Sprinter Van wearing tires in diagonal pattern

This set of tires is specifically observed on a 2006 Mercedes Sprinter 2500 T1N with a set of larger 245/75R16 BFG KO2 tires. It was found that one of the tires was wearing out in a very unique fashion. After 35K miles, the driver's side (left) front, shown in these photos wore out completely.

Road noise has been perfectly fine and quiet so you wouldn’t notice unless you inspected the tires. The uneven "striped" wear seems to be consistent across the full circumference of the tire.

Uneven and unusual tire wear on a Mercedes Sprinter Van is often caused by issues like worn, loose, or broken suspension components, improper wheel alignment, or harsh driving conditions. One of the more unexpected wear patterns can appear on the rear tires of rear-wheel drive Sprinter Vans with improper alignment. Specifically, diagonal tread wear on the rear tires can occur when the wheels are misaligned, meaning the tires are not pointing in the same direction as the van’s geometric center line.

If the axle toe settings are incorrect—where the tires point either too far inward (toe-in) or outward (toe-out)—the tires will be forced to operate as if they are in a continuous, subtle curve. Since pneumatic tires grip the road by working at slip angles while cornering, this misalignment can cause the rear tires to alternate between grip and slip contact as they attempt to move in a straight line, leading to diagonal tread wear.

### Minimizing Diagonal Tread Wear on a Mercedes Sprinter Van:

1. **Maintain proper alignment:** Regularly checking and adjusting the toe settings is essential to prevent uneven tire wear.

2. **Tactile tire inspections:** Running your hand around the tire’s circumference can help detect early signs of unusual wear before it becomes visually apparent. If caught early, tire damage can be minimized.

3. **Regular tire rotations:** Rotating the tires at the recommended intervals ensures that all tires experience similar wear patterns. This is crucial for extending tire life, especially on rear-wheel drive vehicles like the Sprinter.

It's important to note that rotating tires cannot fix those that already have severe diagonal tread wear. In such cases, the tires should be replaced immediately to ensure safe driving.

In the end it was found that the sway bar had a worn link and was causing this.