How to Decipher Your Vehicle’s Tire Wear Patterns

Even top-of-the-line tires are susceptible to wear and tear, so knowing what to look for in terms of tire wear patterns can be key to discovering what’s causing it. Monitoring the condition of your tires and taking your vehicle in for tire rotations and tire alignments when appropriate is the best way to ensure you’re getting the most mileage out of your tires.

What are the different types of tire wear?

There are several different types of tire wire patterns and being able to differentiate between these different types of wear patterns can help you to discover potential problem areas within your car. And the sooner you’re able to diagnose a potentially damaging or dangerous situation, the sooner you can get the issue resolved.

Wear in the middle

If you notice your tires seem to have a lot of wear on the middle treads, this might be an indication of over-inflation. Over-inflated tires cause the center treads of the tire to bear the majority of the vehicle’s weight. Tire pressure tends to fluctuate often, so it is important to check your tire pressure regularly to ensure they are inflated to the proper amount as to avoid this type of tire wear.

Wear on the sides

Wear on the sides of the tires can be an indication of under-inflation. Under-inflation causes the sides of the tires to bear the majority of the vehicle’s weight. Consistently driving on under-inflated tires can cause this type of tire wear pattern over time. Ensuring your tire pressure is at the right level can help you to avoid this type of wear.

Sporadic wear

Sporadic tire wear tends to look uneven and patchy and can be a result of numerous issues including improper inflation, misalignment, rough driving, or even suspension issues. Generally, however, if you notice a sporadic wear pattern on your tires, it’s a good indication that you’re overdue for a wheel balancing to ensure that your vehicle’s weight is being distributed evenly to all wheels.

Feather edge wear

Feather edge wear gives a “feathered” appearance at which one side of the tread is smooth and the other is raised or tough. This may be an indication that your tires are misaligned and you’re due for a tire alignment service.

Conclusion

If you start to notice any of these tire wear patterns developing, it’s important to get your car looked at by a professional to pinpoint the cause of the issue and to get it corrected.  Tire wear is inevitable, so it’s important to keep an eye on the condition of your tires and get them checked regularly before the problem becomes irreversible and puts you and other motorists in danger. If you do notice any sort of uneven tire wear patterns, contact the tire experts at Telle Tire for honest recommendations and reliable service.