I have a 98 Ranger 4x4 and have some 265/75-16 Dunlop Mud Terrain tires on it. They are pretty much at the end of their life, but I have noticed something very peculiar in how the tread has wore in the last 10k miles or so. On the front tires only, it seems that every other tread block (these tires have large tread blocks) has worn down quite a bit more than the other tread blocks. So one will be higher than the other. high one, low one, high, low, high, low - all the way around the tire. But it is only on the outermost treadblocks - The ones on the inside and outside of the tread. The treadblocks in the middle of the tire have worn normally. Besides it just looking strange, the tire noise is way, way worse than it was when the tires were new - Wa wa wa wa wa. I noticed it happening a while back, but since the tires are about shot, never did anything about it. I was just wondering if anyone had ever heard of this happening..... Me and my friends are stumped. We have no idea. I do drive the truck pretty hard, but I don't see how it would cause this kind of tread deterioration. I also off-road on a monthly baisis, but again, I dont' see how that would do this. If anyone has any ideas on the cause of this, please post them. These tires are shot, but if I have an idea on what is causing it, hopefully it won't happen again. Thanks.......

 

Check out the front suspension to see if anything is loose. Especially ball joints.

 

Check your tire pressure, I had the same problem and it was caused by low inflation.
AB

 

I have the same problem PSI good 38psi for smooth ride, alingment good, shocks new I have been told this by local for dealer it is the size and aggresive tread design.

I have sport king tires 265-75 16s (THEY SUCK) and the do not stay ballanced
98 4x4 off road 4l auto

 

I had the same problem on my '01 Ranger. It ended up being what my mechanic calls "flat spots" on the tires. There are a few things that may cause this. Bad alignment, needing more frequent rotations or worn suspension components (tie rods, ball joints, struts...) Steering geometry also plays a roll in this (you may turn sharper going one way versus another...). Also the type of tires. Some tires are made of a "softer" rubber than others, therefore will wear faster. I heard somewhere that Rangers in particular eat tires for breakfast, but I don't buy it. Hey, that reminds me, I need to rotate mine.

 

My stock tires



The conclusion was the tires were crappy.
I have toyo a/ts now much more aggressive and no wierd crap like that.
Oh and those were rotated twice and junked at 14920miles (time of pics)

Rand

 

I have a 99 4 by 4 and that happened to me at 50,000 miles because all 4 ball joints were shot. If you can a aford the ones from the dealer, they will have grease fittings on them and last a bunch longer, also to keep my new tires from getting killed I do a frount end alinement once a year....and now I have 112,000 mile and I am not having any more problems and I do some off roading. becides Michigan roads really are like off roading sometimes...yk..yk