Tires are basically the foundation of your car. The condition of your tires affects the handling of your car, the ride comfort and safety experience. Besides, the amount and type of wear on your tires reveal much about the problems your vehicle face.
Common Types of Tire Wear
Below are some of the most common types of tire wear and how to respond when such situations arise
Center Wear
Center wear is a condition in which the tire treads are only worn down the center and not much on the sides. The most common cause of center wear is driving your car with over-inflated tires. When you over-inflate your tires, they bulge more in the center, preventing them from making full contact with the road. Ensure that all your tires are correctly inflated to avoid center wear. You should consult your owner's manual if you do not know the recommended tire pressure for your vehicle.
Side Wear
Side wear is the opposite of center wear as your tires will wear down shoulders but have normal-looking tread at the center. Driving with under-inflated tires causes side wear as the shoulders contact the road, pushing the center inward. Ensure that all your tires are properly inflated to prevent side wear.
Cupping Wear
Cupped tires have inconsistent worn-down patches all over them. It seems as though some parts of the thread have been shaved.
Cupping wear is caused by worn out shocks and struts. Shocks and struts should prevent your car from bouncing up and down as you drive over a bump. However, tires do not maintain a constant contact with the surface of the road when your car bounces continuously, causing the rubber to prematurely wear down in some areas. Misaligned wheels and unbalanced tires may also result in cupped tires.
Feathering
Feathering is a condition in which the tread blocks are worn down on one side but have reasonable wear on the other side. Even though you may not spot this wearing visually, you can feel it as you run your fingers along the tire tread. Misaligned wheels and aggressive driving, especially high-speed cornering, cause feathering.
Proper Tire Maintenance Practices
It is important to check your tires regularly for wear to prevent further problems linked to tire wearing. You can maintain your tires by:
- Keeping tires inflated to the recommended pressure
- Keeping the wheels in alignment
- Checking the air-level balance
- Maintaining an adequate tire tread
You should consult a professional about the safe amount of wear to help you replace your tires in time to avoid other problems. If you experience any tire wear or need to consult anything concerning your car, we invite you to bring your vehicle to Marc Yount's Tire Pros today.