What Causes Tires to Wear Unevenly?

If you’re growing frustrated with uneven tire tread wear as you make your daily Birmingham commute, you will undoubtedly want to know, what causes tires to wear unevenly? Truthfully, there could be a number of factors, ranging from your driving habits or the climate where you live to improper tire pressure or misaligned wheels. Get all of the tire tread wear information you need in one place with the Hendrick Chevrolet Hoover service team down below!

Why Does Tire Tread Wear Matter?

Your tires are your main point of contact between you and the road in Vestavia Hills. Without proper traction, they can’t grip the road sufficiently to provide the control you need during inclement conditions. If you’re driving on slick roads or on an unpaved path, you need proper tire traction to keep you stable.

Eventually, the tire tread will start to wear out. When it reaches 2/32 of an inch, it’s time to replace your tires for a new set. Regular tire rotations should be performed to help prevent uneven tire tread wear and ensure you get the full lifespan from your tires. Sometimes, however, uneven tread wear still occurs; learn more about the two most common causes in the next sections.

Insufficient Tire Pressure

Your car’s recommended tire pressure exists for a reason. It aids in smooth acceleration, braking, and turning, all while helping to maintain optimal weight distribution. If the tire pressure is too low or too high, your tires will work beyond their means to compensate for the imbalance. The result is excess tire wear, which is often uneven. If your tires are uneven, you’ll feel it in an uncomfortable, unsteady ride quality.

Part of proper car maintenance is monitoring the tire pressure. Many modern vehicles can show you a digital reading of all four of your tires’ pressure, but you can check it regularly with a gauge, too. If you’re unsure what the correct tire pressure is for your vehicle, check your owner’s manual or look for a PSI label on the inside of the driver’s door.

Misaligned Wheels

Wheel alignment is another essential component of vehicle maintenance that, if ignored, can seriously affect your car’s performance. If you’re driving in Bessemer with misaligned wheels, you may feel the steering pulling to one side or the steering wheel shaking. When your wheels are misaligned, your tires are working overtime attempting to correct the course of your steering. As a result, you may see uneven tire tread wear on the inner or outer edges.

Your wheels can become misaligned when you hit a curb or pothole, but fixing the issue is very simple. All you need to do is schedule an alignment at your preferred service center.

Schedule Tire Service in Hoover

If you’re finding uneven tread wear on your tires, schedule an appointment at Hendrick Chevrolet Hoover for tire service you can trust! If you’re behind on tire rotations we’ll get you up-to-date, and we can inspect your vehicle further to determine if there is another source of the uneven wear that needs to be addressed. With any additional questions you have in the meantime, please don’t hesitate to contact us.