It is enough to take a closer look at your tires to get an idea of their health. It is not for nothing that all specialists in the automotive industry strongly recommend that drivers inspect their wheels regularly. The way the tire tread looks can indicate what internal problems your vehicle is facing. How is it possible? - through the tire wear pattern.
You don't have to be a great specialist in the field to be able to "read" your tire condition. Its external structure gives you enough clues to understand what exactly is the problem with your vehicle and what measures you should take when you detect it. Those uneven wear patterns like center or edge wear, cupping, or patchy wear have a lot to say.
So, today we are talking about tire wear patterns. These refer to tire areas and portions that are affected by uneven wear more than other portions. Uneven wear patterns indicate a rather big problem that can escalate if not fixed in time. This entails additional expenses and most importantly - risks that endanger driving safety.
What Does Each Type Of Wear Pattern Suggest?
The uneven wear pattern developing on the tire surface does not appear for no reason. In all cases, it develops as a result of an internal vehicle problem, incorrect exploitation, or improper tire use. So, depending on the tire pattern, you can deduce what exactly is the root of the problem.
Once you understand the basic source of uneven tire wear, it is recommended to fix the problem. If, for example, your uneven pattern is the result of wheel misalignment, then you should correct the alignment, not just change the tires. Changing tires does not solve anything in this case because the source of the problem has not been eliminated.
With that said, below is a general explanation of each type of wear pattern. Please note that sometimes there may be exceptions to the rules. The mechanic is the last one to decide the cause and solution of your tire's uneven wear. You might need a visit to the repair shop for a detailed inspection. In the meantime, let's see what each type of tire wear pattern suggests.
Tire Center Wear = Overinflation
The central worn part of the tire is always a sign that the driver tends to overinflate his tires. Whenever more air than needed, the tire changes its shape and its central part comes into contact with the road more than its edges. This positioning only accelerates tire wear in the respective area, which shortens its serviceability and impacts performance.
The best thing you can do for your tires is to pump them up to the pressure recommended by the manufacturer. No more and no less. Overinflation might seem tempting as the tire rolling resistance drops a bit and you might save some MPG. However, we recommend thinking long-term. Driving on overinflated tires will make you buy new tires much sooner than you expect. So, the economy is, in fact, a false one.
Outer or Inner Shoulder Wear = Misalignment
Wheel misalignment is a very common and quite ignored issue. It involves irregularities in the toe, caster, and camber angles at the suspension level, which leads to a chain of inconveniences. Vibrations, pulling to one side, and an off-centered steering wheel are just some of them. The uneven tire wear pattern is another one.
Wheel misalignment manifests itself, as a rule, through the wear of the outer or inner tire shoulders. This depends on which of the 3 angles (toe, caster, camber) is defective. Outer or inner shoulder wear suggests that the tire leans too much on one side or the other. If you notice this specific wear, wheel alignment is the first thing you have to think about.
Edge Shoulder Wear = Underinflation
This type of wear is like "an antonym" for tire center wear. That is, it occurs when the driver tends to ignore the low pressure in his wheels. The point is that a tire with low pressure leaves its edges on the road surface more than it should. While rolling, these edges rub against the ground, which leads to their early wear.
As in the case of overinflation, it's paramount to adjust the pressure according to the manufacturer's recommendations. Driving on underinflated tires is not only detrimental to their integrity but also to your safety. First of all, failure to adjust pressure will make your vehicle burn more fuel. Secondly, the tire is subject to increased friction, which leads to a potential tire failure or even blowout. Thirdly, you will experience handling issues whenever driving on low-pressure tires.
If the tire shows signs of wear on both shoulders, it is probably due to improper rotation or aggressive cornering. A mechanic will evaluate the problem more deeply and give you the final verdict.
Cupping Wear = Suspension Issues
One of the worst types of wear (even if they are all quite serious) is the cupping pattern. It involves the random appearance of spots that resemble small scoops in the tire tread. A potential cause of this issue may be the faulty suspension of your vehicle.
While central wear is easily solved by regularly adjusting the pressure, cupping wear is a more complex problem that requires the intervention of the mechanic. Probably some components of the suspension need replacement, or maybe some details have bent out of shape. Sometimes, aggressively hitting a pothole can also lead to cupping wear.
Regardless of the reason, contacting a technical center is mandatory. It is strongly recommended to check the suspension and repair the affected components for safety reasons. Learn more about Goodyear's recommendations and prevention techniques on tire cupping.
Patchy, Diagonal Wear = Rotation or Suspension Issues
Rarely, tires can develop patchy or diagonal wear along their circumference. This pattern can appear due to tire imbalance. In most cases, tire rotation helps, especially if it is combined with tire balancing. This means that the mechanic adds small weights to the sensitive areas of the tire to even out its weight. Also, this type of wear pattern might suggest mismatched inflation pressure or tire diameters in a dual assembly. It might aggravate due to poorly maintained suspension components. You should check for mechanical problems whenever you spot them.
Bottom Line
These are the key aspects you need to know about tire uneven wear. It is important to take action whenever you detect them and to fix the issue as soon as possible. if you have central wear - stop pumping too much air into your tires. If you notice outer shoulder wear, review the pressure regularly and adjust it to the standards recommended by the manufacturer.
Please remember that the NHTSA encourages every driver to be TIREWISE in order to reduce the number of tire-related car accidents reported annually. One step forward to this goal is to maintain your tires as recommended.
Ignoring tire uneven wear is not a responsible solution at all. First of all, you put your safety at risk because a tire with uneven wear becomes a sensitive one. Second, uneven tire wear cuts significantly from its service life. Thus, you will have to change the tire much earlier than you planned. Thirdly, you are only aggravating the internal defects of the vehicle. Ignoring the deficiencies of the suspension system is not only expensive but also extremely dangerous in terms of driving safety.
Tire Uneven Wear: FAQs
Why Does the Tire Tread Wear Unevenly?
Several factors lead to tire uneven wear. These include, but are not limited to incorrect tire pressure, lack of alignment and rotation, suspension problems, or driver negligence. It is important to regulate tire wear as much as possible through processes like adjusting pressure and aligning wheels regularly. Otherwise, the tires become more and more defective, reducing the safety level of the driver. Learn more about how to solve tire wear issues, as recommended by Michelin.
Is It Safe To Drive With Uneven Tire Wear?
No one can guarantee that an unevenly worn tire is fully safe. If its integrity is somehow affected, it becomes sensitive to potential damage factors. Uneven tire wear can particularly affect the handling as well as affect the traction of the vehicle in more serious cases.
How Do You Evaluate Tire Wear?
First of all, we recommend regular visual tire inspection. Uneven wear will not appear all of a sudden; this process is gradual and quite slow. So, regular visual inspection could help you spot the worsening signs in the early stages.
Second, make sure you inspect the wear of the entire surface, and not just a small part. In the absence of special tread measuring tools, you can use the Penny Test. This shows how much viable tread you have left in your tire.
Why Trust NeoTires?
We are a humble team with a great passion for the automotive and tire industry. We love to learn and follow everything that happens in this industry and we love to share all our knowledge with our readers and customers. Our goal here is to make a positive and qualified contribution to all drivers in their driving experience. We do this either through professional recommendations, tips, and validated blog posts or through the right tires for each need.
The NeoTires team is happy to help you match your driving needs with the right products, because this matching ensures a high-performance driving experience. in addition, your safety, driving comfort, and pleasant customer journey are high-priority aspects for us. If you can relate, we look forward to hearing from you with any tire-related questions. Drive safe and choose your tires wisely!
