How To Identify Tire Problems By Their Wear Patterns (PDF)

If you’ve ever taken a close look at your tires, you may have noticed various tread wear. But what does this mean? There are a few different things that can cause wear patterns on tires. For example, if your alignment isn’t right, it will tend to wear unevenly. Read more to learn what tire tread wear patterns mean.

Cupping 

Your tire wear should be nearly flush with the tread on the tires. If you notice that it’s diagonal and scalloped, this could be a sign of problems with your suspension system. This can lead to shaking or rattling sounds which means you should take your car to a mechanic as soon as possible.

Inner/Outer

Inner/outer tire tread wear will quickly become a serious issue. To avoid this, get your tires checked regularly by a professional or have them rotated every oil change.

Edge

Sometimes a tire can wear down faster on the edges than at the center. If this is something that’s happening with your tires, it could lead to loss of traction and control of your vehicle. This type of wear can occur in a situation where you’re running too little air in your tires.

Patchy

Tires’ even wear pattern is actually the result of normal use, and can be characterized by regular and repeated contact with the ground. If your tires seem more “patchy,” the cause might be an irregular surface under the tire that causes it to continue to hit in one spot. Patchy tire wear can lead to premature tire wear, which means you should have your tires checked out by a professional if you notice any kind of patchy wear.

Center

As your tire wears, the center tread is worn down more quickly. This can be a symptom of over-inflation. Once you notice that the middle of your tires is beginning to show signs of wear, it’s important to have them checked out by a professional. In some cases, this condition can be reversed with a simple adjustment. But in others, it may be necessary for you to replace the tires.