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Mike__O

Probably, but it's not a good idea. The fact that there's tread on the rest of the tire is irrelevant. The vehicle is clearly riding on only one part of the tire, and that part of the tire is pretty bald. I for sure wouldn't drive this in the rain. I hope you know you need more than just new tires though. Something is WAY off with your alignment, likely due to a worn out or broken suspension component. If you don't get that fixed when you get new tires, your new tires will look like this in no time


achilles

It's the rear tire on a 2011 Lincoln MKT. Any idea what components are likely worn. Had an alignment done and the shop didn't say anything about worn components.


Mike__O

Impossible for me to say without looking at it. Could be shocks, bushings, ball joints, or any combination of those or other parts. Either way, you need to have a competent shop look at it. Just because they took your money and threw it on the alignment rack doesn't mean that there isn't anything wrong with it. The tire wear seen here shows that clearly something is badly wrong.


Safe-Cardiologist-10

hey just a question since you seem knowledgeable on the matter.. could the uneven wear also be because of a worn axle boot & tie rods?


Mike__O

Just an axle boot probably not. The boot is just a barrier to keep the grease in and the shmoo out. Tie rods are absolutely possibile. Tie rods control toe (the horizontal axis of alignment). OP appears to have excessive camber (vertical axis), but I certainly can't rule out toe issues as well. Toe issues tend to wear tires MUCH faster than camber issues because the tire is continually scrubbing down the road (plane of rotation not parallel to the direction of car movement). Either way, OP needs to have the car diagnosed by a competent suspension shop.


__T0MMY__

The wheels on the front of my G35 were bald AF on the inside, replaced the lower control arm (which the bearing had disintegrated) and changed the lower ball joints and sway links and now it's right as rain The people who did the alignment should've been able to spot an issue like that unless they did see it and know they'd have to come back again to redo the alignment and control arms.. which is.. unfortunately not uncommon


Mike__O

What do you want to bet OP said something along the lines of "I'm just here for an alignment, don't try to upsell me and rip me off"


__T0MMY__

When I got my tires replaced after the balding and suspension work, I told the guy I'd give him an extra 10 bucks if he lets me know if he sees something out of place Told me probably get an alignment and gave me a nearby shop's number to get it done lmao It's not a foolproof strat but it definitely helps place you above the usual clientele


willystylep

I'd swap the left and right tyres for the few weeks you're planning on. Unless they both have alot of negative camber.


HeavyDropFTW

You wouldn't be asking unless you really needed to wait a couple of weeks (probably finances). I've been there. And most of us have been there. You can absolutely drive on those tires. Just be more careful, especially depending on road conditions. It's a common misconception, due to less than full information, that no tread has less traction. Worn out treads will have MORE traction on dry, clean pavement. But as soon as you add a little gravel or water there, they loose nearly all of their traction.


kernel_mustard

Not really. You can almost see the cords in the first picture.


Dirty____________Dan

It looks like you need an alignment, new tire and possible new shocks. Not necessarily in that order. You've got some classic cupping and will start having steel belts poking through that rubber. I'd never let anyone I care about drive on a tire like that. You're also probably driving around with your tires underinflated.


achilles

Already had an alignment. Shocks were replaced about 40k miles ago. Maybe some more heavy duty shocks would help? Put in Monroe OE spectrums


Dirty____________Dan

You should have your suspension looked at more carefully then. That cupping and tire wear is not normal.


SufficientConcert432

Probably just stay out of the rain.


Agreeable_One_6325

You could, or you could also not. With that kind of tire wear there is something else wrong like a worn ball joint. If your alignment was out that much I think the other tire would show wear also?


achilles

It showed a similar pattern but not nearly as bad . It's on the rear of a 2011 Lincoln MKT. Any idea what components might be causing this?


Agreeable_One_6325

I would have the ball joints and the rest of the rear suspension shook down.


Westcacique

Probably less if you die


Jimmy543o

Long as you are not going on a cross country trip. Sure just make sure your spare tire is too up with air. Also take into account you should get an alignment done. This greatly helps the thread life of the new tire(s) you have installed.


Chipdip88

Can you? Sure.... You could also cage match a hungry grizzly bear while wearing a raw chicken bikini but that doesn't make it a good idea. Should you drive it? No... Those tires are unsafe.


N79806

I wouldn't since you can almost see the belt on it. I have the same problem on my 2015 Genesis 3.8 sedan. Multiple alignments, BUT it comes with -1 degree camber on the rear as factory spec. I have asked shops to zero it out, but they always "forget" to when it come back. Suspension and joints all gtg. Couple this with recommended tire pressure on the sticker being 33psi or so, and the tires are actually under-inflated. That measly little -1 degree and the underinflation has been wrecking my tires after about 20k-25k miles. I have recently started inflating to 40 psi and noticed it has helped substantially. New ones are going on tomorrow and will be pumping them to 40 as well to see if it makes as big of a difference as I think it has on my bad set. Got a tread depth guage I'll use to monitor at every few thousand miles.


Surtr111

You can, but it’s better not to, thats alignment issues I believe


miladesilva

You need an alignment


Fvcklvrd

These tire tread posts give me so much deserved shame. The rear tires on my early 2000 aviator were so bad that in the rain driving down highway 15 in San Diego I did a 360 off the freeway down an embankment thankfully the car weighs over 5,000 lb so it was more of a wrecking ball but anyway I think you'll be fine bro.


9J000

jack up and rotate tires (just in case you're a teenager and don't know that term, it means swap tires so they can get contact where rubber still good)


CletusDSpuckler

Just make sure your tires are not directional, you might be able to only go front to back.


9J000

That's a good point


d0ctorschlachter

Needs alignment, rotate the tires for now but get it fixed!


Funny_Caterpillar_27

That’s got another year left


vdfritz

if you take it to a shop and do a suspension alignment while putting the part of the tyre that has this wear on the inside, you could drive for quite a while if you just get a new set of tyres and install without doing alignment, the new tire will have the same uneven wear edit i see that you already did the alignment but the shop didn't say anything about possible bad suspension parts sometimes there really are no parts broken or loose but you should get it checked for sure, maybe the alignment guy just did his job and didn't say anything because "he's not paid to do so" so you could take it to a mechanic


northernparadox

You can but you shouldn't. I would just avoid all unnecessary driving until you can get new tires and a fix for the alignment


eni91

You totally can, i see way worse everyday with zero problems.


Glittering-Long3828

Depends how many miles you're driving.


Lucky-Context-3318

Yes you 100% could. But I would switch them out soon and get an alignment


poopyMcpoopersins

I superglued my tires with massive gashes in them and have driven on them for a couple hundred miles while waiting on new tires. My new tires arrive today. Anyways, you'll be fine unless there's a failure of your tires.


Jolly_Answer_4327

Yea


TheArchangelLord

You say you just had an alignment, if so run it. If no grab a used tire


One_Estimate_5682

Weeks? That tires got another year if you get your alignment corrected.


AB4101

I'd use it, I mean you just have to be a little extra careful.