TM 10-4610-240-24
TM 0850C-24/2
TO 40W4-13-22
HOW TO READ TIRE WEAR
THE WAY TIRES WEAR IS A GOOD INDICATOR OF OTHER PARTS OF THE SUSPENSION. ABNORMAL WEAR
PATTERNS ARE OFTEN CAUSED BY THE NEED FOR SIMPLE TIRE MAINTENANCE.
EXCESSIVE WEAR AT THE CENTER OF THE TREAD INDICATES THAT THE AIR
PRESSURE IN THE TIRE IS TOO HIGH. THE TIRE IS RIDING ON THE CENTER
OF THE TREAD AND WEARING IT PREMATURELY.
THIS TYPE OF WEAR RESULTS FROM UNDER-INFLATION WHEN A TIRE IS
UNDER-INFLATED. THERE TOO MUCH CONTACT WITH THE ROAD BY THE
OUTER TREADS, WHICH WEAR PREMATURELY. WHEN THIS TYPE OF WEAR
OCCURS AND THE TIRE PRESSURE IS KNOWN TO BE CORRECT, A BENT AXLE
OR OUT OF ADJUSTMENT WHEEL BEARINGS COULD BE INDICATED.
FEATHERING IS A CONDITION WHEN THE EDGE OF EACH TREAD RIB
DEVELOPS A SLIGHTLY ROUNDED EDGE ON ONE SIDE AND A SHARP EDGE
ON THE OTHER. BY RUNNING YOUR HAND OVER THE TIRE, YOU CAN
USUALLY FEEL THE SHARPER EDGES BEFORE YOU'LL BE ABLE TO SEE
THEM. THE MOST COMMON CAUSE OF FEATHERING IS A BENT AXLE.
WHEN AN INNER OR OUTER RIB WEARS FASTER THAN THE REST OF THE
TIRE, THE NEED FOR WHEEL BEARING ADJUSTMENT IS INDICATED. THERE IS
EXCESSIVE WEIGHT ON ONE SIDE OF TRAILER, CAUSING THE WHEEL TO
LEAN TOO MUCH. PUTTING EXCESSIVE LOAD ON ONE SIDE OF THE TIRE
MISALIGNMENT COULD ALSO BE DUE TO SAGGING SPRINGS. BE SURE THE
VEHICLE IS LOADED EVENLY.
CUPS OR SCALLOPED DIPS APPEARING AROUND THE EDGE OF THE TREAD
ALMOST ALWAYS INDICATE WORN (SOMETIMES BENT) SUSPENSION PARTS.
ANY WORN COMPONENT THAT CONNECTS THE WHEEL TO THE SUSPENSION
CAN CAUSE THIS TYPE OF WEAR OCCASIONALLY, WHEELS THAT ARE OUT
OF BALANCE WILL WEAR LIKE THIS. BUT WHEEL IMBALANCE USUALLY
SHOWS UP AS BALD SPOTS BETWEEN THE OUTSIDE EDGES AND CENTER OF
THE TREAD.
SECOND-RIB WEAR CAN BE KEPT TO A MINIMUM BY PAYING CAREFUL
ATTENTION TO TIRE PRESSURE AND FREQUENTLY ROTATING THE TIRES.
THIS IS OFTEN CONSIDERED NORMAL WEAR.
MODEL WPES-1
2-75
96
