Go Kart Tire Wear Issue

[Peeb]

BTW, got the kart running thanks to YOUR expert guidance (note the new chain in the pics!).

The "drive" tire (rear tire connected to the chain) was badly worn when I bought the Kart. Put on a BRAND NEW one, and it looks ready to replace after 2 weeks! (pics below).

My first instinct was to blame the kids for too many "burn rubber" moments on the pavement, but my search of the forum suggests other causes, such as a twisted frame. The front right (catty-corner to the drive tire) is also about shot. Thoughts?

 

[Doc Sprocket]

That really would suggest some sort of alignment issue, wouldn't it? Aside from the obvious "check everything for squareness and symmetry", I got nothing. That's weird. I do think the steering geometry is terrible, but it wouldn't accound for the accelerated REAR tire wear.

 

[gokart14]

single wheel drive usaly will burn out the back tire my kart has the same problem. do you usaly drive mainly on concrete our on grass cause the tire spins easily on offroad

 

[Doc Sprocket]

single wheel drive usaly will burn out the back tire my kart has the same problem. do you usaly drive mainly on concrete our on grass cause the tire spins easily on offroad

Oh, that's definately "road" rash. But it doesn't account for the opposing front tire wear.

What if it's just coincidence? Could it be the road rash on the rear tire is just a product of doin' the one-wheel-peel, and the front opposing tire is dying from poor steering geometry? That reverse-Ackermann thing can't be helping..
Any chance the kids have a tendency to steer more in one direction than the other, like an oval track mentality? Are all tires inflated to equal pressure? Just thinking out loud, here.

 

[The_Machine]

Rear tire wear is obviously from being single wheel drive. even if you're not spinning the tires that tire is the only one supplying torque.

Your right side tie rod (long one) is bent. The front right tire wear could be due to the kids taking a turn in a single direction. lift the kart up like it's doing a wheelie and look at the underside of frame for tweaks. put the steering straight and measure from rim to rim at the front of the wheel and then at the back of the wheel. If your child rides the kart by him or herself they may find the kart turns in quicker in one direction and may do that more often. Watch them drive without them knowing you're watching and look for patterns.

 

[gokart14]

the go kart i have has the exact same steering as yours and now matter how we adjust it when it turns the outside tire turns significantly more then the inside so the inside tire just slides when you turn but we drive it off road so you cant see the wear on the tire but that may be your problem with your front tires. just a guess

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

Check your toe settings, front and rear.

 

[drscope]

If your long tie rod is bent, that may be contributing to the wear on the front tire. Those tie rods are kinda whimpy and they tend to flex some.

That makes the toe settings change as it is being driven and you get scrub on the tire.

 

[Kenny_McCormic]

If your long tie rod is bent, that may be contributing to the wear on the front tire. Those tie rods are kinda whimpy and they tend to flex some.

That makes the toe settings change as it is being driven and you get scrub on the tire.

Those rods are in tension while traveling in a straight line, plenty strong. Toe should be set 1/16-1/8 inch in, meaning the distance between the fronts of the tires should be greater than the rear.