WinAlign® HD Wheel Alignment Education Guide for Heavy-Duty Trucks

Irregular Tire Wear Guide (Steer Tires)
Description		Appearance		Possible Cause		Solution
Shoulder step wear		Even wear across the center with worn strips around the shoulder.		Typical of a radial ply rib type.		Rotation.
Full shoulder wear		Excessive wear extended across the entire shoulder rib to a major tread groove.		Scrubbing due to a rear axle misalignment.		Measure and align all wheels. If wear is severe, rotate tires.
Feathered or sawtoothed wear		Tread ribs worn so that one side is higher, resulting in step-offs across the tread.		Scrubbing due to incorrect alignment, front and/or rear defective suspension or steering components.		Replace worn parts, align vehicle, and if wear patterns are severe, rotate tires.
Erosion/river channel/wear		Circumferential wear along the rib edges next to major tread grooves.		Characteristic of slow wear rate of radial tires on free rolling axles.		This wear should not be a concern unless the wear becomes too deep. Tires can be rotated to drive axles at this point.
Over-inflation wear		Excessive wear in the center of the tread – when properly inflated, the tire appears to cup when viewed across the tread face.		Over-inflation expands the tire forcing more wear in the center of the tread.		Keep tires properly inflated.
Under-inflation wear		Tread is worn unevenly toward the edges of the tire – when properly inflated the tire appears round when viewed across the tread face.		Under-inflation causes the tire to collapse, forcing more wear on the edges of the tread.		Keep tires properly inflated.
Cupping/scallop wear/ dished out areas		Localized patches of fast wear creating a scalloped appearance.		A result of moderate to severe assembly out of balance condition.		Diagnose imbalance condition. Tires should be rotated to drive axle.
Diagonal wear - flat spots worn diagonally		Diagonal wear - flat spots worn diagonally. Localized flat spots across the tread, often repeating around the tread circumference.		Runout and/or out of balance in conjunction with a slow rate of wear. Can also be caused by a loose wheel bearing.		Mount as outside drive dual with change in rotation of tire.
Out of round tire		Tread depth varies around tire with maximum difference approximately 180 degrees apart.		Usually a result of excessive radial runout or non-uniformity in the rotating assembly.		Replace or correct as necessary. Rotate tire to trailer dual.
Overall fast wear - good wear pattern, but fast rate of wear		Even wear across tread face and around tire circumference.		Heavy axle loads; such wear often occurs on short wheelbase tractors and on long wheelbase straight trucks.		Carefully match equipment with service requirements. Consult vehicle and tire manufacturers when specifying equipment or replacing tires.

WHAT'S NEXT?

Locate Sales Rep

Locate Service Rep

© Hunter Engineering Company