I service my 4Runner every 5,000 miles. I have the tires rotated, balanced & aligned whenever necessary. However, the outside tread of my tires (32 x 11.50 x 15) is wearing much quicker than the inside. Does anyone know what may be causing this? I have lifted my 4Runner (Sway-Away's in the front & OME's in the rear) and dropped the front diff. Am I supposed to be doing anything else to help prevent this uneven wear???

 

If its only on the front, then it could be one of two things...

Spirited cornerning will do that.
Positive camber will do that.

 

Doesn't sound like it is being aligned properly. I had this same problem, (same tires on 15x7 SR5 alloys), but later found out that the folks doing the alignment were unable to get the sleeves on the TRE's free. I finally got a place that was able to get them free (by using a torch), since then, no problems...

 

How do I fix the positive camber issue if that's what's causing the problem? I'll also try getting my 4Runner aligned elsewhere. All 4 of the tires have uneven treadwear because I rotate them too every so often. Can I flip the tires around so the blackwalls are facing out instead of the raised whites? Maybe I'll get some more life out of the tires that way???

 

Alignnment shop should be able to straighten it out... I like sears cause they give you a nice little printout of where the truck is at before and after the alignment... also 6 mo warranty... ive heard firestone has a lifetime warranty.

 

You have to be very careful to switch radial tires around like you are thinking. The cords in them "take a set" and extended running in the reverse rotation will cause very rapid degeneration of the tire from the inside out. So, if you do this, you need to be sure to put them on the OTHER side of the truck so the rolling rotation is the same.

All that said, it will not "fix" the wear pattern on the tires - only buy you a little more time before they have to be replaced.

Defninitely an alignment problem. I had the same problem with my older truck. BFG A/T's do not handle that kind of wear well at all IMHO. Your best bet is to find an "old school" alignment shop. The guys at Sears do a good job on standard setups (that's where I take mine), but all they really know about alignment is how to run the laser. I eventually found one of these guys and he set it up dead on - man what a difference!

 

 

What do you mean snap-on? Am I the only one to hear this? I heard that's why they don't cross rotate (front left to rear right) tires any more, keeping them on the same side (front right to rear right)... Cross rotation is OK for "old" bias-ply, but not for radials...

Guess it could be an urban legend .... maybe we should call Mythbusters! :LOL:

 

I've heard arguments both ways. Are there any experts on the subject here?

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=43

 

I've also heard arguments both ways, but have been cross rotating my tires as long as I've been driving, (which is longer than some of you have been alive). Never had a problem yet.

Here's two opinion, actually from tire companies

http://www.chicagolandmgclub.com/tec...neral/532.html

http://www.americanautoclubuk.com/dr...les%5B2%5D.php

 

I have heard cross rotation is bad too.

WHen my alignment was out, my AT's quickly got said wear. My insides were really getting diminished. Turns out my old bracket kit was spreading apart at the bottom (Common issue). It wasn't allowing the camber adjkustement to adjust far enough to compensate.

I got rid of the bracket kit, installed long travel and a frame truss and BAM, no more issues.

 

Hmmmm ... good links.

Would still like to see it on Mythbusters though...maybe mogger can dnate one of his 40's ... imagine what that would look like coming apart!

 

I work at a tire shop. I agree, never cross rotate due to "radial pull" as we call it.

 

I've never once cross-rotated and my bicycles tires are doing just fine.

 

Just take it to any alignment shop, Sears is pretty good...my dealer is really good too, I always go back in the back with em and read the data on the screen...I know a buncha guys there so we just kinda hang out while they're doing stuff.

Fink

 

I did not see you mention what air pressure you have in your tires. I run 25 psi and I have the same exact tires = 32" BFG AT's on stock Toyota 15x7 alloys.

 

I run 30-35 psi.