Your vehicle is an investment and you need it to work properly at all times to get you around Philadelphia when you need to be somewhere. There are many important elements that go into running an effective, efficient vehicle and the tires are one such element. The tires on your vehicle work very hard. They are the only link the car has between it and the road. The tires handle turning, braking, acceleration, and tons of weight. You’re going to see wear on your tires, but the longer you can make them last, the less money you will have to spend on replacing them. When you want your tires to last longer, it is a good idea to be able to spot abnormal wear patterns so you can correct what is wrong and extend the tire’s life. Here are some common reasons tires wear unevenly and what you can do about them.
The tire is overinflated
If your tires have too much air in them, you will get more wear in the middle of the tire than on the edges. In this case, simply let some air out of each tire. Check your manufacturer’s guide to see how much air you should have in your tires.
The tire is underinflated
If your tires don’t have enough air in them, you will see more wear along the edges of the tread. Keep in mind that when Philadelphia gets cold, the tires can vary on their air pressures. Check in with the tire inflation level regularly to ensure that they have the right level of air in each of them.
The wheel is out of alignment
If you see wear on one edge of the tire, but not the other, you may have a misalignment issue. Take your vehicle to Schafer’s Auto Repair (SAR) to be realigned and save your tires from wearing down too fast.
The tires are never rotated
Most technicians advise that you rotate your tires every other Philadelphia oil change or so. If you neglect to do that, you will see an uneven wear on the outer edge of the tires. The best way to combat that is to keep up with the rotations.
Shocks, Suspensions, or struts are worn or damaged
The tire will have an indented surface that is called cupping. The damaged parts can cause vertical forces to be rather erratic on the tires, which shorten their lifespan significantly. Get those items checked out for the good of your entire vehicle, not just the tires.
Whether you know what is going on with your tire tread or not, it is a good idea to have your vehicle looked over. The tread can tell you a lot about what’s going on and the professionals at Schafer’s Auto Center can ensure that everything is up to par so your tires will last as long as possible. Give SAR a call for an appointment at 215-755-1270 or just ask us some questions over the phone.
