Unusual tire wear
 

My rear driver side tire is wearing prematurely on the outside edge of my 1998 XJ. Can anyone tell me why it is doing this? I have the stock suspension. Thanks!


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Here's a photo if my original link didn't post



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My guess is that the tire was not balanced correctly.

Bent axle housing - negative camber - if the tire has always been there.

Do you jump it?

Positive camber or excessive toe in would cause wear like that. My guess would be that the tire in question was up front at one time and started to wear like that, once a tire starts to wear abnormally it will continue to wear like that no matter where it is at on the vehicle. My second guess would be that a belt has shifted and there is a slight buldge in the tire at the worn spot. It does need to be replaced asap though.

Stop drifting so much haha

This sounds like the problem. But I do have a question. Is the tire worn like that all the way around? If not, Then it could be a bad balance on that tire. But you do need to change it as soon as you can.

usually when tires use on the outside and notthe inside, iuts because of a bad ball joint

Ooops I stand corrected - I said negative camber when I meant positive camber. IF the tire has always been on the rear - and the wear is all around it fairly evenly, then the axle tube is bent. The top of the tire is out further than the bottom, putting the wear on the outside.

But if it started wearing like that on the front, then was switched to the rear it's because the front has troubles.

Take it to an alignment shop - a real specialty shop, not a discount or chain store where they will rip you off and do a terrible job. The chain stores will sell you stuff you don't need and will do a terrible job.
See a specialist - much cheaper in the long run!

The tire has always been on the rear driver side. The rear passenger side tire has even wearing. I can't see any sign of a bent axle tube. Could it be a defective tire or a bad shock?

It does look like you have a slight toe-in.

oh its in the rear, i didnt read properly, almost 100% a bad bearing...google "bad bearing tire wear".....and you will see what you see in your pics

If you didn't reverse the tire on the rim it's the OUTSIDE of the tire that's worn the most.

There are no ball joints in the rear.
Toe isn't adjustable, but the rear is supposed to have a very slight TOE OUT. But toe wear would be even across the entire tread, and show "scuff signs," yours doesn't.
A bad bearing will cause that kind of wear ON THE INSIDE of the tread, your picture shows it on the outside!
The tire is obviously tilted outward at the top to run on the outside edge.
Sometimes a belt inside a tire stretches or breaks, causing wear like that.
You will not "see" any difference if the tube is bent slightly - the difference would only be 1/32 or so.
if it has been in an accident, or you slid into something hard, it could bend - they are not very strong.
You could have an alignment shop check it with their instruments to check for bent.
Or - replace the tire and keep very close watch on it - if it's bent, you'll see it wear the new tire the same way.
Tip - put you hand flat across the tread hold it still a moment. You can feel how it's wearing.