Have you been experiencing irregular wear on your tires or do you feel that your car is pulling towards a certain direction? If so, it is possible that your wheel alignment is off and if you do not get it fixed, you will be putting yourself and the other users of the road in dangerous situations.
Tires are one of the most vital components of the car, so maintaining them in the right way will lead to better and more efficient performance on the road. However, many drivers do not pay much attention to the wear and alignment of tires until the situation gets out of hand.
Common Causes of Tire Wear
- Poor Wheel Alignment: As the name suggests, it means that the wheels are not aligned in a proper manner and the tires are not in good contact with the road. This makes one side of the tire wear out faster than the other and leads to an imbalance in the tread depth of the tire which results in rough handling.
- Wrong Tire Pressure: If your tires are overinflated or underinflated, they will not wear evenly on the road. When the tire pressure is low, the contact area spreads to the edges of the tire and wears them out quickly, while high pressure leads to the center of the tire wearing out quickly.
- Worn Suspension Part: The suspension system is mainly responsible for maintaining the stability and balance of the vehicle. If the shocks, struts, or ball joints wear out, they are likely to cause the tires to lose contact with the road in an uneven manner, causing irregular wear.
- Failure to Rotate Tires: Tires wear out differently on all four wheels of a car. Front tires are used more in steering and braking and therefore, they wear out much faster than the rear tires. Tires should be rotated in a regular manner so that they wear evenly.
Fixing Tire and Wheel Alignment Issues
- Correct Your Car’s Alignment: The best way of fixing alignment issues is to have a professional mechanic to work on the wheels. Correct positioning of a car’s wheels helps the tires to have equal and adequate contact with the road surface, thus increasing the tire’s lifespan and the car’s maneuverability.
- Maintain Correct Tire Pressure: Correct tire pressure is very important and varies with temperature and other conditions of driving. It is recommended that you check tire pressure at least once a month and ensure that it is set at the manufacturer’s recommended PSI which is usually written on the driver’s side door or in the car manual. Does your car have low pressure? Add air to reduce wear and tear on the edges. If it has high pressure then it is important to let out some air to prevent it from wearing out quickly.
- Rotate Your Tires Often: Since the front and rear tires wear out at different rates, the only way to ensure that they wear evenly is by rotating them. Some people suggest that it is good to interchange the position of your tires every time you are changing the oil.
- Check Shocks, Struts, and Control Arm: Damaged shocks, struts, and control arms will lead to alignment problems as well as uneven wearing of the tires. If your car vibrates or your tires are worn out in certain areas, it is recommended that you take your car to the repair shop for a suspension system check up.
- Balance Your Tires: Sometimes, the steering wheel of your car shakes only when you’re driving at high speeds and this may be as a result of your tires needing balancing. Balancing of tires helps to reduce the chances of wearing the tires unevenly and also enhances the quality of the ride. It is advisable to balance your tires every time you rotate them in an effort to enhance the performance of the car.
Maintain Your Tire Health with Adair and Sons
Correcting any wear and tear problems on the tires as well as wheel alignment is not only economical in terms of the tires but also makes the car safer on the road. Maintenance such as alignment, rotation and pressure checks are some of the routine activities that can always be done to help avoid expensive repairs later.
Adair and Sons in Round Rock, TX provides wheel alignments and tire services for smooth driving of vehicles. For any kind of car services ranging from alignment, inspection services, and suspension services, we are here for you. Visit us today and make sure that your tires are in the best condition as they should be.