Normally a tyre wears evenly across the whole tread. If you see another pattern, something is wrong. Here's how to read your tyres.
Wear in the middle
Cause: tyre pressure too high. The tyre bulges and runs mostly on the middle.
Fix: set the pressure back to the correct value.
Wear on both shoulders
Cause: tyre pressure too low. The tyre sags and carries the load on its outer edges. Low pressure also makes the tyre run hot.
Fix: check your pressure every month.
Wear on one side
Cause: incorrect alignment, usually camber or toe.
Fix: have your wheels aligned. Replace the tyre if it is too worn.
Feathered tread
The tread feels like a saw when you run your hand over it. Cause: incorrect toe.
Patches or cupping
Cause: worn shock absorbers or a badly balanced wheel. The wheel bounces and hits the road in the same spot each time.
Fix: have your wheels balanced and your shock absorbers checked.
Why you shouldn't ignore it
An unevenly worn tyre has less grip, especially on a wet road. And the problem won't fix itself: your new tyres will wear the same way.
Spotted a strange wear pattern? Drop by and we'll find the cause.
