5 Common Types of Tire Wear and Effective Solutions
5 Common Types of Tire Wear and Effective Solutions
These are 5 Common Types of Tire Wear and Effective Solutions, along with potential causes and recommended actions. Here’s a breakdown of each type of wear.
- Feathered Wear: This type of wear appears as diagonally worn edges on the outer tread of the tire. It’s a sign of a minor alignment issue, possibly caused by toe-out. In toe-out, the tires are angled slightly outward at the top. To correct feathered wear, a wheel alignment is recommended.
- Camber Wear: This type of wear shows as uneven wear on the inner or outer edges of the tire tread. It indicates a more significant alignment problem than feathered wear. Possible causes include incorrect camber or toe-in/out. Camber refers to the inward or outward tilt of the top of the tire relative to vertical. In toe-in, the tires are angled slightly inward at the top. Correcting camber wear typically requires a wheel alignment.
- Spotty/Chopped Wear: This appears as irregular patches of missing tread across the surface of the tire. It can be caused by a number of factors, including worn out shock absorbers or struts, improper inflation pressure, or unbalanced tires. To fix spotty/chopped wear, you should address the underlying cause, which might involve replacing worn out suspension components or getting a wheel balance and alignment.
- Local Wear: This type of wear appears as a worn section on a specific area of the tire tread. Possible causes include a damaged tire cord or a misalignment issue. A damaged tire cord might require a tire replacement. A wheel alignment might fix local wear caused by a misalignment issue.
- Overinflation/Underinflation: The image doesn’t show specific tread wear for overinflation or underinflation, but the text describes the effects. Overinflation can cause excessive wear in the center of the tread, while underinflation can lead to excessive wear on the outer edges of the tread. To avoid uneven wear from improper inflation, it’s important to maintain the recommended tire pressure as specified by the vehicle manufacturer, which can typically be found on a sticker inside the driver’s door jamb.
Overall, the image provides a helpful guide to identify different types of tire wear and their causes. Regularly inspecting your tires for uneven wear and maintaining proper inflation pressure can help to extend the life of your tires and ensure safe driving.