Centre tread wear after 7500 miles?

[mikec]

Hey All,

I recently rotated my BFG Traction T/A's, and noticed that all 4 were worn more in the middle. The fronts were worse than the rears. They've only been on for 7500 miles. I've been running 36F/34R, and I'm thinking the pressures are too high. Any thoughts?

My brother also says that using a tire thats too wide for the rim could cause this, but is a 205/55R15 on the stock rims too wide?

Here's a picture of the rear (was on the front last week)
http://www.chreptak.com/randomimages/DSC01365.JPG

Thanks in advance!

Edit: Updated the location of the picture (if anyone ever wants to see it again)

[professor]

I'd say your pressures are a little high, especially for the summer where the tire may run pretty warm. Try 32/30.

If the wear is otherwise even I'd do that and nothing more.

Cupping is actually uneven, scallop-like wear usually on the outside egde (looks like a bottle cap edge, sorta). It is most often caused by some type of play in bearings, bushings, or ball joints allowing the hub to flutter at speed.

[mikec]

I'll try lowering my pressures to those, and I guess wait another 7500 miles to see what happens. Or is there a faster way to see if that's what the problem is?

Otherwise, yeah, the tread wear is very even.

Note: I've changed the topic subject to better reflect the problem, now that I realize exactly what cupping is.

[BAC5.2]

A tire to wide for the rim is unlikely. What size tire are you running?

To wide, and you've got a better chance of rolling it off of the rim than causing wear like that.

If it's JUST the center, then it's 99% going to be overinflation. I run 32psi f/r and haven't had center-wear problems.

Out of curiousity, when was the last time the car was aligned?

[mikec]

The car was last aligned just before I put these tires on.

They're 205/55's. It doesn't look like there's any problems with the alignment from looking at the tires, so I'm going to assume its the pressures I've been running.

Does anybody know if there's a way to see if the new pressure I run is good, aside from waiting to see what the wear is like?

[NuwanD]

you could try the old shoe polish trick but on the tread instead of the sidewalls, although i use it to see how far the tires are rolling over i assume a short drive would give some idea on where the tread is wearing the most

your wear issues seem to be pressure dependant, and it seems as though you don't corner too hard if the tires are wearing in the middle with 36psi, i'd suggest dropping the pressures to stock (32/30 or something like that) and then using shoe polish on the sidewalls to see how far the tires are rolling over... if they are rolling over too much (ie past the tread blocks) up the pressures a bit... that's the best way to get the tire pressure to what would best suit your driving

what brand/model tires are you running?

[mikec]

Cool Nuwan, I might give the shoe polish a go on the tread.

And yeah, I'm fairly sure you're right on me not cornering hard alot. I still haven't worked up the balls to seriously throw this thing around yet.

They're BFG Traction T/A's.

[evolutionmovement]

I run 38/40 psi on mine and wear even (and fast)so what does that say about how I drive?

Steve

[NuwanD]

yeah, 43fr/34rear for myself....lol.... poor tires never saw it coming