Why Your Car Tires are Wearing

Worn tires can affect your car's fuel efficiency and steering response. They can even introduce safety issues. That's the reason it is critical that you ensure they're in good condition. Otherwise, you might place yourself, your passengers, and other drivers and pedestrians at risk.
There are several factors that can contribute to prematurely worn treads. Each one causes a slightly different type of wearing that should be distinguishable by sight. In this article, we'll take a closer look at identifying the problem. I'll also describe some of the most common reasons tires wear down ahead of schedule.


Identifying The Wear

Most tires that are sold today have bars integrated in the grooves. These bars are used to identify how far the treads have worn. If the bars are exposed, that means your tire has experienced wearing to the point that it should be replaced.
Many drivers are unaware these wear bars exist. In their defense, some wheels are not equipped with them. Fortunately, you can use a penny to easily determine whether the treads are worn too far. Stick a penny into the grooves with Abraham Lincoln's head turned upside down. If the top of his head becomes hidden, that's a sign your treads still have life in them. If you can see Lincoln's entire head, you need to buy replacements.

Steering Issues

The tie rod ends that are a part of your steering linkage system can become worn over time. When they wear down, the toe can eventually become misaligned. This is also the case in the event the tie rod ends become bent.
In a rack and pinion system, the inner tie rod ends are hard to inspect because they're enclosed in plastic or rubber bellows. That said, you can test the steering by putting your vehicle in "park" and turning the steering wheel back and forth while a friend inspects the play. If there is looseness, that strongly suggests a problem with the toe alignment.

Suspension Problems
Your car's suspension system relies heavily on coil and leaf springs to keep the frame of the vehicle properly elevated. Like other components, the springs gradually wear down. When that happens, your car's frame lowers during operation. This creates a problem with your wheel alignment - specifically, camber and caster. Left unresolved, it will gradually cause your treads to wear down prematurely.
The struts and shocks of your suspension system can also cause a problem. When they become worn, your vehicle will bounce up and down excessively during operation. That can cause cupping, a form of wear that looks like dipping on one side of the wheel.

Inflation

Overinflation and underinflation can both contribute to premature wearing in your tires. The former creates excess wear in the center of the treads as the result of too much air pressure extending that portion of the wheel. A lot of people overinflate their tires as a temporary solution to a slow leak.

Underinflation places the wearing on the shoulders of the tire. This occurs because a lack of air pressure causes the tread to be more pliable. As such, a greater area makes contact with the road.



Avoiding A Dangerous Problem

Premature tread wear can quickly become a problem, especially in inclement weather. As mentioned above, worn treads will reduce the responsiveness of your car to your steering commands. They will also pose a danger of skidding when driving in wet conditions since the moisture cannot be funneled through the grooves in the rubber.


Check the level of tread wear on your tires at least once a month (and preferably, every two or three weeks). If you notice excessive wearing, ask your mechanic to replace the entire set. Doing so can help you avoid a potentially dangerous traffic accident.

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