Tire rotation patterns & incorrect inflation symptoms
Tire tread wear indicators
Vehicle alignment
Maintenance
It's important to periodically check and carry out maintenance on your tires. Find out here about rotation, balancing, tread wear and other key aspects of maintaining your tires.
Tire Inflation
It is very important to check your tires' inflation at least once a month with an accurate tire pressure gauge. Under-inflation or over-inflation can cause abnormal, excessive wear and tear, which in turn can cause tire overheating, fuel overuse or even such danger as a tire blow-out.
Be sure to check the pressure while your tires are cold and have not been used recently. If you drive even as much as a mile, this will cause your tire pressure to increase and will therefore cause an inaccurate reading.
Continuous loss of inflation pressure is an indication of a possible tire or wheel assembly problem. Consult a professional tire dealership immediately if you encounter this situation.
Checking tire tread
Check your tire tread regularly to find out whether a tire needs replacing.
All passenger, light truck and medium commercial tires have tread wear indicator bars molded into the tread. These bars are located at the bottoms of the tread grooves in several locations around the tire.
When the tire is worn to the point where any of them become visibly flush with the adjacent tread ribs, it is time to replace the tire. If the tread is wearing out in only one or two places, it can mean that the tire is inflated wrongly.
Below, we list some of the most common patterns of uneven tread wear and the problems that cause them:
- Cups or dips in the tread: Worn Parts
Cupping (also called dipping or scalloping) is most common on the front tires, though your rear tires can cup as well. It may be a sign that your wheels are out of balance, or that your car's suspension or steering system parts are worn out.
- Sawtooth edges: Misalignment
Do the edges of the tread have a sawtooth or feathered appearance? This is caused by erratic scrubbing against the road. The solution is toe-in or toe-out alignment correction. Proper tread depth is essential for proper tire performance. If you notice a loss or change in wet traction, you may not have enough tread left on your tires. Once the tread depth reaches 1.6mm, the tire must be replaced.
- Wear in centre: Over-Inflation
When a tire is over-inflated, the centre of the tread bears most of the load and wears out faster than the outside edges. Uneven wear reduces the useful life of a tire. Check your tires regularly for proper inflation. Abnormal tire wear may also be due to misalignment or mechanical problems.
- Wear on both edges: Under-Inflation
If your tire looks like this, it may be under-inflated. Under-inflation reduces tread life through increased tread wear on the outside edges (or shoulders) of the tire. It also generates excessive heat, which reduces tire durability. Finally, it affects fuel economy through increased rolling resistance (soft tires makes your vehicle work harder). Abnormal tire wear may also be due to misalignment or mechanical problems.
Tire balancing
Unbalanced tires cause vibration, which can lead to driver fatigue and premature, irregular tire wear, as well as unnecessary wear to your vehicle's suspension. Your tires should be balanced when they are mounted on wheels for the first time or when they are remounted after repair. Tire balance should be checked at the first sign of a vibration or shimmy.
Vehicle alignment
A vehicle is properly aligned when all suspension and steering components are sound and when the tire and wheel assemblies are running straight and true. If you notice uneven tread wear, this could be due to a misalignment and must be serviced by a professional.
Tire rotation
While many people are capable of rotating their own tires, it is quick, easy and secure to let a professional do it for you. Your vehicle's owner's manual will specify the proper rotation pattern and schedule for your vehicle. If a specific schedule is not indicated, it is a good rule of thumb to rotate your tires every 8,000 to 10,000 kilometers.
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Tire repair
Tire repairs should be carried out by a trained tire professional. Proper repair procedure will include dismounting the tire from the wheel for a thorough inspection to check for damage and the use of a patch and plug to repair any punctures that fall within the limits and guidelines for repair.
