Repeated Excessive Tire Wear and Failure On Just One Tire of Tandem Axle Trailer

Question:

I have a tandem axle flat bed trailer. After only a few hundred miles all tread is gone from the tire on the right front axel. Problem is getting very expenses.

asked by: Laura

Expert Reply:

Excessive tire wear on just one tire of a tandem axle trailer could indicate a few things. First, and the easiest to check, it could be a problem with some component of the suspension. You will want to inspect the suspension on that side and look for signs of excessive wear such as egg-shaped holes, bent or broken pieces. If you are not sure you could compare the bad side of the trailer with the good side.

Another possible issue is that there is something wrong with the running gear at that tire. Running gear includes the hub, spindle, and bearings. A bent spindle would indicate the trailer was overloaded and replacing the axle would be the best course of action. But this would show excessive tread wear on just the inside or outside of the tread.

You can also make sure that the hub is secured correctly. Remove the tire and wheel and see if there is any play in the hub. If you can move it in or out, up or down, side to side more than a tiny fraction of an inch that indicates there is likely a bearing or hub problem, the wrong bearings or hub, or a damaged spindle.

You would want to check the hub on the opposite side to see if it is using the same or different bearings or hub than the trouble side. A damaged spindle would mean that replacing the axle is the way to go.

You might also want to have a tire shop take a look at the wheel. Since this keeps happening repeatedly the wheel may be causing a slow leak or could be warped leading to the excessive wear. Also keep in mind that trailer tires should also be inflated to the maximum psi indicated on the tire.

I hope that this helps identify the issue and that it is one of the simpler fixes!

expert reply by: Michael H