You already know that driving on bald tires is dangerous. We won’t nag at you for that. Did you know that driving on uneven tire tread can also be dangerous? It can, because uneven wear can compromise portions of a tire and cause blowouts just as bald tires can. What causes uneven tire tread wear? Demore’s Automotive lists the following common causes; some of which you can avoid.
Improper Tire Inflation
Whether your tires are underinflated or overinflated, improper tire inflation will wear down your tires’ tread unevenly and prematurely. Why buy new tires before you have to, right? Your tires have a specific psi – or pounds-per-square-inch – rating. This means you should inflate your tires to that psi rating. If you inflate them to a lower rating, you’ll notice your tires are wearing down on the outer edges. If the tires are overinflated, you’ll notice the wear in the center of the tire tread.
Unbalanced Wheels
To avoid uneven tire tread wear, have your tires rotated every 6,000 to 9,000 miles. You should have the wheels balanced at every other tire rotation or as recommended by your automobile manufacturer. If your wheels are out of balance, you will notice your car, truck, or SUV shakes while you drive and you might notice uneven tire wear. Unbalances wheels do not grip the road evenly, which is why the tire tread wears down unevenly. Unbalanced wheels also create a lot of road noise.
Misaligned Wheels
If your vehicle isn’t aligned properly, you’ll deal with handling issues and uneven tire tread wear. Signs your vehicle isn’t as aligned as it should include pulling to the side (either left or right), a misaligned steering wheel, and – you guessed it – uneven tread wear. To test your vehicle’s alignment, drive it on a flat surface that doesn’t slope to either side. With your steering wheel pointed straight, move forward slowly and let go of the steering wheel. A misaligned vehicle will head toward the right or left instead of staying straight. You shouldn’t see your steering wheel lean to a side when you’re driving straight.
Stop by Demore’s Automotive in Palmer, MA, for a wheel balance and alignment check. We’ll rotate, balance, and align your tires and wheels if that’s what they need. You can schedule an appointment so you’re in and out quickly. Remember, uneven tire tread wear can be as dangerous as driving on bald tires, so get your tread checked today.
