Tires cupping/wearing very uneven...

[sasada]

Re: Tires cupping/wearing very uneven...

Things I would do are:
Check the axle is square to the frame.
Check for loose bearings, worn spring bushings.
Check the trailer does have excessive caster.
As a last resort I would have them balanced.

Will do! Never had trailer tires balanced before. The way it sounds it must be worth it?

 

[bruceb58]

Re: Tires cupping/wearing very uneven...

Will do! Never had trailer tires balanced before. The way it sounds it must be worth it?

Uhhhh...Yessss!

 

[sasada]

Re: Tires cupping/wearing very uneven...

I got the boat out of storage and checked the bearings...good. Then I measured the axle hitch to center of wheel and good. Getting new skids (balanced of course) and lower drop hitch for the Tundy and will update after a few hundred miles.

 

[MH Hawker]

Re: Tires cupping/wearing very uneven...

And while it is a much debated thing I all ways have tires balanced. its cheep insurance.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Tires cupping/wearing very uneven...

Understood. Right, i mis-spoke. Leaf springs, of the half dozen+ trailers i have owned i have yet to own one with shocks. Regardless, when i take the tires off i will definetly check for excess play.

With the wheels and tires off you WON'T feel the play. Leave them on, jack up each side and using the wheel as a lever feel for play. Contrary to the NO play statement, tapered roller bearings need .005 - .010 free play so a very slight, almost imperceptable amount of play is actually REQUIRED for proper bearing life. If the axle is cambered, towing tongue high definitely upsets alignment which can affect tire wire. If the axle is straight (no upward bend in the middle) then it doesn't matter if the tongue is high or low when towed.

 

[04fxdwgi]

Re: Tires cupping/wearing very uneven...

Maybe a bent axle / spindle that may have happened from a curb or something? Or a really bad bearing?

 

[jeeperman]

Re: Tires cupping/wearing very uneven...

When you have the wheels off, eyeball the axle position on the springs.
I have seen where the center spring pack bolt head broke and allowed the axle to move.
Typically back, on the driver side,
Which results in the trailer "dog walking" to one side as you go down the road.

 

[sasada]

Re: Tires cupping/wearing very uneven...

With the wheels and tires off you WON'T feel the play. Leave them on, jack up each side and using the wheel as a lever feel for play. Contrary to the NO play statement, tapered roller bearings need .005 - .010 free play so a very slight, almost imperceptable amount of play is actually REQUIRED for proper bearing life. If the axle is cambered, towing tongue high definitely upsets alignment which can affect tire wire. If the axle is straight (no upward bend in the middle) then it doesn't matter if the tongue is high or low when towed.

I checked with the tires on and each side jacked up....maaayyyybbbee a tiny bit of play. I just looked at the axle and there is a slight upward bend in the middle. And as mentioned before the trailer definetely sits tounge high when hooked to my truck. I will put a level on the trailer and see how high the tounge should sit so I know how much more of a drop hitch I need.

 

[sasada]

Re: Tires cupping/wearing very uneven...

When you have the wheels off, eyeball the axle position on the springs.
I have seen where the center spring pack bolt head broke and allowed the axle to move.
Typically back, on the driver side,
Which results in the trailer "dog walking" to one side as you go down the road.

Will do!

 

[sasada]

Re: Tires cupping/wearing very uneven...

Recently got back from Canada and put about 1350miles on the trailer. Before leaving i put new radials on it and after comming back there are no signs of uneven wear. Things i did differently on this trip were-balanced radial tires(vs unbalanced bias)-lower tounge height-more weight towards front of trailer. I cant say exactly why the tires are now wearing evenly but its surely one of those things i did differently.

 

[snowman48047]

Re: Tires cupping/wearing very uneven...

UncleWillie is correct. Wheel/tire out of balance is the cause of cupping.