Yesterday I noticed the rear passenger tire is extremely worn, less than an 1/16" of tread left compared to the two front tires that have over 3/8" of tread. I bought this 2004 Wrangler in June and all four tires looked new (tread was all the same depth). The rear driver's side tire is also worn more than the front two, but probably only half as worn as the rear passenger tire. Unfortunately, I'm going to have to purchase at least 1 new tire to replace the worst one, but my bigger concern is the cause of the uneven wear! Could this be as simple as just needing an alignment, or could it be more serious? I guess I'm asking for some inputs as to what to expect when I take it in the garage to have it checked out. Also, on an issue such as this, should I take it to the dealer, a tire shop, or some place like 4 Wheel Parts were they work on Jeeps all the time? Thanks for the help, and Happy New Year!
My rear end is out of whack!
- Thread starter Gotta-P
- Start date
Jester32
New member
Do you do regular rotations. The right rear always wears considerably fast as it is the forward drive wheel. If a tire is going to spin it will usually be the right rear. The only way a rear tire will wear more is a bent axle. As there is no adjustments in the rear. You said 2004 is when you bought it. I wish I could get that long out of tires. Usually 2 sets a year. I drive 120,000 kms a year though.
Jesse,
No, I just bought it June of 2011, it's a 2004 model, and the tire still had the nubs on them when I got it. I have not rotated the tires because I've only had it 6 months, and I don't drive it every day. I'd say I might have put 2,000 miles max on it since I got it. Which is why I'm so concerned about the amount of wear. Here are a couple pictures to show the difference in wear, the worn one is the rear passenger tire, the new looking one is the front passenger tire. The back tire looked like the front tire when I got the Jeep! I sure hope it's not a bent axle! Is there any fix other than a new axle?
Rear Passenger Tire
Front Passenger Tire
No, I just bought it June of 2011, it's a 2004 model, and the tire still had the nubs on them when I got it. I have not rotated the tires because I've only had it 6 months, and I don't drive it every day. I'd say I might have put 2,000 miles max on it since I got it. Which is why I'm so concerned about the amount of wear. Here are a couple pictures to show the difference in wear, the worn one is the rear passenger tire, the new looking one is the front passenger tire. The back tire looked like the front tire when I got the Jeep! I sure hope it's not a bent axle! Is there any fix other than a new axle?
Rear Passenger Tire
Front Passenger Tire
josue estrada
New member
my buddy has a 2006 and today we found out that his rear driver is also wearing considerably fast. Except that in his situation it is only the outer tread
Jester32
New member
The reason I ask if your the only driving is I see it all the time where someone's kid or brother borrows a veh and spins the tires or is an aggressive driver and it's usually only the right rear tire that will wear like that. And the only way to properly diag a tire wear problem is to have an alignment and if it's good then driving habits etc all come into play. I've even seen some tires just start coming apart just from a poor assy at the factory.
Jesse,
I'm the only driver, amd I'm pretty easy on it. Mostly we use itmformshot trips on weekends to run errands. We have pulled it behind our RV, but it's not under power, so there would be no wheel spinning there.
Sway,
Will be interested in hearing what you find out about your buddy's Jeep. I think I'll bring mine to the local 4 Wheel Parts store this week and see if they can tell what's causing the unusual wear. I'm hoping it's just in need of an alignment.
Thanks for all the replys!
I'm the only driver, amd I'm pretty easy on it. Mostly we use itmformshot trips on weekends to run errands. We have pulled it behind our RV, but it's not under power, so there would be no wheel spinning there.
Sway,
Will be interested in hearing what you find out about your buddy's Jeep. I think I'll bring mine to the local 4 Wheel Parts store this week and see if they can tell what's causing the unusual wear. I'm hoping it's just in need of an alignment.
Thanks for all the replys!
54cj3b
New member
few things to consider/look into
#1
Hows your driving
light pedal = no wheel spin
medium pedal = slight wheel spin
heavy pedal = major wheel spin
driving habits are a big factor on tire wear
#2
do you ever notice any kind of rear wheel wobble/bounce
(possible broken shock or spring)
#3
are your brakes worn
#4
wheel balance / improper tire inflation / are all tires same size
but my biggest thought is wheel spin from over acceleration or fast release of clutch , remember jeeps are light and spin tires often even when you don't get on it , tune your habits to your jeeps personality/habits , may sound stupid but you and your jeep will be more happy together also save you alot of tire wear
#1
Hows your driving
light pedal = no wheel spin
medium pedal = slight wheel spin
heavy pedal = major wheel spin
driving habits are a big factor on tire wear
#2
do you ever notice any kind of rear wheel wobble/bounce
(possible broken shock or spring)
#3
are your brakes worn
#4
wheel balance / improper tire inflation / are all tires same size
but my biggest thought is wheel spin from over acceleration or fast release of clutch , remember jeeps are light and spin tires often even when you don't get on it , tune your habits to your jeeps personality/habits , may sound stupid but you and your jeep will be more happy together also save you alot of tire wear
I hadn't thought about flat towing being an issue, I'll have to look at that as well. I am a very conservative drive (apparent by my gas mileage below), so there are no spinning tires! There is no wobble either, so I hope that rules out a bent axle. The Jeep rides smooth and seems to track straight, with no apparent pull one way or the other, so hopefully it's just an alignment issue that can be easily resolved relatively inexpensively. Although a new tire will be in my future... Thanks for the tip on requesting the spec sheet from the alignment, I'll be sure to request that when I get it in the shop.
Jack up the rear end, start the jeep, put it in 1st gear( not 4wd, 2wd 1st gear ), look at your spinning wheels and tires, are they running straight and true or are they wobbling? My first cj had a warped axle and you couldnt feel any vibration at all from driving it. The tires wore quick too, mostly the outside edge, they were scalloped. I bent the flange on my current jeep this past spring and you can definately feel it while driving. Could be a warped rim also. If you see one side wobbling, swap the wheels and tires from the side that isnt, if its still wobbling then you have a warped axle, if it quits wobbling then you have a warped wheel.
J Smith
New member
This is hard to diagnose without seeing it, but you probably have a bent axle tube on the rear axle. That is the only thing that makes sense wearing the tire as evenly across the tread as the pics show.
Flat towing it many miles would make this even more likely. The tire in question would probably be running considerably hotter than the others after a long haul.
A four wheel alignment MAY pick up the problem, but they will need to be looking for it or it would likely be missed.
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