What Causes Excessive Tyre Wear?

Tyre wear may sound simple, but it is one of the most common problems that a car owner comes across. As these are the only part of a vehicle that are in contact with the ground, they wear away gradually. This, in turn, affects their overall performance and handling. These components play an important role not just in offering a smooth driving experience but also ensure safety and better braking performance. So, if you see that your car's tyres are wearing out, then it is time to replace them. Most of us usually think that regular use and age are the main causes but there are other factors that give rise to this problem too. Let us discuss about some of the major reasons of tyre wear:

1) Improper wheel alignment

It is quite important that all wheels of a vehicle are aligned so that it runs properly. Problems also arise when there is excessive wear in suspension components such as shock absorbers.

2) Air Pressure

It is necessary that a tyre has the right amount of air. If a tyre is correctly inflated then it improves the ride quality and handling characteristics of the vehicle . But a tyre can also be damaged if it is over or under-inflated. A lot of air pressure can distort the tread and reduce its contact with the surface hence, increasing wear in the center. In case of under-inflation, there will be problems like increased rolling resistance, improper traction and hard cornering besides the tyre wear.

3) High speed and driving style

When a vehicle runs at high speeds, a lot of heat is generated in tyres and this can cause damage to the latter. Moreover, not just speed but driving style as well can lead to this problem.

Things to consider:

Firstly, one of the key functions of a tyre is to drain out water from beneath it to enhance traction and prevent aquaplaning on wet road conditions. If the tread depth goes down below the 1.6mm legal limit, be warned! The tyre is no longer safe.

Check for the tread wear bars on the new tyres which appear like bridges between the treads. Penny test is one of the simple methods which you can use to find out the tyre tread depth. By placing a penny into various tread grooves, you can determine the approximate remaining tread depth and detect uneven wear.

It is also necessary to check if there are any unusual bulges or bubbles present in a tyre 's sidewall. This indicates that the tyre's internal frame is damaged and cracked which causes the air pressure to reach its outer layers. In such cases, it is vital to replace it immediately as it is no longer safe for use.

[caption id="attachment_1888" align="alignnone" width="720"] Tyres displacing water[/caption]