Uneven tire wear.

I haven't noticed a difference in ride quality. It's a truck so it's been a stiff ride since day one. It's not like a honda civic where you put a new set on every 60k
If you're going to build a fishbone for the problem statement, "why are my tires cupping", shocks are the first bone you draw and the second shot in the dark you take (after rebalancing because you might get that free)
 
Well they're offering to make it right, if you can get a cool enough head wander on in to see what they can do.

Cupping is from bad shocks, not bad brakes. If you did shocks and have everything else tight, too, it could legit be the tires and they might be able to warranty them or something.
Just to clarify It's only in one spot on ONE front tire though. If it was shocks it would have multiple spots I would think
 
Any way you could post a picture of it?
From my index finger downwards you see about a 5inch spot that's flat compared to the rest if the tire. It also kind of bulges out just a bit before going flat. The bulge is right where I'm pointing with my index finger

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The more I look at this, the more I'm thinking this is a bad belt. My apologies for it being in the location it's at. I didn't feel like moving the truck
 
Yup sounds more like a bad tire instead of suspension issues causing it.
So how do I go about getting this fixed? I prefer to replace tires in pairs. That's going to irritate me if they give me a new tire and I still have one on the front that's halfway worn
 
I see what you mean and I agree that it's a bad tire.

What brand tires are these? Maybe you can give their customer service a call or email, send them photos of it and see if they'll reimburse you anything.
 
So how do I go about getting this fixed? I prefer to replace tires in pairs. That's going to irritate me if they give me a new tire and I still have one on the front that's halfway worn
you could bring that up with the tire shop and maybe they'll do a pro-rated on the other tire and you pay the difference between that and a new tire. all it would take is to ask .. they'd still get some $$ but you wouldnt' be out buying a new tire at full price.

edit : didn't ask about the bad tire, you can bring that in and show them its collapsed (permanent flat spot).. they cannot blame if the truck sat for too long because the other ones haven't done this..








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Is there any reason why I can't just replace the one tire? I'm at like 50 percent tread wear right now. These are 265/70/r17 tires on a 2500 dodge ram. That's not enough of a circumference difference to matter is it?
 
Is there any reason why I can't just replace the one tire? I'm at like 50 percent tread wear right now. These are 265/70/r17 tires on a 2500 dodge ram. That's not enough of a circumference difference to matter is it?
50% is quite a bit of difference. I don't know how to quantify it, but on a drive axle, the tire diam difference has to be accommodated by the differential. And those spider gears are usually a bit on the smaller size.

Edit: looks like a 31.6" diam tire. Missed what tire it is, but it looks like Michelin LTX MS2 is 12.5/32's, or 0.39" Now I'm not sure what your half worn means; some think that would be 6.25/32's left, others think 4/32's is their "fully worn out" level. I'll use 2/32's. That's 0.328" from 12.5 down to 2; so a depth change of 0.164". Times 2 for diameter. So a 31.6" tire becomes 31.272".

31.6" tall tire turns 638.555 turns per mile.
31.272" tall tire turns 645.252 turns per mile.

So the differential has to accommodate 7 extra revolutions difference between the two axles, per mile.
 
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50% is quite a bit of difference. I don't know how to quantify it, but on a drive axle, the tire diam difference has to be accommodated by the differential. And those spider gears are usually a bit on the smaller size.
Are those the ones in the middle that only turn when you're turning? Will they wear out if they're turning non stop?
 
Are those the ones in the middle that only turn when you're turning? Will they wear out if they're turning non stop?
Not sure what you are asking. Tires are turning whenever the vehicle is moving.

Come to think of it, if this was a 4WD truck, and these were on the front axle, the same math would still apply, as I don't think it would have a differential disconnect feature (I think my Tundra did, it would disconnect one axle shaft in addition to disabling transfer case). But that'd still be a drive axle I guess.

I wonder... if up front, if one might notice a slight pull with such a small diam difference. Not sure on that. Power steering might make it unfelt even if it was present.
 
Maybe try some breathing exercises before blowing a gasket over a poorly trained min. wage worker? They sold you tires that you dont like because of your worn out truck, they offer to make it right and you get angry. Seriously, that's not healthy
 
Maybe try some breathing exercises before blowing a gasket over a poorly trained min. wage worker? They sold you tires that you dont like because of your worn out truck, they offer to make it right and you get angry. Seriously, that's not healthy
Who said I blew a gasket?
 
Idk, I wonder if I did a tire rotation if the vibration over 60 would be less noticeable.
Well, I brought it back to discount tire and they wouldn't do anything. The associate came up with a million reasons why the tire isn't defective in that one spot. I just had them rotate them. I guess when these tires are worn out I'll put some new shocks on in case that is the problem, then buy a better brand. These pathfinder tires are horrible. Atleast the steering wheel isn't shaking now. They re balanced them and have a ton of weights on one of the tires. Last I checked you're not supposed to have more than 5.5oz on a tire.
 
Well, I brought it back to discount tire and they wouldn't do anything. The associate came up with a million reasons why the tire isn't defective in that one spot. I just had them rotate them. I guess when these tires are worn out I'll put some new shocks on in case that is the problem, then buy a better brand. These pathfinder tires are horrible. Atleast the steering wheel isn't shaking now. They re balanced them and have a ton of weights on one of the tires. Last I checked you're not supposed to have more than 5.5oz on a tire.
wow what a waste of time.. sounds like morons. Maybe you can try a different discount tire? Not sure if there's more around your area, but it sounds like they don't want to warranty anything at that location.

Yes there is a limit on tires when it's deemed defective for balancing.. I remember something like 3.25 or 3.5 oz. But you're right, ton of weight isn't right, but at least it's not vibrating.. hey I'm trying to find something of good news in this situation! (y)
 
wow what a waste of time.. sounds like morons. Maybe you can try a different discount tire? Not sure if there's more around your area, but it sounds like they don't want to warranty anything at that location.

Yes there is a limit on tires when it's deemed defective for balancing.. I remember something like 3.25 or 3.5 oz. But you're right, ton of weight isn't right, but at least it's not vibrating.. hey I'm trying to find something of good news in this situation! (y)
I counted four 1.5oz weights on the inside of one tire. Maybe it is 3.5oz I swear it was 5.5oz
 
wow what a waste of time.. sounds like morons. Maybe you can try a different discount tire? Not sure if there's more around your area, but it sounds like they don't want to warranty anything at that location.

Yes there is a limit on tires when it's deemed defective for balancing.. I remember something like 3.25 or 3.5 oz. But you're right, ton of weight isn't right, but at least it's not vibrating.. hey I'm trying to find something of good news in this situation! (y)
Atleast it's not shaking the whole front end like before the rotation. Idk, I mean is it really worth getting bent out of shape over a 17 year old truck?
Then again little stuff like this just starts a chain reaction and leads to other issues. I think they've already given me credit on these tires the last couple times I've gotten them. I only get half the mileage out of whatever the warranty is on them. I think it's because I tow a trailer in the city with constant stopping and going. The only time I got the full 60k miles was back before I towed a trailer. The truck will chew through a set of $1500 tires just as fast as a set of $700 tires
 
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