10-17-2024, 10:54 AM
So, if you’re seeing shoulder wear on your Jeep Grand Cherokee’s tires—where the outer or inner edge of the tread is wearing down faster than the middle—trust me, you’re probably dealing with an alignment issue. I noticed this on my 2015 Grand Cherokee and let it go for way too long before getting it checked out. Here’s what I learned the hard way and what you can do to fix it before it gets worse:
Check Your Alignment
The most common cause of uneven tire wear, especially on the shoulder, is misalignment. I took my Jeep to the shop, and sure enough, the camber was off, causing the tires to wear down on the outer edges. You can check for misalignment at home by visually inspecting if the tires seem tilted inward (negative camber) or outward (positive camber). If you're handy, a DIY alignment gauge can help, but I’d recommend leaving the actual alignment work to the pros unless you have experience.
Inspect Your Suspension
Another thing that could cause shoulder wear is worn suspension components, like ball joints or control arm bushings. Over time, these parts can loosen, affecting how your tire contacts the road. I ended up needing to replace a couple of bushings, which wasn’t too expensive, but it made a world of difference in handling and tire wear.
Tire Pressure
Sounds basic, but make sure your tires are properly inflated. Low tire pressure can cause the sides of the tire (shoulders) to wear out faster, and overinflation can wear out the center. A quick check with a tire gauge can save you some headaches.
Rotation & Balancing
If your alignment is good and suspension is solid, it might just be time for a tire rotation. Tires wear differently depending on their position on the vehicle, so rotating them every 5,000-7,000 miles helps distribute the wear more evenly. Also, make sure your tires are properly balanced to avoid unnecessary strain on certain areas.
In my case, getting the alignment fixed and rotating the tires did the trick. If you catch it early, you can save yourself from having to buy new tires prematurely. Trust me, shoulder wear can sneak up on you, and I had to learn the hard (and expensive) way!
Check Your Alignment
The most common cause of uneven tire wear, especially on the shoulder, is misalignment. I took my Jeep to the shop, and sure enough, the camber was off, causing the tires to wear down on the outer edges. You can check for misalignment at home by visually inspecting if the tires seem tilted inward (negative camber) or outward (positive camber). If you're handy, a DIY alignment gauge can help, but I’d recommend leaving the actual alignment work to the pros unless you have experience.
Inspect Your Suspension
Another thing that could cause shoulder wear is worn suspension components, like ball joints or control arm bushings. Over time, these parts can loosen, affecting how your tire contacts the road. I ended up needing to replace a couple of bushings, which wasn’t too expensive, but it made a world of difference in handling and tire wear.
Tire Pressure
Sounds basic, but make sure your tires are properly inflated. Low tire pressure can cause the sides of the tire (shoulders) to wear out faster, and overinflation can wear out the center. A quick check with a tire gauge can save you some headaches.
Rotation & Balancing
If your alignment is good and suspension is solid, it might just be time for a tire rotation. Tires wear differently depending on their position on the vehicle, so rotating them every 5,000-7,000 miles helps distribute the wear more evenly. Also, make sure your tires are properly balanced to avoid unnecessary strain on certain areas.
In my case, getting the alignment fixed and rotating the tires did the trick. If you catch it early, you can save yourself from having to buy new tires prematurely. Trust me, shoulder wear can sneak up on you, and I had to learn the hard (and expensive) way!