ALT-1 Troubleshooting Car Problems Premature Wear on Tires
When you look at your tires and see that one or two are wearing faster than the others, the natural reaction is to think that the tire is defective. This most likely is not the case, however. Tires wear prematurely for a number of reasons and typically it is a maintenance issue, not a tire construction or design issue.
If you notice your tires wearing prematurely, the first thing to do is check the air pressure. Depending on your vehicle, this can run anywhere from 30 psi up to 80 psi. The best way to know for sure is to check the placard on the inside of the driver's side door and see what the manufacturer recommends. Passenger cars and light trucks will typically run between 30 and 35 psi, whereas work trucks and vans that carry heavier loads will sometimes run higher pressures. A tire that is under-inflated will wear wear more on the shoulders of the tread and over-inflated tire will wear more on the center of the tread.
If your tires appear to be wearing more on one side of the tread than the other, it's highly likely that you have an alignment issue. When your vehicle is traveling, the front tires should be exactly parallel. If the front tires appear to be wearing more on the outside edges, the tires are toed-in, meaning the front of the tires are pointing in towards each other. If the tires are wearing more on the inside, the tires are toed-out, meaning the front of the tires are pointing away from each other. If your tires start showing signs of either of these conditions, it's time to get your alignment checked.
Failure to rotate your tires regularly can also result in premature wear. Tires that are located on the front of vehicles are subject to much more strenuous conditions, since they're also responsible for steering the vehicle. This is magnified even more on front-wheel drive cars since they're also the drive tires for the vehicle. Rear tires have an easy life since all they do is roll in a straight line. Your tires should be rotated every 5000-6000 miles in the manufacturer recommended pattern. This pattern is listed in your owner's manual.
Many tire wear problems can be caught before they become too severe just by inspecting the tires thoroughly when rotating them. The air pressure should be checked in all tires, and if their wearing strangely, the alignment can easily be checked at this time. Tires are an expensive purchase, and keeping a close eye on the wear patterns will help ensure that you get the maximum life and value out them.
