Tire wear

[mrmartin6]

Hi -

I have a 2004 Crownline 235CCR with a tandem axle Venture trailer. The 2 outer treads are wearing much faster than the 2 inner treads. I replaced the tires this year and they are wearing the same as the old tires. I always keep the tires at 50psi and check it every time. I know that the wear pattern is like they are underinflated, but obviously they aren't. What is causing this? Thanks in advance for any input.

Mark.

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Tire wear

Inner wearing more than outer is indicative of bent axles. Perhaps they bow under the stress of bumps and weight. It is also possible they are, or once were over loaded.
To check put a straightedge along the axles when the boat is on the trailer. My guess is they bow down in the middle. If they are straight check the hubs for play and check the fine print on the tires for tire capacity. If the tires are under spec you may find broken rubber near the beads, which is up by where the wheel contacts the tire.

If the axles are bent and the trailer is the right capacity for your boat, there may be a waterlogged boat on there. I hope not!

 

[foodfisher]

Re: Tire wear

Underinflation would wear the tires on both outside edges. Conversely the center. Sounds like a hump in the axles causing the tires to tilt out at the top. Try a level to see if they're plumb. Toe in would wear the outside edges also.

 

[Josh P]

Re: Tire wear

if the axle bows down wouldnt that cause the inside treads to wear faster due to negative camber? So he has positive camber. And if he has a toe issue he should see feathering on the treads due to scrubbing( think thats the word)

 

[Lrider]

Re: Tire wear

It's wear from doing donuts in the parking lot at 2 am.

On the serious side, don't tandoms wear funny compared to singles?

I would guess maybe misaligned axles, but in such a case I would think the wear would be outside on one side and inside on the other.

He didn't say if the wear was even on all four tires.

Very curious

 

[mrmartin6]

Re: Tire wear

Thanks for the replies. Yes all 4 have the same wear. The wear is just like they are underinflated, but I always check them and have 50 psi. It is very strange. I don't know for sure if the boat is water logged, but think it is highly unlikely since it is on the trailer in my driveway if not on the water. I should probably get it weighed. The tires are 215/75D14 with 1870 lbs. rating. That makes it 7480 total capacity. The boat should be around 5200-5400 lbs. and trailer is 1240 lbs. That is 6640 or so, even if I say 7000 lbs. it should still be ok. I wonder if the tongue weight might put too much pressure on the trailer and cause this symptom. Thanks again.

Mark.

 

[Josh P]

Re: Tire wear

i mis understood i took it as the out side meaning the 2 threads closest to the outside. Now i see you mean the outside edges of the tires, ya i would try to upgrade to 15 inch tires and rims for that much weight.

 

[mrmartin6]

Re: Tire wear

That's and interesting solution. I find it curious that this is the trailer combo that came from the dealer, though I bought it used. Of course, I just spent $350 on the new tires. I think I may call Venture and get their take on this. Thanks again.

Mark.

 

[Lrider]

Re: Tire wear

I think dealers will (on occasion) do the minimum to save money.

Your weight description and the fact that all tires are wearing as if under inflated suggests to me that there is too much weight for the tires.

Might be time to go to the local weigh station and get an actual weight

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Tire wear

For your boat, those tires have plenty of rating. I don't think its a tire loading issue. I would certainly measure the axles and make sure they are parallel to each other...an easy measurement.

Your weight description and the fact that all tires are wearing as if under inflated suggests to me that there is too much weight for the tires.

Underinflated would wear both edges...not just one.

 

[mrmartin6]

Re: Tire wear

Thanks for the replies. As stated before, the wear is the very outer and very inner treads with the 2 middle treads wearing less, on all four tires. I wouldn't think an alignment issue would wear the tires that way, evenly (but really unevenly) on all four but I don't know for sure. I find it hard to believe the whole combo weighs more than 7480. Which would mean that the boat is well over 6000lbs. But I don't know since I haven't weighed it. Thanks again.

Mark.

 

[Josh P]

Re: Tire wear

if it is easy see if you can get some pics posted of the tires. it does sound like to much weight . like the tires are cupping inward to wear only the outer edges. I would to call the manufacture of the trailer as well. keep us posted

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Tire wear

Thanks for the replies. As stated before, the wear is the very outer and very inner treads with the 2 middle treads wearing less, on all four tires.

OK...somehow I missed that...definitely and underinflation problem. Back to your tires...are these ST trailer tires? What is the max PSI rating on the tire? You should have them at the max if you don't already. Are these radials?

 

[NHGuy]

Re: Tire wear

Sorry, I misread your post the first time through. I thought you said inside edge wear.
But now you are saying both inner and outer edges of all 4 tires. If radial tires it's underinflation or overweight. But bias ply tires wear that way normally. The "D" in your size indicates diagonal ply. They are always going to wear that way due to the way their belts are laid into the tire body. Next time get radials, they cost more but last way longer, run cooler, have better grip, and have lower rolling resistance.

 

[mrmartin6]

Re: Tire wear

NHGuy -

That's the first time someone has said that. The pamplet that came with the trailer says to replace the tires with the type that came on it. Bias with bias or radial with radial. I just followed that advice. I will then assume that this is the way the tires will wear. I always put 50 psi and check each time, that is the max the tires will allow and I know I'm not overloaded. Thanks again and happy boating.

Mark.

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Tire wear

Are these ST trailer tires?