Tire Wear Symptoms
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Wheels And Tires Conditions:
* Tires Show Excess Wear on Edge of Tread
Possible Source(s):
- Underinflated tires.
Action(s) to take:
- ADJUST air pressure in tires.
Possible Source(s):
- Vehicle overloaded.
- High-speed cornering.
Action(s) to take:
- CORRECT as required.
Possible Source(s):
- Incorrect toe setting.
Action(s) to take:
- SET toe to specification. REFER to «Section 04-00».
* Tires Show Excess Wear in Center of Tread
Possible Source(s):
- Tires overinflated.
Action(s) to take:
- ADJUST air pressure in tires.
* Other Excessive Tire Wear Problems
Possible Source(s):
- Improper tire pressure.
Action(s) to take:
- ADJUST air pressure in tires.
Possible Source(s):
- Incorrect tire/wheel usage.
Action(s) to take:
- INSTALL correct tire and wheel combination.
Possible Source(s):
- Loose or leaking shock absorbers.
Action(s) to take:
- TIGHTEN or REPLACE as necessary. REFER to «Section 04-01A» or «Section 04-01B» (front) or «Section 04-02» (rear).
Possible Source(s):
- Front end out of alignment.
Action(s) to take:
- ALIGN front end. REFER to «Section 04-00».
Possible Source(s):
- Front wheel bearings out of adjustment.
Action(s) to take:
- ADJUST front wheel bearings.
Possible Source(s):
- Loose, worn or damaged suspension components, bushings and ball joints.
Action(s) to take:
- INSPECT, REPAIR or REPLACE as required.
Possible Source(s):
- Wheel and tire assembly out of balance.
Action(s) to take:
- BALANCE wheel and tire assembly.
Possible Source(s):
- Excessive lateral or radial runout of wheel or tire.
Action(s) to take:
- CHECK, REPAIR or REPLACE as required. USE dial indicator to determine runout.
Possible Source(s):
- Tires need rotating.
Action(s) to take:
- ROTATE tires.
* Wheel Mounting Is Difficult
Possible Source(s):
- Improper application or mismatched parts, including lug bolts and lug nuts.
Action(s) to take:
- FOLLOW manufacturer's specifications.
Possible Source(s):
- Corroded, worn or damaged parts.
Action(s) to take:
- CLEAN or REPLACE.
* Wheel Rusted or Corroded
Possible Source(s):
- Poor maintenance.
Action(s) to take:
- KEEP clean and PROTECT with paint.
* Wobble or Shimmy Affecting Wheel Runout
Possible Source(s):
- Damaged wheel (eventually damaged wheel bearings and uneven tire wear).
Action(s) to take:
- INSPECT wheel rims for dents. REPAIR or REPLACE as required.
* Excessive Vehicle Vibration, Rough Steering, or Severe Tire Wear
Possible Source(s):
- Loose or improper attaching parts.
Action(s) to take:
- TIGHTEN or REPLACE.
Possible Source(s):
- Overloading or unbalanced loads.
Action(s) to take:
- CHECK wheel and tire specifications against work load requirements. RECOMMEND correct tire and wheel. CHECK loading procedure.
* Vehicle Vibrations
Possible Source(s):
- Tires/wheel mismatched.
Action(s) to take:
- INSTALL correct tire/wheel combination.
Possible Source(s):
- Inflation pressure too high or low.
Action(s) to take:
- ADJUST air pressure in tires.
Possible Source(s):
- Uneven tire wear.
Action(s) to take:
- REFER to «Wheel and Tire Checking Procedure» in the Diagnosis and Testing portion of this section.
Possible Source(s):
- Out-of-balance wheel or tire or wheel hub and brake drum assembly.
Action(s) to take:
- DETERMINE the out-of-balance component and BALANCE or REPLACE.
Possible Source(s):
- Bent or distorted wheel disc from overloading, road impact hazards or improper handling.
Action(s) to take:
- REPLACE wheel. Attempts to straighten wheel can result in fractures in the steel and weakening of the disc or the weld between disc and rim. CHECK loading and operating conditions and shop practices.
Possible Source(s):
- Out-of-round wheel or tire (excessive radial runout).
Action(s) to take:
- USE a dial indicator to verify runout reading. REPLACE the wheel or tire and CHECK for overloading and unbalanced loads, rugged operating conditions, proper wheel and tire specifications.
Possible Source(s):
- Improperly seated bead.
Action(s) to take:
- VERIFY correct tire/wheel usage and REMOUNT tire.
Possible Source(s):
- Excessive wheel or tire lateral runout.
Action(s) to take:
- USE a dial indicator to verify runout reading. REPLACE wheel or tire.
Possible Source(s):
- Loose wheel mountings -- damaged lug bolts, lug nuts, enlarged wheel hub bolt holes, worn or broken wheel hub face or foreign material on mounting surfaces.
Action(s) to take:
- TIGHTEN or REPLACE worn or damaged parts. CLEAN mounting surfaces.
Possible Source(s):
- Defective wheel bearings.
Action(s) to take:
- REPLACE worn or damaged bearing sets.
Possible Source(s):
- Brake rotor imbalance.
Action(s) to take:
- CHECK for uneven brake rotor wear. If present, TURN both brake rotors. CHECK fins for caked mud or debris. If no external causes are evident, brake rotor may have a heavy spot. To confirm, SUBSTITUTE a known good brake rotor or shift brake rotor to other side of vehicle and ROAD TEST again. If heavy spot is indicated, REPLACE brake rotor.
Possible Source(s):
- Wheel hub bolt runout.
Action(s) to take:
- REPLACE wheel hub or axle shaft.
Possible Source(s):
- Water in tires.
Action(s) to take:
- REMOVE water.
Possible Source(s):
- Loose or worn engine or transmission mounts.
Action(s) to take:
- TIGHTEN or REPLACE.
Possible Source(s):
- Improper pinion angle.
Action(s) to take:
- REALIGN assembly to specifications. If damaged, REPLACE pinion and ring gear as a set.
Possible Source(s):
- Improper front end alignment.
Action(s) to take:
- ALIGN front end.
Possible Source(s):
- Loose or worn driveline or suspension parts.
Action(s) to take:
- IDENTIFY location of vibration carefully as it may be transmitted through frame making a rear end vibration appear to come from the front. REPAIR or REPLACE loose and worn parts.
Possible Source(s):
- Excessive driveshaft runout or imbalance.
Action(s) to take:
- BALANCE or REPLACE driveshaft as necessary.
Possible Source(s):
- Worn or damaged U-joints.
Action(s) to take:
- REPLACE worn U-joints.
* Cracked or Broken Wheel Discs (Center Portion of Wheel). Cracks develop in the wheel disc from hand hole to hand hole, from hand hole to rim, or from hand hole to lug bolt. Wheel hub bolt holes become worn, elongated or deformed. Metal builds up around wheel hub bolt hole edges, cracks develop from wheel hub bolt hole to wheel hub bolt hole. Related driver complaints: unusual operating noise or vibration and on-the-road failures.
Possible Source(s):
- Metal fatigue resulting from abusive handling.
Action(s) to take:
- REPLACE wheel. CHECK position of wheel on vehicle for working load specifications.
Possible Source(s):
- Truck operated with loose wheel mounting.
Action(s) to take:
CHECK for:
- Installation of correct lug bolts and lug nuts, and correct torque specifications.
- Cracked or broken lug bolts. REPLACE.
- Worn wheel hub face. MACHINE if not excessive, or REPLACE if severe.
- Broken or cracked wheel hub barrel. REPLACE.
- Worn wheel hub bolt grooves. REPLACE or INSTALL recommended serrated lug bolts.
- Rust streaks fanning out from wheel hub bolt holes are a sure indication that the lug nuts are or have been loose.
CLEAN mounting surfaces and RETIGHTEN lug nuts periodically.
* Cracks Develop in Rim Base Back (Rim Bead Seat) or the Gutter Area (Drop Well Radii)
Possible Source(s):
- Overloading or abusive use.
Action(s) to take:
- REPLACE wheel. CHECK loading and operating conditions. AVOID overinflation of tires. CHECK specs for rim load capacity, working loads, tire size, ply rating and tire construction.
Possible Source(s):
- Improper use of tools.
Action(s) to take:
- CHECK mounting, demounting, and maintenance procedures.
* Dual Tires Rubbing
Possible Source(s):
- Insufficient wheel spacing.
Action(s) to take:
- CHECK tire and wheel sizes. Make certain proper size tires and wheels are used.
Possible Source(s):
- Overloading.
Action(s) to take:
- REDUCE weight.
Possible Source(s):
- Underinflation.
Action(s) to take:
- INFLATE tires to specifications.
* Damaged Wheel Hub Bolt Threads
Possible Source(s):
- Sliding wheel across lug bolts during assembly.
Action(s) to take:
- REPLACE lug bolts. FOLLOW proper wheel installation procedure.
* Loose Brake Drum
Possible Source(s):
- Lug bolt too long.
Action(s) to take:
- REPLACE lug bolt with proper length lug bolt.
* Loose Inner Wheel
Possible Source(s):
- Excessive wheel hub bolt standout from mounting face of wheel hub permitting lug nut to bottom out.
Action(s) to take:
- REPLACE lug bolt with proper length lug bolt.
* Broken Lug Bolts
Possible Source(s):
- Loose lug nuts.
Action(s) to take:
- REPLACE lug bolts. FOLLOW proper torque procedure.
Possible Source(s):
- Overloading.
Action(s) to take:
- REPLACE lug bolts. COMPARE actual load against vehicle load ratings.
* Stripping Threads
Possible Source(s):
- Excessive torque.
Action(s) to take:
- REPLACE lug bolts. FOLLOW proper torque procedure.
* Rust Streaks from Wheel Hub Bolt Holes
Possible Source(s):
- Loose lug nuts.
Action(s) to take:
- CHECK complete assembly. REPLACE damaged parts. FOLLOW proper torque procedure.
* Damaged Lug Nuts
Possible Source(s):
- Loose wheel assembly.
- Overtightened lug nuts.
Action(s) to take:
- REPLACE lug nuts. FOLLOW proper torque procedure.
* Frozen Lug Nuts
Possible Source(s):
- Corrosion or galling.
Action(s) to take:
- If corrosion is slight, CLEAN away corrosion with a wire brush. If corrosion is excessive, REPLACE lug bolts and lug nuts.
- If condition persists, LUBRICATE first three threads of each lug bolt with a graphite-based lubricant. CAUTION: Do not permit lubricant to get on cone seats of wheel hub bolt holes or on cone angle of lug nuts.
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