbs. The GVWR for the trailer is 2960 lbs. which is about 500 lbs. less, so overloading should not be an issue.

 

[Fl_Richard]

Re: Uneven Tire Wear

Is the trailer tracking straight or crabbing?

 

[escapade]

Re: Uneven Tire Wear

with ur trailer loaded as per normal park on a level surface, and measure from the trailer to the ground at the right and left corners as well as tongue, this will let you know if the trailer is leaning to one side or the other, which is what it sounds like to me..

also measure the distance from the axle to the rear of the trailer near the left and right hubs, and then measure them to the front, straight back in line, and then X criss cross, this will approximatly let you know if the axle is square on the trailer.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Uneven Tire Wear

Again -- dog tracking on a single axle trailer will not cause undue tire wear. Since both tires have very different wear patters, I suspect that this axles has two bent spindles -- very likely from hitting curbs rather than the driveway entrances. Measure the distance between the inside edge of the wheels at the front and then repeat at the back. I'm betting you'll find severe tow out. Another check would be to measure the distance at the front and back of the wheel between the frame. If these numbers are very different from side to side that would indicate both spindles are bent. How about the eyeball test I mentioned. Have you done that.

 

[adros1987]

Re: Uneven Tire Wear

I can tell you that the problem has to be from the manufacturer because in summer of 1999, 3 months after purchasing the boat, I went from LA to Lake Powell in Utah. After towing the boat for about 800 miles continuously, my right tire became so bold that the steel ply got exposed and I had to change it right away. I did the eyeball testing and could not see an obvious axle bowing. After measuring the distance between the front and back of the right tire to the frame it looks like there is a difference of 1/2 in. I don't know how critical that is but it looks like the spindle from that side is bent.
Can that be fixed? And who might be able to do it?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Uneven Tire Wear

You will likely need to remove the axle and take it to a spring, axle, and alignment shop in a larger city. Check the yellow pages. But since this is a standard axle why not just replace it. You've already spent more than the cost of two of them simply replacing tires. It is not a difficult job and axles are available from a multitude of on-line and retail outlets. Stay away from marine dealers as their prices are generally way out of line. If you have a farm store (Fleet Farm, etc) start there.

 

[This_lil_fishy]

Re: Uneven Tire Wear

^^^

While you're at it, change the springs. They are pretty old and could be a bit softer then they should be. It's no more work to change the springs and axles then just changing the axle, and the springs aren't all the much more money either. Apparently about 2 years worth of tires for you...or less!


Ian

 

[adros1987]

Re: Uneven Tire Wear

I will do that. Thanks again for all your help !!!

 

[maverick974]

Re: Uneven Tire Wear

I had the same thing happen to my trailer but it was self induced. I hit a culvert while pulling into a parking lot and bent the spring. I replaced the spring with what I thought was the correct size. As it turns out, the spring was 3/4 of an inch shorter than the other that small difference made the trailer track a little to the side. Since the pull of the tow vehicle will always try to center the trailer, it wears the tires excessively.
I finally figured out the problem and all is well.
I would have not had the problem at all if I had replaced BOTH springs instead of being cheap and only replacing one.
Check your springs. Perhaps someone before you cold have replaced one spring. An improper spring could cause the same problems as a bent axle or spindle.
Just a thought.