Uneven tire wear is a huge problem for your car’s tires, mainly because it means you’re going to need to replace those tires a lot sooner than you expected when you first bought them. Preventing uneven tire wear can be as simple as engaging in some preventative maintenance for both your wheels and your tires. Viking Automotive has some tips that can help.
The Wheels Aren’t Balanced
Properly balanced wheels are the same weight all the way around the wheel. That’s important so that the wheel and therefore the tire turn at the same speed consistently. If the wheel is significantly out of balance, you’re more likely to have problems with uneven tire wear. You might even find that chunks of tread get torn off the tires.
The Tires Need to Be Rotated
Each corner of your car has different demands on the equipment in that corner. That means that each wheel has different demands, too. That’s why your car’s manufacturer recommends tire rotation. That means you’re putting each tire on a different wheel every few thousand miles. This helps to even out tire wear, which increases the lifespan of your tires.
The Wheels Are Out of Alignment
When your car’s wheels are out of alignment that means that they can be tilted or turned slightly off of center. Like balancing issues, this means that the tread of the tire isn’t able to meet squarely with the pavement. That can very quickly lead to big issues with tire wear, especially the longer your wheels are out of alignment. If you’re also skipping tire rotations, that just compounds the problem.
The Tires Are Improperly Inflated
Improper tire inflation, meaning that there is too much or too little air in your tires, is another big issue for tire wear. When your tires are overinflated, there can be problems with the center of the tire being the only part of the tire that connects with the pavement. If they’re underinflated, the center doesn’t get overworked, but the inner and outer edges of the tires do.
If you’d like to get your tires and wheels inspected to find out what’s causing your uneven tread wear, Viking Automotive in Houston, TX is happy to help. Give us a call today to set up an appointment. We’ll thoroughly inspect your tires, wheels, and suspension system to rule out any potential issues that could be shortening the life of your car’s tires.
