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The guide below will help fuel your ability to spot uneven tire wear. Understanding uneven tire wear, including the signs, symptoms, and causes, allows you to easily spot potential minor tire wear issues before they become significant problems. Uneven tire wear may not seem like a significant issue, but the uneven wear pattern can result in road noise at best and considerable traction loss at worst. And, in excessive cases, sidewall wear can weaken the tire’s core and cause a tire to buckle.Tires are the primary contact point for your car to the road, so ensuring they are in top condition is paramount. Additionally, this type of wear is often seen in urban settings with street parking.
#TIRE WEAR PATTERNS DRIVER#
Sidewall wear is usually caused by a driver who parks too close to the curb. But, if it doesn’t, make sure to have the springs and ball joints checked out.
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A new alignment will generally solve the problem. If you spot this type of wear - and don’t remember making any sudden or hard stops - have your brake system checked for a foundation issue.Īnother indictor of a misaligned vehicle is when either the outer or inner part of the tire wears faster than the rest of the tire. Flat Spot Wearįlat spot wear is often caused by aggressive or emergency braking, although it may also be an indication of a larger brake issue. However, feathering might also be a symptom of aggressive driving specifically, taking corners at high speeds. Feathering is generally caused by either excess toe-in or toe-out, which can be adjusted with a proper wheel alignment. You can feel an individual tread worn on one side and sharp on the other. Cupping on cars is caused by a worn shock absorber or a bad suspension system.įeathering is harder to catch with a visual inspection, but easy to feel when you run your hand along the tread of your tire. Generally, you can see or feel the tire bounce as you drive with this type of wear, which is why you’ll often see cupping on trailer tires.
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However, if you are vigilant about checking your tire pressure, yet still have side wear, this may be an indication of a bent or worn steering arm or a car out of alignment.Ĭupping looks like scoops worn in your tread and is caused by a repeated up-and-down motion. If you have consistently under-inflated tires, you’ll often find that your tread is worn on the sides, but not down the middle. To avoid center wear in the future, keep your tires inflated to the pressure listed in your owner’s manual. Tires bulge from overinflation - and continuing to drive it on the road - hits the middle of the tires. If one or more of your tires are worn down the center - but not on the sides - the culprit is most likely an overinflated tire. If you do need new tires, search on reputable websites like Tire Buyer to determine the best type of tire for your vehicle.īelow are seven types of tire wear and how you should respond when these situations pop up.
#TIRE WEAR PATTERNS PROFESSIONAL#
Additionally, be sure to consult a professional about what is a safe amount of wear and then replace your tires as needed. With that in mind, make it a point to check your tires regularly for wear in order to prevent long-term problems. Plus, the amount of wear on your tires can tell you a lot about the problems your tires - or, more specifically, your vehicle - are facing. Proper tire maintenance includes keeping your tires inflated to the correct tire pressure, maintaining an adequate tire tread, checking the air-level balance, and keeping the wheels in alignment. After all, tire tread affect how your car handles, the comfort of your ride and, most importantly, your safe driving experience.
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Think of your tires as the foundation of your car.
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