Tire wear help (driver's rear side)

I only got 20k miles on my 2013 DCLB and I noticed this bad tire wear.

I know I need to start with getting an alignment, but what else could possibly cause the wear? And is this covered under warranty?

What is the best place to get the alignment?

Your input will be greatly appreciated?

 

It's wearing like that on the rear? Have you not rotated tires in those 20k miles!?

 

Could take it slower around corners.

and yes an alignment would help

 

I hope the dealership has done so in the past two years of service.

 

I called my service manager and he said the rear is a solid axle and it does not need alignment. Is this true? If so my front is out of alignment?

 

You don't know?

An alignment is not a 'default' service item. It may be recommended, and you have to approve. But they aren't going to do it based on any prescribed plan.

The tire warranty is separate from your vehicle warranty. You might want to check that out. However, the tire warranty will be voided by not having regular alignments, proper inflation, etc etc.

You say this is on the rear? Always and only? And this is a solid axle truck? There's almost nothing to align in the rear on a solid axle. And it seems that broken things that would cause the whole axle to skew would wear the other tire as well.

My wager is that the dealership rotates the tires as part of the 'service' they do, and you are seeing wear caused when it's on the front of the vehicle.

Get an alignment done, and you'll find one of the front set of numbers are way out of whack.

And check out the other tires. Whatever is riding in that position now is getting eaten up too. You'll likely need a pair of tires to get correctly refreshed.

 

I meant the tire rotations during the past 2 years.

 

Gonna try to get an alignment today and I'll report back.

I'm replacing tires soon either way for something better than those ugly dunlops. Any reccommendations?

 

Just checked front tires and I can see where it's trying to start to wear on the same spot. Last rotation was about a month ago

 

under inflated a possibility here?

 

True. I'll check that once I'm done babysitting my boy.

 

Is the lifetime alignment on tire plus worth it? It's $159, and dealer charges $89 for one. Pr is the dealer's alignment any better?

 

I get a free alignment check every time I get a new set of tires. I have never had to have anything adjusted in 113k miles. Your results may vary depending on how and where you drive. Off road a lot, don't dodge pot holes, don't take it easy over the rr tracks, use curbs and parking stops for scrubbing off the last few feet per minute, the life time alignment might be worth it.

Quality of alignment depends on the person doing it. There is a little bit of art to it which is developed over years of experience.

 

Under inflation to cause that type of wear should set of the TPMS light I would think.

More likely an alignment issue (front) or a driving style issue (hard cornering).

 

+1. And they have to be working with properly calibrated equipment too. But the best equipment can't compensate for a ham fisted tech.

To the OP........

I have found the multi alignment packages to be useful on my Highlander, because it seems to get tweaked easily. The one I have isn't lifetime, but as many as I want in 3 years. It only takes two to break even, after that you are making $.

Like any other 'bargain' though, they are counting on most folks either selling the vehicle, forgetting they have the service available until tires are needed again, etc., so they pocket the profit.

So the choice is up to you. If the terms of the package are reasonable and you'll follow through and use the program, it can be worth while.