The front tires on my 5500HD are wearing unevenly…both are wearing more on the outside edge. I run the factory recommended air pressure and the alignment is not off according to the RAM dealer. Bill Napier and I were talking about this today…and he suggested that flipping them might be the answer to equalize the wear. They're Continental HSR 225/70R19.5 and have labeling on both sides…and don't look like one of those special tread patters that isn't designed to roll both ways.
Does anybody know if these are flippable to equalize wear. I've got an email in to the folks at Trailer Tires and Wheels…but figured one of the experts here might know the answer as well.
Bill and Linda said
01:57 PM Jan 23, 2018
Yea, to the true tire experts, we mean not to rotate the tires left to right, but to remount them so the outer tread is on the inside, etc.
Neil and I have exactly the same wear pattern on both front tires. His a bit more then mine as he has more mileage.
BTW, these are specifically front "steer tires." They are different in design from the rear "drive tires." So we're not interested in rotating the tires front to back, etc.
Probably making more of this then it matters, but that's what we do because we can.
RonC said
02:55 PM Jan 23, 2018
Update ... clearly my logic brain did fail me ... what I described below does nothing to address the odd wear pattern. Bill's thoughts about flipping the tires would cause the remaining tread to be used more evenly, but as Cummins points out ... the root cause is likely too much toe in. Sorry for the completely off target comments.
Unless my logic brain has failed me (again ) ... doing a right side to left side and left side to right side would accomplish the exact same thing. FWIW ... not a tire expert. As long as the tires aren't directional, this should work and be far less hassle.
-- Edited by RonC on Wednesday 24th of January 2018 11:58:47 AM
Cummins12V98 said
06:19 PM Jan 23, 2018
If the 5500 is anything like the 3500's the alignment spec is 1/4" toe. That is too much and 1/32" will give MUCH better tire wear.
I never rotate the rears and I keep the rotation going the same on the front and swap them side to side every 15K.
I have gone thru this on two different RAM Dually's.
Rob_Fla said
07:05 PM Jan 23, 2018
Bill and Linda wrote:
Probably making more of this then it matters, but that's what we do because we can.
Rickl said
09:12 PM Jan 23, 2018
I would suggest rotating the tires, the first time (when tires are new) between 4-5 K. Then afterwards every 7500 - 8,000 miles. On a dually the fronts should get X’d from thier front position to the inner position on the opposite side. The rear inner goes to the outside position. The outer dual goes to the front (steer) position.
The reason for the early rotation (along with a rebalance) is that as tires wear, the heating and cooling is setting the compounding for future wear patterns.
Also, when they checked the alignment was the trailer still hooked up? If most of the miles are with the trailer then that is the best way to set the alignment to spec’s.
I know there are a number of doubters out there on these suggestions but handling the tires in this fashion eliminates almost all pushbacks from the manufacturer. Just make sure you have documentation to show the service was done.
Cummins12V98 said
09:03 AM Jan 24, 2018
Bill and Linda wrote:
Yea, to the true tire experts, we mean not to rotate the tires left to right, but to remount them so the outer tread is on the inside, etc.
Neil and I have exactly the same wear pattern on both front tires. His a bit more then mine as he has more mileage.
BTW, these are specifically front "steer tires." They are different in design from the rear "drive tires." So we're not interested in rotating the tires front to back, etc.
Probably making more of this then it matters, but that's what we do because we can.
I guess I said about the same as you but the edge stepping that occurs even with proper inflation is due to RAM having too much toe so the truck will track straight. As I said changing the toe the tires will wear much better and the truck will track just fine.
Neil and Connie said
01:41 PM Jan 25, 2018
I wull talk to the dealer about changing the toe in number as that’s the best reason I’ve seen so far for the uneven wear. RotTing the tires to the rear is a no go as the front tires are HSR or steer axle only tires...they’re built different than the HDS which are drive axle only tires. I’m unconvinced that early rotation has any effect on tread wear later in life...but then I’m not a tire expert either. Checking alignment with the trailer hooked up isn’t really feasible as the truck probably can‘t get into the alignment bay/machine with the trailer hitched up...and alignment doesn’t change when the trailer is added. With the hitch properly positioned over the rear axle and the full air suspension on the rear axle the effect on the front axle is almost non existent. My front axle went from 5580 to 5940 pounds between solo and towing weightings and approximately half of that was my bride in the passenger seat... it in any event not enoug to really change the alignment, particularly toe-in.
Just rotating left right doesn’t change anything...the outside edge is still the outside edge...so remounting them is the only real solution...my real question was whether anybody was sure that they aren’t directions nail. I don’t think they are as the tread isn’t directional and they have the engravings on both sides...but wasn’t sure.
Rickl said
03:35 PM Jan 25, 2018
Any truck alignment shop can do the truck with trailer attached. Having been in the tire/service business for 35+ years I can tell you that early rotation does make a difference. Plus, there can be and will be a difference in alignment angles with just a half inch difference in ride height. It will affect both camber and toe measurements (both are tire wearing angles).
But as I said there are those out there that disagree (I’m used to it) so I don’t let it bother me. All I can do is provide the correct information and let the person make their own decisions.
Another word of caution is when mixing tires (even the same manufacturer) make sure the the rolling diameter is within 1-2% on a 4X4 (preferably 0%). As it is a 5500 you are running 19.5 and most manufacturers (speaking primarily the majors i.e. Goodyear, BRidgestone, Michelin, Continental) provide that measurement.
The front tires on my 5500HD are wearing unevenly…both are wearing more on the outside edge. I run the factory recommended air pressure and the alignment is not off according to the RAM dealer. Bill Napier and I were talking about this today…and he suggested that flipping them might be the answer to equalize the wear. They're Continental HSR 225/70R19.5 and have labeling on both sides…and don't look like one of those special tread patters that isn't designed to roll both ways.
Does anybody know if these are flippable to equalize wear. I've got an email in to the folks at Trailer Tires and Wheels…but figured one of the experts here might know the answer as well.
Yea, to the true tire experts, we mean not to rotate the tires left to right, but to remount them so the outer tread is on the inside, etc.
Neil and I have exactly the same wear pattern on both front tires. His a bit more then mine as he has more mileage.
BTW, these are specifically front "steer tires." They are different in design from the rear "drive tires." So we're not interested in rotating the tires front to back, etc.
Probably making more of this then it matters, but that's what we do because we can.
Update ... clearly my logic brain did fail me
... what I described below does nothing to address the odd wear pattern. Bill's thoughts about flipping the tires would cause the remaining tread to be used more evenly, but as Cummins points out ... the root cause is likely too much toe in. Sorry for the completely off target comments.
Unless my logic brain has failed me (again
) ... doing a right side to left side and left side to right side would accomplish the exact same thing. FWIW ... not a tire expert. As long as the tires aren't directional, this should work and be far less hassle.
-- Edited by RonC on Wednesday 24th of January 2018 11:58:47 AM
I never rotate the rears and I keep the rotation going the same on the front and swap them side to side every 15K.
I have gone thru this on two different RAM Dually's.
The reason for the early rotation (along with a rebalance) is that as tires wear, the heating and cooling is setting the compounding for future wear patterns.
Also, when they checked the alignment was the trailer still hooked up? If most of the miles are with the trailer then that is the best way to set the alignment to spec’s.
I know there are a number of doubters out there on these suggestions but handling the tires in this fashion eliminates almost all pushbacks from the manufacturer. Just make sure you have documentation to show the service was done.
I guess I said about the same as you but the edge stepping that occurs even with proper inflation is due to RAM having too much toe so the truck will track straight. As I said changing the toe the tires will wear much better and the truck will track just fine.
I wull talk to the dealer about changing the toe in number as that’s the best reason I’ve seen so far for the uneven wear. RotTing the tires to the rear is a no go as the front tires are HSR or steer axle only tires...they’re built different than the HDS which are drive axle only tires. I’m unconvinced that early rotation has any effect on tread wear later in life...but then I’m not a tire expert either. Checking alignment with the trailer hooked up isn’t really feasible as the truck probably can‘t get into the alignment bay/machine with the trailer hitched up...and alignment doesn’t change when the trailer is added. With the hitch properly positioned over the rear axle and the full air suspension on the rear axle the effect on the front axle is almost non existent. My front axle went from 5580 to 5940 pounds between solo and towing weightings and approximately half of that was my bride in the passenger seat... it in any event not enoug to really change the alignment, particularly toe-in.
Just rotating left right doesn’t change anything...the outside edge is still the outside edge...so remounting them is the only real solution...my real question was whether anybody was sure that they aren’t directions nail. I don’t think they are as the tread isn’t directional and they have the engravings on both sides...but wasn’t sure.
But as I said there are those out there that disagree (I’m used to it) so I don’t let it bother me. All I can do is provide the correct information and let the person make their own decisions.
Another word of caution is when mixing tires (even the same manufacturer) make sure the the rolling diameter is within 1-2% on a 4X4 (preferably 0%). As it is a 5500 you are running 19.5 and most manufacturers (speaking primarily the majors i.e. Goodyear, BRidgestone, Michelin, Continental) provide that measurement.