So would a locker cause extra tire ware?

yes

More so with a front locker then a rear, but even so the question actually depends on the locker. A Spool is a definite. An Aussie\Detroit will be a bit more wear if you drive in tight places frequently and the part time lockers, are open diffs just like stock when not locked so tire wear would be the same.

And all my examples are for street driven Jeeps. On the trail, you wouldn't really have much of an issue.

you get stuck less often and spend more time on the road

That depends, some people think that when they have a locker they are invincible. Unlike with open diffs most people are more leery. Haha. Not me though! Open diffs don't stop me!

Even an Aussie would cause a bit more wear than Stock.

"An Aussie\Detroit will be a bit more wear especially if you drive in tight places frequently"

Fixed.

If you never turn right or left, the wear would be negligible.


Since most of us have to go around corners though, there will be wear because both rear tires turn more in tandem with each other than with open differentials. Thus, more scuffing of the tires. My own experience over the years with a lockright (and 4 or 5 sets of tires), has shown that some extra wear does occur.

Not enough however, to keep me from installing one in every vehicle that could accept one. The positives just totally outweigh the negatives, especially if you have sloppy weather or plan to 4 wheel very much........

just get a switchable locker like ARB. That way when you are on the dreaded pavement the diffs will be open.

If I'm not mistaken, when a selectable locker is disengaged it acts as a limited slip not an open carrier.

I believe that's true with the auburn electric locker. I have an Eaton electric locker in my front differential, and it's not limited slip when disengaged.

I'm not sure about the air lockers out there......

Ya, you're right about the eaton. But I believe the ected's, arb's, and ox's are lsd's when disengaged.