retarded treadwear problems!!

[bman]

i need input on how to correct my problem. went to get me tires rotated for free! after a while getting it on the rack, noticed a huge problem instantly.
rear tires have a very stange treadwear pattern.not on the inside,not on the outside. i have little valley like area's in the middle on only the rear tires?
cant feel it. but looking at it, you would think you would be bouncing all over the place fred flinstone style. the best way i can describe it is, perfect tread-few inches down bare-few inches more perfect? whats the prob? i have ground controls, lowered same front and back(2 inches). did have it aligned. front tires are fine.car drives straight, so nothing i would have noticed.
im not an expert. but doesnt seem to be toe or camber,because it in the middle.
i havent seen anything on the forums before about anything similar.dont see how it would be the struts, but very well could be??
so obviously i need new tires, but need to correct this.
where do i start!
thanx brian

 

[BlkZoomZoom]

What is the tire pressure? Sounds like you have too high of tire pressure, causing the center tread wearing faster than the outer.

 

[bman]

seriously! never thought like that. i dont have a gauge, had them set on 34 psi last time had oil change. appear normal looking. should i think of letting a little out, just to wear the inner and outer part of the tire down .
i appreciate all suggestions.

 

[aMaff]

seriously! never thought like that. i dont have a gauge, had them set on 34 psi last time had oil change. appear normal looking. should i think of letting a little out, just to wear the inner and outer part of the tire down .
i appreciate all suggestions.

What size tires are those? I usually run 35-40 w/ even wear. And ya, that sounds like too high tire pressure

 

[Action Jackson]

Can you get a pic?

 

[bman]

its a 40 series tire. why would the fronts wear like that, because of the weight?
say it was to much pressure, wouldnt it just wear horrible down the entire center of the tire? this looks like it has been bouncing, missing certain parts of the tires? camera is dead. ill see if i can get a pic real quik.

 

[aMaff]

its a 40 series tire. why would the fronts wear like that, because of the weight?
say it was to much pressure, wouldnt it just wear horrible down the entire center of the tire? this looks like it has been bouncing, missing certain parts of the tires? camera is dead. ill see if i can get a pic real quik.

huh...yeah, a pic would help a lot. I've got 204-40-17s and haven't had that problem

 

[bman]

i got 2 before the battery died.

 

[bman]

sorry they are so big, but you can see better. on this tire, at this particular angle the problem is on the inner part. still dont understand why the wouldnt wear down evenly around the whole tire? doesnt shake, and they still have all the weights on them.
that some jacked up lookin tires!!!

 

[MP503]

hmm looks like feathering. I would check your alignment again, your toe setting could be way off. It could also be blown struts too. I saw the same thing on a mini cooper i worked on today.

 

[bman]

somebody else mentioned struts too. but the car isnt slammed and it only has 40,000(2002)miles on it. would the struts make the back end jump so much to only wear the same parts of the tire every full rotation??
thanks again for the comments!

 

[Action Jackson]

What tire and size is that?

What size (diameter, offset and width) rim is it run on?

 

[bman]

205-40-17x7,not sure about offset tho.

 

[BlkZoomZoom]

That sure looks like a bad strut or a belt slipped in the tire. When is the last time you rotated the tires?

 

[bman]

about 10,000 miles ago, thats why i was getting them rotated now. the fronts were starting to show more wear.