Tyres are honest. The way they wear tells you exactly what's going on with your pressures, your alignment and your suspension - if you know how to read it.
Beyond wasting money by forcing an early replacement, uneven wear reduces grip and can leave part of the tyre below the 1.6mm legal limit even when the rest looks fine - which is dangerous and an MOT failure. Catching the cause early saves the tyre and keeps you safe.
If both shoulders are wearing faster than the centre, the tyre is running under-inflated: too little air lets the edges take the load. Check and correct your pressures (see our tyre pressure guide).
A strip of wear down the middle means over-inflation - too much air bows the tread so only the centre touches the road. Drop the pressure to the recommended figure.
Wear heavier on just the inner or outer edge points to the alignment (tracking) being out, often after clipping a kerb or pothole. This needs an alignment check - see wheel alignment vs balancing.
Uneven patches or a scalloped, cupped look usually mean a balancing problem or worn suspension components (shocks, bushes). A "feathered" edge you can feel running your hand across the tread points to a tracking (toe) issue.
Check pressures monthly, have your alignment checked after any hard knock, and make sure every wheel is balanced when tyres are fitted. We can inspect your tyres at your home or work, tell you honestly what's causing the wear, and put right the parts that are ours to fix - fitting, balancing and pressures.
“Tyres are honest - the way they wear tells you exactly what's going on underneath. Both edges gone, it's usually pressure; one edge and it's your tracking. We'll always show you the wear and tell you what's causing it, not just sell you a tyre.”
Incorrect pressure (both edges = under-inflation, centre = over-inflation), wheel alignment being out (one edge), or balancing/suspension issues (patchy or cupped wear).
That usually points to the wheel alignment (camber or toe) being out - often after hitting a kerb or pothole. Get the alignment checked.
You can stop it getting worse by fixing the cause - pressures, alignment or balancing. Wear already there is permanent, and if any part is below 1.6mm the tyre needs replacing.
It can - if any part of the central three-quarters is below 1.6mm, the tyre fails, even if the rest looks fine.
Call now for a fast, no-obligation quote - or drop your details in and we'll come back to you.
07772 078 648We'll call you back as soon as we can. For anything urgent, call 07772 078 648.