Weird wear in center of front tires only

[RussAdams]

1999 4.0 automatic 4x4. 240,000 miles on the Odometer. New shocks and recent alignment.

Any ideas why the front tires are wearing like this? Small chunks missing in center of front tires only. Last photo is a rear tire for comparison.

Oh - The air pressure is set to 30psi as per the sticker on the driver door panel.

 

[Curious Hound]

I would say something is occasionally rubbing on them. Are they the proper size for the truck?

 

[RussAdams]

I would say something is occasionally rubbing on them. Are they the proper size for the truck?

The tires are 245/75 R 16.

I just went out and checked, and it looks like there are two or more inches clearance even with the wheels cranked all the way left or right.

I can't see any signs on the under carriage of rubbing. Nothing polished looking and I can't see signs of rubber debris on the body.

Thanks for the suggestion! But doesn't appear to be it.

 

[Uncle Gump]

Those look like dedicated snow tires.

Also looks like they're having trouble ejecting debris from the tread.

Di you drive on a bunch of gravel/dirt surfaces?

 

[Curious Hound]

That should be an ok size for most Rangers at stick height- 30.5" diam.x 9.6" wide. And I agree. You should see some wear marks somewhere. But that wear definitely looks like they're hitting something somewhere.

 

[2011Supercab]

What about at the front of the tire when it's at full turn?

 

[19Walt93]

It looks to me like they were spun vigorously through mud with rocks in it. Did you loan the truck to anyone who'd do that?

 

[RussAdams]

Those look like dedicated snow tires.

Also looks like they're having trouble ejecting debris from the tread.

Di you drive on a bunch of gravel/dirt surfaces?

They are Continental M&S. They came with the truck 8 or so years ago when I bought it.

I don't drive on gravel or offroad very often. Mostly city driving. Some highway.

 

[pjtoledo]

tires look like that after hot laps on a track. how is DC traffic now?
8 years old? the rubber is changing, getting harder with less traction.

 

[SenorNoob]

2in of clearance can become zero when turning at speed. Not saying that's happening here, but it's possible.

This looks to me more like old tires. Can you post the date code?

 

[Poppa_R]

I have seen alot of tires from super duty trucks that are used on verusious construction sites that have looked similar to this. but those tires were chewed up accross the tread area and usually happened to all 4. I was told this was caused by driving these vehicles on rock county roads.

 

[superj]

that looks like what happens when driving on gravel or rock roads. do yall have really rough asphalt roads up there?

 

[2011Supercab]

Have they always been on the front?

 

[RussAdams]

2in of clearance can become zero when turning at speed. Not saying that's happening here, but it's possible.

This looks to me more like old tires. Can you post the date code?

Date code: DOT A3UY WCPE 2416

24th week of 2016 is my guess.

I've never loaned it out. Nor tracked it. LOL. Bit too old for that.

I *DO* pull up to the curb then at dead stop turn wheels away from the curb and roll back til it stops. I park on a slight slope and was always taught to point the tires towards the curb. Hard to think that would do it, but...

The top photo shows how much clearance there is. I really can't find anything that looks like it is polished. Stumped. The second photo shows marks from rotating the tire, then rolling back. Just visible as whitish circular marks. The third photo is the DOT code. No other code is there. Continental says there should be an imprinted code according to their website. But there are none on these tires.

 

[RussAdams]

They have always been on the front. My bad for not rotating. But definitely points to something going on in the front. I put very few miles on my cars anymore.

No really bad roads that I drive on. Live in the 'Burbs, and have good roads around us.

Could it be related to the suspension in any way? But odd that it's only in the middle. And I don't overinflate or underinflate my tires.

Stumped!!!

It's about time for new tires, and I don't want to do the same to the new ones if there's something I can fix.