When removing a large off-road tire assembly from a wheel loader, a technician notes uneven wear across the tire tread, with significantly more wear on the outer shoulder. The machine primarily operates on hard, level surfaces. What is the most probable cause of this specific wear pattern?

Question: When removing a large off-road tire assembly from a wheel loader, a technician notes uneven wear across the tire tread, with significantly more wear on the outer shoulder. The machine primarily operates on hard, level surfaces. What is the most probable cause of this specific wear pattern?

Answer options:

• Under-inflation of the tire pressure for the load being carried. ✅ Over-inflation of the tire pressure for the load being carried.
• Excessive positive camber setting on the wheel alignment.
• Excessive negative camber setting on the wheel alignment.

Correct answer: Over-inflation of the tire pressure for the load being carried.

Explanation: Uneven wear on the outer shoulder of a tire commonly indicates over-inflation. When a tire is over-inflated, the centre of the tread tends to bulge outwards, causing more contact and wear on the centre of the tread. However, on larger, stiffer off-road tires, or under specific loading conditions, over-inflation can sometimes lead to excessive pressure on the outer edges if the tire is 'running on its crown' more rigidly. More commonly, if it's strictly outer shoulder wear and load is substantial, this points to overinflation. While under-inflation typically causes excessive wear on both shoulders, and camber issues are more about inside/outside wear rather than solely the outer shoulder.