What Causes Tires to Wear Unevenly?

close up of tire tread

If you’re a responsible car owner, you likely have a lot of service questions. One we commonly hear at our Crete service center is, “What causes tires to wear unevenly?” This is a smart question, considering that tire tread wear can impact the performance, efficiency, and safety of your vehicle. Uneven tire tread wear is often related to some relatively minor issues, including low air pressure and misalignment. That said, unusual tire tread wear patterns can be indicative of some serious problems with your vehicle’s suspension and other components.

Luckily, you can keep tabs on your tires without much work. In this guide, Sid Dillon Ford Crete will help you understand the importance of healthy tire treads and what to look for to prevent uneven wear. Review our service tips and tricks below to get started!

Why Tire Tread Wear Matters

As you drive through Lincoln, the tread of your tires is what grips the road. Healthy treads are especially important for heading off-road or when dealing with inclement weather conditions. So, when your tire treads wear unevenly, portions lose contact with the road and handling becomes more difficult. Below, we’ll touch on the two primary causes of excessive tire wear and what you can do to avoid them.

Uneven Tire Tread Wear from Improper Inflation

Proper tire inflation is essential for the effective operation of your vehicle. When the air pressure in your tires drops, portions may sag, and others may lose contact with the ground altogether. This results in unequal wear and tear, excessive fuel consumption, and an unstable drive.

Once simple tasks like turning, stopping, and starting may feel difficult or sluggish due to the loss of traction. Eventually, you may have portions of your tires that are completely bald, while others have seemingly fresh treads. The best way to avoid this is to keep tabs on the air pressure in your tires. Your vehicle likely has a TPMS that will alert you when the pressure drops, but you can also perform manual checks with an old-fashioned tire gauge in your Crete driveway. It’s a good idea to check your tires after a major temperature shift, as tires are sensitive to extreme heat or cold.

Misalignment

While having your vehicle aligned is a simple, routine maintenance task, skipping it can cause significant challenges for your vehicle. When your tires aren’t correctly aligned, the steering, bearings, and joints can weaken. Over time, this leads to major problems and can cause blowouts in the short term. Generally, hitting an obstruction like a curb or pothole can be enough to knock your wheels out of alignment, so be mindful of that as you navigate through town.

The good news is that having your vehicle’s alignment checked on a routine basis is a fast, efficient, and affordable way to prevent alignment-related issues. Our team can quickly inspect your vehicle and will suggest a realignment when needed.

Turn to Sid Dillon Ford Crete for Complete Auto Care

Now that you can answer the question, “What causes tires to wear unevenly?” you’re in a great position to keep your commute from Seward to Omaha safe and smooth for years to come. If you do notice unusual or uneven tire tread wear, book an appointment with us right away. Our team will provide you with an affordable solution to get you back behind the wheel without delay!

 

More from Sid Dillon Ford Crete

  • 2023 Ford Expedition Configurations

    The classic Ford Expedition has been a favorite for Lincoln drivers for many years, and this model year offers exciting updates and features to make it even more appealing. If you are trying to decide between the 2023 Ford Expedition Timberline or one of the 2023 Ford Expedition MAX models, you’ll want to start by…

Menu

Get Directions

2375 East Highway 33, Crete, NE, 68333
Sid Dillon Ford Crete 40.644238, -096.935412.