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Old 11-29-2007, 04:43 PM   #1
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Uneven tire wear!!

Maybe someone has an answer for this.... The curb side tires on our 2007 25' Safri are wearing at an unusual rapid pace...like there's only a 1/16" of tread left after only 8000 or so miles!!! The street side tires look normal for the mileage...very little wear. The pressures have been checked before each outing and are right on. Seems to be a little more wear on the outside which to me indicates camber problems..or toe.
Anyone run across this before? Shouldn't happen on a new $50K+ TT in my humble opinion.
Cheers, Jeff
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Old 11-29-2007, 04:54 PM   #2
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It's odd that you would see wear on both tires on onew side without some indication on the other. Check the street side to see if there is a saw tooth wear from outside to inside across the tire.

My first guess is you have an alinement issue. If you think it is toe in take an 8 ft florscent light bulb and lay it along the center line of the tires parallel to the ground. It should touch the tires front and aft edges on both tires. If either of the leading edges shows a gap of 1/8 in or greater you have deminstrated the problem.

Contrary to the often stated comment that the axles are alined at the Henschen factory that is not the case. I installed 3 axles 2 years ago and had to have then alined reight after instalation because of wear. Having watched them make the axles it is easy to see how missalinement is an issue. The arm and spindle, when welded, is too small an assembly to be alined and once placed into the axle tube theaxle is done. So any missalinement in welding is carried forward to the end product.
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Old 11-29-2007, 05:29 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by HowieE
It's odd that you would see wear on both tires on onew side without some indication on the other. Check the street side to see if there is a saw tooth wear from outside to inside across the tire.

My first guess is you have an alinement issue. If you think it is toe in take an 8 ft florscent light bulb and lay it along the center line of the tires parallel to the ground. It should touch the tires front and aft edges on both tires. If either of the leading edges shows a gap of 1/8 in or greater you have deminstrated the problem.

Contrary to the often stated comment that the axles are alined at the Henschen factory that is not the case. I installed 3 axles 2 years ago and had to have then alined reight after instalation because of wear. Having watched them make the axles it is easy to see how missalinement is an issue. The arm and spindle, when welded, is too small an assembly to be alined and once placed into the axle tube theaxle is done. So any missalinement in welding is carried forward to the end product.
Claybags Airstream, does not have Henschen axles.

His trailer is eqipped with Dexter axles.

Andy
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Old 11-29-2007, 06:05 PM   #4
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Originally Posted by claybags
...The curb side tires on our 2007 25' Safri are wearing at an unusual rapid pace...like there's only a 1/16" of tread left after only 8000 or so miles!!!...
hi jeff

i had this issue as well, but only on ONE tire.

see post 58 and beyond here...

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f438...s-27999-2.html

it is possible your trailer is loaded with TOO MUCH WEIGHT on one side...

or that the w/d gear is LOADING unevenly (one side more) when adjusted and towing.

brake irregularity (adjustments) is a very remote possibility, especially if the wear is even.

got any pictures of them tires, mr fo-tog man!

and it could be 2 'softer compound' tires IF other issues check out normal.

you really will need to have the individual tire/wheel/axle positions weighed to get a clear picture of the issue...

no camera required.

cheers
2air'
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Old 11-29-2007, 07:11 PM   #5
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It could be the toe on both of the curbisde tires is off, as has already been suggested. The trailer would have to be REALLY overloaded on the curbside to make those tires wear that fast, and I think if that were the case, the sidewalls would have let go before this.
Camber would not be the problem, as the tire is worn evenly, albeit excessively, across the entire tread. The same would be true if wheel bearings were seriously out of adjustment, one edge of the tire would be worn off, and the rest of the tire would appear normal.
Misadjusted brakes could be a problem, but only of the brakes lock up (or nearly lock) on the curbside regularly, and then the tread would have flat spots worn in it. Over or underinflation would cause the center or edges of the tires to wear.
It's barely possible the weight distribution/sway bars could be grossly misadjusted, and cause some tire wear, but it would be very noticeable when hitching and towing.
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Old 11-29-2007, 07:28 PM   #6
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Thanks for replies thus far! I don't think overloading is an issue as we don't have anything unusually heavy aboard on that side. I'll try to post a couple photos if I get a free moment in the next couple of days. i'll also check the toe. Hitch is set up equally both sides, I think I can rule that out.
More later, and thanks again.
Cheers, jeff
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Old 11-29-2007, 10:52 PM   #7
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Can you post a pic of the wear?

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Old 11-30-2007, 09:49 AM   #8
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What about the alignment on the TV? Especially "tracking" ? TV doesn't have to have unusual pulling left/right or tire wear indications to be "tracking" down the road "sideways". Wouldn't that make the camper pull at funny angle too? Maybe an alignment expert could help us with that question.
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Old 11-30-2007, 09:56 AM   #9
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Since the trailer is hitched to the TV at a single point misalinement of the TV would not effect the trailer tire ware.
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Old 11-30-2007, 07:26 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by gotohatteras
What about the alignment on the TV? Especially "tracking" ? TV doesn't have to have unusual pulling left/right or tire wear indications to be "tracking" down the road "sideways". Wouldn't that make the camper pull at funny angle too? Maybe an alignment expert could help us with that question.
If thawere the case, the tow vehicle's tires would suddenly wear "funny", rahter than the trailer's tires. The trailer would tend to hold the tow vehicle straight, to the detriment of the tow vehicle's tires.
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Old 11-30-2007, 08:08 PM   #11
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Wheel Bearings?

If one side had the wheel bearings ungreased wouldn't the tires on that side wear more?

Just thinking. Oh head hurtz. bye. Paula
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Old 12-01-2007, 05:20 AM   #12
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If one side had the wheel bearings ungreased wouldn't the tires on that side wear more
Just thinking. Oh head hurtz. bye. Paula
If the bearings were ungreased, the effected wheel would eventually fall off amid a cloud of smoke. Siezed wheel bearings are not generally enough to cause the wheel to bind and rotate more slowly, it will either "go or blow".
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Old 12-01-2007, 06:36 AM   #13
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Quote:
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.... the effected wheel would eventually fall off amid a cloud of smoke.
The we could say HI HO Silver!



Back to the topic, I vote for axle misalignment. Such that the curb side part of the axle isn't attached correctly. Could very well be seen by driving behind the pulled trailer.

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Old 12-03-2007, 06:32 PM   #14
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Oh you kids....

Got around to getting some pics up. The wear onthe curb side shows most on the outside edge of the tire which ,to me, indicates toe or camber problems. AIIIIIEEEEE!!!!!!!1
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Old 12-04-2007, 06:21 AM   #15
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i know of a certain contributor here who's a/s tires looked exactly like that... it was never conclusively decided whether the tire wear was an indication of a serious alignment issue that caused the coach to lurch into an unrecoverable sway and roll several times.
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Old 12-04-2007, 11:12 AM   #16
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I guess a trip to the AS Doctor is in order.
Thanks everyone...will let you know the diagnosis. Major headache as we are full-timing while building new digs.
Cheers, Jeff
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Old 12-04-2007, 09:05 PM   #17
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From your original post, it does not appear to me that the street side tire is wearing evenly either. If this is a double axle set up I would say you may be doing a lot of turning. And/or it may be a toe set issue.

If you feel inclined you can check toe easily with a string. And a 2007 unit should have some warranty coverage such that a dealer can tackle the issue.

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Old 12-05-2007, 08:14 AM   #18
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There are only straight roads in AZ. Yeah, both sides are funky, but the the curb side is definately worse. I'll check the toe when I get a chance this weekend.

Cheers, Jeff
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Old 12-08-2007, 07:40 AM   #19
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Lets us know your findings if you do check toe.

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Old 12-08-2007, 08:08 AM   #20
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That's just Goodyear Marathons! They do that!
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