If your tire treads are uneven or they are wearing out more quickly than they should, it’s usually a sign of something else wrong with the car. Of course, you should get the tires rotated every 5,000-10,000 miles depending on your recommended service schedule, but that can only do so much to help evenly distribute the regular wear and tear over time.
When tire wear is really significant or the uneven wear is really noticeable, then you will want to get your vehicle inspected by an expert mechanic. There are certain things they will know to look for.
To help narrow things down, LightHouse Automotive in Colorado Springs has put together this list of common sources of uneven tire wear:
1. Wheels/Wheel Bearings
The wheels themselves are often responsible for significant tire wear. Perhaps the lug nuts are a tad loose or the wheel bearings inside are getting worn out in one of the wheels quicker than the rest.
2. Brakes
If your brake pads/rotors are worn out or the brake system is applying extra pressure on one of the wheels more than the others for whatever reason, this will definitely lead to faster and more uneven tire wear.
3. Suspension
The suspension system can also be a common cause of uneven/increased tire wear. There may be a damaged component or a calibration issue that you will want to get inspected and repaired before it leads to bigger problems.
4. Transmission/Drivetrain
The transmission and entire drivetrain system (differentials, clutch, axles, etc.) ultimately transfer power from the engine into the wheels. If there is something wrong anywhere along the way, it could be responsible for the tire wear. This is definitely something you will want to have fixed before major transmission or drivetrain issues develop.
5. Driving Habits & Road Conditions
Uneven tire wear may not be the result of any mechanical issues at all. Your own driving habits can have an effect if you ride the brakes, accelerate too aggressively or corner inefficiently. Also the road conditions where you drive every day can have an effect, especially if driving in a hilly area with curvy mountain roads like here in Colorado Springs. You can develop better driving habits if you are burning through tires too quickly. You can’t necessarily control road conditions, but you can make sure to rotate your tires regularly to at least distribute the wear more evenly over time.
If you notice your tires are wearing out more quickly than they should or the tread wear is significantly uneven, bring your car into the automotive professionals at LightHouse Automotive in Colorado Springs, CO. We can perform a thorough inspection and get to the source of the problem. If any repairs or maintenance services are recommended, we’ll walk you through what needs to be done and what it will cost before any additional work is done.
Call LightHouse Automotive today at (719) 465-0302 or schedule your service appointment online.
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