Tire Wear - but not the kind Google and AI talk about

[MarineBSP]

This isn't a problem to solve - it's just an observation of Side-to-side (of the truck) wear on tires that are otherwise wearing perfectly. This is my first (only) truck, and the many sets of car tires I've had never started out with as much tread, nor did they last the way my E-rated tires are lasting. I'm posting because search engines / AI all took a wrong turn when I tried to find a description of this side-of-the-vehicle difference in tire wear.

The truck is the one in my signature - a 2018 RAM 1500 Laramie CC with 5.7L Hemi and 4WD. It's got 130K miles currently. After a year on the OE Goodyear 275/60R20 tires, I switched to separate Summer/Winter sets of 275/65R20 tires, each on their own rims. My winters are on used OE Ram 1500 rims in the stock size. My winter tires are Nokian Hakkapelitta LT3's, now starting their 7th season with 62K miles and at about 40% "snowflake" on the tread. These winter tires are directional, so I only rotate them Front-to-Back, while my General Grabbers in the same size get a "Rear Cross" rotation in which each tire serves time on both sides of the truck.

I always do a quick check when I rotate each set of tires on and off the truck, and this Fall/Winter as I checked the Nokian winter tires for tread depth I noted two things: 1) tread depth of both tires on the Passenger side was nearly identical at about 7mm (8.5 32nds); and 2) tread depth of both tires on the Driver side was nearly identical at about 8mm (10 32nds). Since these tires have each served three seasons on Front and Back of the truck, it makes sense that the wear for the two tires on one side is nearly the same. But I wasn't expecting so large a difference in the wear between the two sides! On past car tires I've been replacing the tires at 40K, plus or minus, and the side-to-side wear difference was never more that about 0.5/32nds. Clearly the curbside roadway makes life tougher on the Passenger side tires !

The tires are on the truck, and I'm going to just drive it this Winter - if the tread was down in the 4/32nds range on one side, the side-to-side handling might get dicey, but for now I think it's okay, I'll have to consider what a remount and rebalance might cost vs. how soon I get new snow tires.

Thanks for indulging my OCD interest in how my tires are aging.

 

[Grams]

I would advise you not to get too concerned about this.

The difference in wear-rate is not THAT much of an issue, IMO…. and the explanation is likely the simple difference that occurs on ordinary roads which are CROWNED and this often creates an increase on tire wear curb-side. (one reason normal tire rotation actually moves tires to the opposite side of the vehicle…. however, as You mention…you are using tires with DIRECTIONAL tread….. Result: you are seeing that difference in wear.)

Hope this helps.

 

[Docwagon1776]

A long time ago in a land far away, I was working as a waiter in high school. There used to be a family that would come graze there and we always knew it was them because the driver's side of their ragged out Cadillac was about 6" lower than the passenger side. Daddy sat in 2 chairs, one per cheek, and dropped over the edges of both. Momma wasn't much smaller, but she could sit on one chair, barely. I'm in no way implying that your tire wear is due to a similar issue, but your post did remind me of that poor Caddy and how likely it was the tires wore out on one side well before the other.

 

[hemihustlin]

when the driveshaft rotates it gives power to the passenger side wheel first. especially with these newer 4th gen trucks, the OEM limited slip has so little preload you probably get a good full rotation before the computers kick in and slightly brake one wheel so they both lock up and you are on your merry way.
so yes you will have more wear on the passenger side rear. i do. not a big deal.

my 06 limited slip 3.92s (no traction control front wheel ABS only) the preload was so tight, with redline 75w140 NS and just a touch of friction modifer, it went through corners in angles trucks have no business being in
people on this forum understand but in real life when you drift a truck on dry pavement people look at you funny