How to Read Your Tires

When you're driving on the road, your tires can wear in different ways. Normal wear is when the entire tread wears down the same. But if you aren't maintaining your tires and alignment, your tires will show unusual wear patterns. These include:

• Overinflation - wear is along the tread's center portion only. You may feel a rougher ride, have a longer stopping distance and be more easily damaged by potholes. This will shorten your tire's life.
• Underinflation - wear is along the sides and sidewall. May contribute to a tire failure as well as cause poor gas mileage.
• Poor alignment - excessive camber. If your car has too much camber, you may see wear along the outside edge (positive camber) or inside (negative camber).
• Poor alignment - excessive toe. If you see feathering from the inside of the tire toward the outside, your wheels have too much toe-out. If you see feathering from the outside of the tire toward the inside, your wheels have too much toe-in.
• Rear Misalignment - appears as diagonal wear at even spaces across the tire.
• Out of Balance or Suspension Problems - appears as patchy wear on the tires.
• Tear to Innerliner - shows up as a "bubble." Usually caused by damage such as hitting a pothole hard. Occasionally caused by a tire defect.

When you're driving on the road, your tires can wear in different ways. Normal wear is when the entire tread wears down the same. But if you aren't maintaining your tires and alignment, your tires will show unusual wear patterns. These include:

• Overinflation - wear is along the tread's center portion only. You may feel a rougher ride, have a longer stopping distance and be more easily damaged by potholes. This will shorten your tire's life.
• Underinflation - wear is along the sides and sidewall. May contribute to a tire failure as well as cause poor gas mileage.
• Poor alignment - excessive camber. If your car has too much camber, you may see wear along the outside edge (positive camber) or inside (negative camber).
• Poor alignment - excessive toe. If you see feathering from the inside of the tire toward the outside, your wheels have too much toe-out. If you see feathering from the outside of the tire toward the inside, your wheels have too much toe-in.
• Rear Misalignment - appears as diagonal wear at even spaces across the tire.
• Out of Balance or Suspension Problems - appears as patchy wear on the tires.
• Tear to Innerliner - shows up as a "bubble." Usually caused by damage such as hitting a pothole hard. Occasionally caused by a tire defect.