90k Miles.... seeing unusual wear on passenger front tire

[jkaminsky]

If run my hand one way on the tire its smooth, if I run it the other way its slightly rough. This is the outer edge, I'm thinking this is the beginning stages of feathering. That might mean a bad strut? or swaybar link? or something?

 

I tend to feel the passenger front being slightly bouncy on the freeway, and the car is slightly unstable on uneven surfaces.

 

 

[fbov]

What you describe is normal. It's due to the need for the tire to slide a little to generate lateral friction. The trail edge of the tread block bends, so it wears less. That creates an edge you only feel when you rub the right way. 

 

Now, this is also subtle, while real suspension issues cause more obvious wear. I use it to check tire placement when swapping snows and summer tires. At 50K I also needed a link replaced, so you may also at your mileage. I didn't have odd tire wear. 

 

HAve fun,

Frank

[ptjones]

Hows the alignment? With 80k on tires they wear more on inside edge than outside at 50 psi.

 

Paul