A good set of tires is expensive, so we want them to last as long as possible. But what happens when you spot signs of uneven tire wear? This might mean that you need a new set of tires or can even indicate issues with your car. In this article, we look at the main causes of uneven tire wear and what you can do to prevent it from happening.
Did you know that you can usually tell the cause of irregular tire tread wear by where the tire wear patterns appear? In this blog post, we will look at how uneven tire wear can be prevented by good wheel alignment.
Also read: Benefits of Regular Tyre Rotation and Wheel Alignment
Shoulder Or Outer Tire Wear
When the outside edges or shoulders of your tires wear faster than the center of the tread, it is usually for one simple reason—incorrect tire pressure or underinflated tires. In the worst-case scenario, this can even lead to a blowout. This is why it is so important to check your tire pressure regularly and make sure it is at the manufacturer’s specifications.
One-sided Wear
When you see one side of the tread wearing unusually fast, generally the inside edge, the causes are commonly mechanical. So, to answer the question ‘What causes tires to wear on the inside?’ the answer is:
- Improper wheel alignment (especially a faulty camber)
- Tires that have not been regularly rotated
- Carrying too heavy loads
- Regularly driving on roads with high crowns (a road that is higher in the center than the edge).
Feather Edge Wear
This type of uneven tire wear appears as wear in the tread blocks or ribs that have a feather-like appearance. The main causes of these tire wear patterns are:
- Improper wheel alignment (especially faulty toe-in)
- A bent axle beam.
- The cost of uneven tire wear
Uneven tire wear can affect your car’s handling, especially in wet or wintery conditions. In extreme cases, it can even lead to a tire blowout. Additionally, if one area of your tire is wearing much faster than others, it may go below the legal minimum tread depth of 2/32”, meaning the tire needs to be replaced. If you don’t replace the tire, your risk of a flat tire or blowout will increase. New tires are not cheap, and having to replace your tires due to uneven wear could set you back anywhere from $400 to over $1,200, depending on the type of tires and type of vehicle.
Solutions To Tire Tread Wear Problems
If you want to avoid these costly problems and make sure your tire tread wears evenly, here are some ways to fix common tread wear issues.
Check Your Tire Pressure
Underinflated tires can cause tire wear, particularly on the outer sides. Depending on which tires are underinflated, this can affect both the front and rear tires. Dealing with this issue is easy. First, make sure you know your tire pressure. This will be shown in your vehicle’s user manual or on a plaque in the doorframe. The recommended pressure will also depend on the weight of the load you are carrying. Remember to check your tire pressure regularly—we suggest at least once a month. If you notice any of your tires are losing more air than the others, check them for problems and fix them as soon as possible.
Check Your Wheel Alignment
Wheel misalignment can lead to many issues with tread wear and your car’s overall performance. It can make your car handle badly, cause your tires to wear out more quickly, and lead to one-sided or feather wear patterns. Issues with the suspension or steering system cause incorrect alignment. This can happen after hitting a pothole or getting into an accident. But when your wheels are properly aligned, they are in the correct position relative to your vehicle, so the vehicle’s weight is distributed across all your tires. We recommend checking your alignment after fender benders, hitting large potholes hard, installing new tires or suspension parts, and rotating tires. As part of your regular car maintenance, your alignment should also be checked every 6,000-12,000 miles. As your wheels and suspension age, these inspections must be done more frequently.
Additionally, if you notice one-sided or feather wear patterns, you should take your car to a qualified mechanic to align your tires as soon as possible. However, it’s a good idea to check a couple of things:
- Tire Pressure and Inflation: If your tire pressure is too high or low, accurate alignment is impossible, so check your properly inflated tires first.
- Ride Height: Accurate alignment will be impossible if your car’s suspension system has been lowered or lifted. Alignment relies on the relationship between various parts of your suspension system, so if your ride height differs from the factory specifications, it will be very hard to align your wheels correctly.
Wheel Alignment In More Detail
Various elements of wheel alignment can affect your tire wear. As you can see, wheel alignment is a complex topic and should always be carried out by a qualified professional.
Wheelbase
The wheelbase is the distance between the front and rear axles measured from the center of the hub. If this distance is not equal on both sides of the car, it can indicate that your suspension components are worn, bent, or damaged.
Tracking
Tracking is the distance of each wheel from the vehicle’s center line. To ensure the wheels are parallel to each other, they need to be the same distance from the center line. This enables the car to move in a straight line.
Camber
When you look at the wheels from the front of your car, you want them to be vertical. Camber is the tilt of any tire from vertical. A negative camber is when the top of the tire tilts toward the car, and a positive camber is when the top tilts away from the car. Camber is measured in degrees and varies by car model and year.
Camber angles should be adjusted so the tire has maximum contact with the road under particular driving and load conditions. For example, if you do a lot of hard cornering with a heavy load, you might need a slightly negative camber. However, camber can be zero or slightly positive for highway driving habits without any sharp cornering.
If your camber is set correctly for your driving habits, your vehicle will handle better, and your tires will wear more evenly. But if your camber is set incorrectly, certain areas of your tires can wear out more quickly.
Magnum Autoclub: For Your Car To Shine!
We all know the trope: the greasy mechanic ripping every customer off, any way they can just to make a few extra bucks. Or throwing in something that does not need repair or replacement but is doing it anyway. Well, Magnum Autoclub is here to dispel that stereotype and introduce you to a car maintenance experience that will really take the service to the next level.
At Magnum Autoclub, we’re dedicated car lovers trying to make everybody enjoy the ride they have and appreciate the cars they drive. This is why our service is geared towards making you fall in love with your car and ensuring that each and every service you want: whether its synthetic oil change or tire or wheel swaps, our expert technicians and mechanics are here to make your experience a quality one and to make your car drive like a dream again. Trust Magnum Autoclub for the best auto maintenance service.