Outside tire wear, but alignment shop says it is within spec. How?

[Rookie-Vet91]

Vehicle is a 2018 Chevy Silverado 1500 (4x4) with 107k on it. Tires are the Falken Wildpeak A/T3W model.

My front tires are showing signs of wear on the outside edge. I took it to a shop to get an alignment and the shop said everything checked out fine and is within spec and that no adjustment is required.

How can this be?

I did have new front struts and rear shocks installed a year ago at approximately 98,500 miles on it. Bilstein 5100 series. Front struts are the adjustable type and currently they are set up to raise the front end up approximately 1.75” to make the truck sit level. An alignment was performed at that time. I noticed outside tire wear occurring, but was not concerned about it, at the time, as the miles accumulated because I planned to get new tires anyways.

New tires were installed with 103,696 miles on it. Current mileage is 107,500 so a rotation is due soon. However, I would like to get the issue corrected so when the tires are rotated, they do not wear on the outside too.

What can be done to get this corrected so my new tires don’t wear out prematurely?

I do notice a "popping" sound when going over bumps at low speeds. I am assuming I have some type of suspension problem.

Front tires (outside edge wear) -

Rear tires (no outside edge wear) -

 

[Analog-1]

If you took it in for alignment they would have had to check the front end for issues before an alignment can be preformed. Something don't add up try another shop.

 

[IndyIan]

IMO many factory alignment specs are too wide especially its the tire is near the limits for both toe in and camber. Also it seems many places see "doing an alignment" as easy money with no wrenching required? An alignment shop should be able to get your tires wearing evenly, even with the lift.

 

[Dave9]

I can't see your pics, probably a problem on my end?

There are many potential causes for a pop going over bumps, but since a pickup has a bit simpler suspension, I'd wonder about your lower ball joint(s) and next, sway bar link, but get it supported off the ground and inspect/poke/pry everything. However an alignment shop should have noticed (should have checked) these things at the time.

Is it possible that you drive too aggressively? High speed cornering will put wear on outside of front wheels at a faster pace. Are you keeping them inflated to the right level?

 

[nate379]

Steers will wear different than drives from the forces of turning. I've seen steers "melt away" from aggressive driving or heavy just from heavy weight.

Those tires look normal to me.

 

[97prizm]

I'm going to suggest a camber kit. When raising or lowering a vehicle it tends to cause excessive wear. Typically raising a vehicle causes excessive wear on the outside shoulder and lowering causes excessive wear on the inside shoulder.

 

[Number_35]

I wonder whether the alignment values are in spec, as you've been told, but are near the limits such that the cumulative amount is unacceptable.

 

[shortyb]

Have another shop check the condition and play in the balljoints, control arm bushings, and tie rod ends. Outside wear is most likely coming from toe-in. Your caster has a self centering effect with regard to the front wheels and if there is excessive play in those components, they will go toe-in.

 

[DriveHard]

I would agree that they look pretty normal for steers vs. drives. Increase tire pressure on the front a few pounds...

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

Is front camber even adjustable on that truck without aftermarket parts?

'within spec' from them may translate to 'we can't do anything about it, so...'.

 

[Danh]

How about driving style - are you really aggressive turning?

 

[Rand]

Throw a few more lbs of air in them and rotate.

Steer tires wear different than rear drive tires.

Are these p-metric or LT tires?

 

[PWMDMD]

Same issue on both my 2020 Tundra and 2019 RX 350. Last tire change I brought it to someone who actually knows what they're doing with an alignment machine and even though both cars were within spec, they took all the positive camber out of the front tires and neither vehicle has had any issues with outside wear since.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Could be the toe is fine and you don't have any ability to adjust camber. Many vehicles do not today. Or they really don't want to touch the CAM bolts anyway because there rusted in - which is also common. Fix involves new lower control arms.

Did they give you a print out of the alignment specs?

 

[slo town]

Those tires look normal to me.

This.

Scott

 

[burbguy82]

Steers will wear differently than rears. Aggressive turning will accelerate this wear pattern.

With that being said, many mechanic shops are run by monkeys who dont know much other than what the book says, or the machine says.

Rotate them .

 

[jhellwig]

Those look normal. Fronts and rears always wear different. If you don't rotate them sometimes the rears can wear out first if you do a lot of highway driving.

 

[Tman220]

I think the OP is a hammer in search of a nail. Those tires look fine to me. How many miles did it take for them to look like they do?