Uneven tire wear can be a sign of serious problems with your car. Irregular tread wear can decrease your car's ability to grip the road, putting you in a potentially dangerous situation. Avoid uneven tire wear by checking your tires' pressure and wear patterns regularly and taking your car in to a garage for tire rotations and balancing.
Appearance
It's a good idea to visually inspect your tires regularly for signs of uneven wear. Telltale signs of uneven tire wear are bald spots on either the inside or outside of a tire, according to Goodyear. If the edges of any of your car's tires have a feathered appearance, this could be a sign of uneven tire wear. The appearance of dips and dents in the tread is another sign of uneven wear.
Causes
Numerous factors can lead to uneven tire wear. Cupping, which appears as ruts in a tire's tread, can be a sign of serious problems such as loose parts or worn shocks that need replacing. The O'Reilly Auto Parts website notes that driving a car with tires that are not properly aligned can cause uneven wear and reduce the life of your tires. Uneven tire wear can also be a sign of unbalanced or improperly inflated tires.
Considerations
A tire that has begun to wear unevenly will continue to do so for the rest of its life, according to O'Reilly Auto Parts. Finding irregular tire wear and diagnosing the cause early can help extend the life of your tires, which can save you the cost of frequent tire replacements. Ignoring uneven tread wear on your car's tires can lead to potentially dangerous breakdowns or flat tires.
Prevention/Solution
To prevent uneven tread wear, O'Reilly Auto Parts suggests checking your tire pressures once a month using a tire gauge to make sure your tires are inflated per the vehicle manufacturer's recommendation, which you can find on the inside of the passenger door panel or glove box. Visit a mechanic for a tire rotation every 6,000 miles to further prevent uneven tire wear.
Expert Insight
Sometimes it can be easier to feel uneven tire wear than see it, notes O'Reilly Auto Parts. Before feeling your tires for wear, turn your car engine off and engage the parking brake for safety. It's a good idea also to look for exposed metal before feeling your tires to prevent injury.
