Improving Your Automobile

How Does A Professional Car Service Provider Troubleshoot Tire Wear?

2 December 2015

Addison Morris

For many people, incorrect tire rotation and wheel misalignment are the major contributors of premature tread wear. Nevertheless, what is frequently unnoticed is the impact of tire pressure on the tread life of car tires. In fact, the most significant clues which a professional car service uses to troubleshoot tire wear malfunctions is the manner in which the tire tread wears out. Tread wear patterns generally point towards under or over inflation.

Low pressure

As under-inflated car tires run with air pressure that is below the specified requirement, they wear much quicker on the outside edges or shoulders because of the extra load being exerted on the outside edges of the tires. With this tire condition, there's too much contact between the road surface and the outer edges of the tire as the car goes down the road. This causes friction, which leads to overheating and faster tread separation on the shoulder of the tire. Additionally, under-inflated tires will change the manner in which the vehicle brakes and turns corners and its overall steering capacity, leading to the possibility of accidents.

Over inflated tires

Over inflation will cause premature wear at the centre of the tire. This is attributed to the ballooning effect that arises when a tire has excessive air. This is caused by too much contact between the road surface and the middle of the tire. Over-inflated tires hardly grip the road surface well. This results in less traction and bad handling, raising the possibility of an accident when driving with excessively inflated car tires. Being more rigid and stiffer, over-inflated tires are also more prone to damage from striking curbs and hitting potholes.

By studying the above-mentioned tread wear patterns, the car service technician can diagnose the cause of the premature tire wear, whether it's under or over inflation. Once new tires are installed, your car service technician will advise you to always make sure your tires are always inflated with the correct tire pressure.

Are you wondering about the correct tire pressure for your particular car? Well, your car manufacturer often provides this information, and you may find it in your vehicle's handbook or on the glove section inside door. It is usually measured in pounds per square inch. One aspect to note is that it's quite difficult to tell under or over inflation through visual inspection. Motorists should always use a quality air gauge to check tire pressure when inflating their tires.

For more information, contact you local car service. 

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