Opinion? - to 'flip' truck tires or not

[Alagnak]

I assume from having a very heavy brush guard on the front of my truck throughout the life of my tires and regular rotations- the insides have worn a little faster than the outsides. It wasn't ever very noticable until I'm approaching the last year or two of the tires (it's not my daily driver). They aren't bald yet by any means and the outsides have pretty good wear. Anybody think it's worth the $100 or so to 'flip' them on the rim and balance them to get the rest of the life out of them and wear evenly, or just eat dirt and order another set of $1200 tires?

Thanks for any experiences.

[crothmeier]

The previous owner of my pickup ignored the loose ball joints and chopped the inside of the newer tires that were on the pickup pretty bad. I bought it, fixed the ball joints, was irritated with the howling, and after one rotation I had them flipped. they've worn fmore evenly now and the howling went away. I'd say you'd get some extra life out of them if you flipped them. Tires are expensive. I got mine flipped and balanced for $64.

[Scott K]

Flip, but shop for the cost to do so.

[Jeremy airjer W]

year, make, model, engine size?

my first thought is the problem you described indicates worn front end parts. Specifically lower ball joints and possible uppers depending on the vehicle. When these parts wear the camber becomes negative (or the top of the tires will point inward more). This will cause increased wear on the inside tread of the tire.

If the steering wheel is not level than its possible there is a toe issue. Toe does not typically cause excessive tire wear but excessive toe out will cause the inside of the tire to wear faster but it will also have a characteristic known as feathering.

If the front end is tight, have the alignment checked. Once the alignment is back into spec the tires should again start to wear normally with less wear to the inside tread.

If you flip the tires than that worn out part will be on the outside. the outside tread can be a little more prone to wear do to turning. especially the left front if you live in the metro since we are always turning to the right getting on and off the freeway.

[Alagnak]

2004 F 150, 5.4, 93,000 miles.

I put the brush guard on about the same time as the tires 50,000 ago. I didn't have the same problem with the old tires at time of no brush guard- that is the only reason I was thinking it could be that and not front end parts but I could easily be wrong too. The brush guard is welded and not a stamped out chrome junker for looks- it's about 200-250#.

So perhaps I flip them- then when I get a new set make sure I have it aligned and front end parts checked for wear..........

Again- thanks a lot guys.

[Jeremy airjer W]

93k on the original ball joints, I would check them immediately!

[Alagnak]

WILL DO! THANKS!

93k on the original ball joints, I would check them immediately!

[Scott K]

Pete, just jack up the truck, and grab the top and bottom of the tire, wigle back and forth, is there play? Then grab a long pry bar, and pry up on the bottom of the tire, while having someone watching the lower ball joint, see if it is moving up and down. If there is no movement, then you are good.

[fishing tech]

You need to jack it up on the lower control arm. Lower balljoints are very common for this make. Tie rods sometimes, you may want to check the idler arm also as many shops fail to grease it and thus it wears and becomes loose. This will not cause a tire wear problem but it does need to be taken care of. as said before shop for the best price. $100 is high. $10-$15 a tire $20 tops.

[Alagnak]

Pete, just jack up the truck, and grab the top and bottom of the tire, wigle back and forth, is there play? Then grab a long pry bar, and pry up on the bottom of the tire, while having someone watching the lower ball joint, see if it is moving up and down. If there is no movement, then you are good.

Thanks a lot Scott. I'll do it tomorrow or thurs. I had a few other things I need to do before taking off for a little trip next week anyway.