You can’t prevent your tires from wearing down, but when they do, you want them to wear evenly. If there are no other issues with your car that would affect your tires, they should wear down at the same rate, or at least in pairs, front and back. However, multiple problems could cause your tires to wear unevenly, whether it is just on one side or in an unusual pattern. The good news is that your local Lowell car repair shop is familiar with all the common causes of uneven tire wear and knows how to fix them.
Several problems can cause uneven tire wear. Our Lowell car repair experts have an overview of the common causes and how to prevent them.
Common Causes of Tire Wear
- Incorrect tire pressure: Both underinflated and overinflated tires will wear unevenly. If a tire is underinflated, the outside makes too much contact with the road and will wear down quickly. Overinflated tires have the opposite problem. Only the middle of the tire makes contact with the road, and so wears before the edges.
- Misalignment: Misaligned wheels or tires don’t make even contact with the road, causing them to wear unevenly. Several factors can cause misalignment, including worn suspension components, bent axles, and improper tire installation.
- Worn suspension components: Worn suspension components let the tires move around too much, leading to unusual wear patterns. Ball joints, tire rods, and control arms are the components most likely to cause even wear.
- Improper tire rotation: Tires should be rotated regularly to ensure that they wear evenly. If your tires are not rotated regularly, the front tires will wear more quickly than the rear tires.
- Aggressive driving: Aggressive driving, such as speeding, hard braking, and quick acceleration, can put extra stress on your tires and lead to uneven wear.
How to Prevent Uneven Tire Wear
Your Lowell car repair shop can repair issues with your car that cause uneven tire wear, but there are also preventive measures you can take:
- Maintain proper tire pressure: Check your tire pressure regularly and inflate your tires to the recommended pressure.
- Get your wheels aligned regularly: Have your wheels aligned at least once a year or more often if you drive on rough roads or in areas with potholes.
- Have your suspension components inspected regularly: A qualified mechanic should inspect your suspension at least once a year to look for worn or loose components.
- Rotate your tires regularly: Rotate your tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles.
- Avoid aggressive driving: Drive smoothly and avoid speeding, hard braking, and quick acceleration.