Tyre Wear: What Causes It And How To Prevent It
Tyre wear is a fact of life, but we often needlessly accelerate the process via simple mistakes. Here’s what you need to know…
What’s Tyre Wear?
Tyres are the only thing that separate a vehicle, and its occupants, from the hard, rough surface of the road. Which is to say, they’re extremely important. Unfortunately, they’re constantly exposed to all sorts of stresses and elements that can wreak havoc on their surfaces and tread. Fortunately, most causes of tyre wear are easily avoided – providing drivers familiarise themselves with them.
Driving Style
Fortunately, the single biggest contributor to tyre wear is something we can directly control – our driving styles. The way we drive can have an enormous impact on the condition of our tyres and how long they remain in a working condition. Braking too harshly, taking corners too aggressively and needlessly accelerating can all take their toll on tyres. Which is why keeping things smooth and stable can make a massive difference.
It’s also worth being vigilant when parking at kerbs. Striking kerbs can, overtime, ruin your tyres’ sidewalls, causing tears and punctures. Make sure to keep your eyes open for potholes, too, as they can naturally damage your tyres (not to mention other components, such as suspension systems).
Incorrect Air Pressures
Tyres need to be properly inflated if they’re to function. Too much, or too little, air can cause them to wear prematurely. This is because they’ll end up facing an unequal amount of stress and friction, causing one side of the vehicle to take the brunt over the other. Consult your driver’s handbook when inflating your tyres for the correct air pressures.
Misaligned Wheels
Wheels can become misaligned for all sorts of reasons, but regardless of the cause misalignment will prematurely wear your tyres; for the same reasons as incorrect air pressures. They need to be aligned to manufacturer guidelines. This is something that, generally speaking, will be checked by garages during services and MOT tests.
Suspension Faults
Problems with your car’s suspension system can cause it to veer to one side; something that’ll become increasingly notable as the problem worsens. As you might expect, this can cause uneven tyre wear is the problem is left unaddressed. Faults such as this are typically caused by the likes of worn ball joints or weakened springs.
Weather and Road Conditions
Not everything is a question of consistent maintenance or sensible driving. Some causes of tyre wear are truly outside of our control. Poor weather conditions, for instance, can take their toll on our cars’ wheels. Someone who drivers regularly on rural roads, for instance, will probably be facing poorer conditions than sometime in a town or city; including the likes of debris, frost and flooding.
The quality of the roads we drive on are also significant. Some roads look like the surface of the Moon, riddled with potholes and other forms of damage. If your local roads are looking worse for wear, take extra care when navigating potholes.
Buying A New Car? Here’s Five Ways You Can Save Money – https://autoserveclub.co.uk/blog/buying-a-new-car-heres-five-ways-you-can-save-money/
The MOT: Here’s How To Ensure Your Car Passes – https://autoserve.co.uk/motoring-tips-advice/the-mot-heres-how-to-ensure-your-car-passes/
