Whenever I get my tires rotated, I always find that my front tires have more wear and tear. But why is one tire wearing faster than the other, when all tires are being driven on the same roads and in the same conditions? Let’s find out.
If you own a vehicle, you need to read this one. The wearing of all the four tires is the result of friction with the road they come in contact with, so by all means, they will need replacement at some point in time.
However, many people reckon that one or two tires of their vehicle tend to wear faster than the rest, and well, we might have an answer to that. There are several reasons why one tire of a vehicle wears faster than others.
If you have come across such a situation with your vehicle, you might relate to this article quite well. Read on to learn more on why this happens!
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Why Is One Tire Wearing Faster?
There are quite a few reasons why one tire tears faster than the rest in a vehicle, but the following are the most common.
#1. Issues with wheel alignment
The bumps on the road can affect the alignment of the wheels – either one or all of them. Its misalignment will cause rolling resistance and friction on the road.
Thus, the tire that suffers this misalignment faces disproportion and wears out faster. Usually, the front tire gets impacted, but you can get them fixed via wheel alignment services.
#2. Skipping tire rotation
It is vital to rotate your car’s tires twice a year to keep them running smoothly. Once the tires have covered a certain distance, they need to be rotated to maintain their balance. If this doesn’t happen for long, the tires will start wearing out.
#3. Problem with suspension
It is only through suspension that the wheels are connected to the car’s frame. One of the main functions of suspension is to distribute and maintain the vehicle’s balance on all the wheels.
In case any component of the suspension is damaged, large amounts of pressure will be exerted on the tires, which will result in the accelerated wearing process of the product.
#4. Difference in Air Pressure
If only one tire has low pressure, it will cause damage and result in wearing off. On the other hand, if any tires are over-inflated, the uneven pressure will also lead to its damage.
Thus, it is essential to consult your mechanic to know who will guide you through the correct way to inflate the tires or do it him or herself.
Apart from the above reasons, tires can also wear off due to mismatched brands, older rubber, prior damage, age difference, and other driving factors.
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Which Tires Wear Faster – Front or Rear?
Generally, the front tires wear faster than the rear. To understand this, you must first realize that the front tires are responsible for steering, braking, and accelerating.
They have to do more work than rear tires, so the chances of wearing the front tires in a vehicle are higher, especially if they haven’t been rotated.
For those who do not know, it is essential to rotate all the tires of a vehicle twice a year to avoid the unwanted wear of the product. Rotation is done to balance all the tires to carry the pressure equally. In advanced cases of wear and tear, there is no other option but to replace the worn-out tire with a new one.
What Causes Flat Spots on Rear Tires?
The term flat spots come from the phenomenon where a vehicle’s tire (in this case, rear) remains stationary for a prolonged time (weeks or months), and the area in contact with the ground gets a flat spot.
Due to the flat spot, you may experience some disturbance in the tire, which affects your driving. However, the disturbance fades away most times after the car has run a few miles.
When your car keeps moving from time to time, the motion generates heat, making the tire’s rubber bendable. However, if the vehicle remains motionless for numerous days, the tires cool down, sometimes to the point where it flattens due to their contact with the ground.
There are usually two cases of flat spots – temporary and semi-permanent.
Temporary flat spots
Temporary flat spots are more common amongst the vehicles than semi-permanent ones. Temporary flat spots happen when the vehicle remains motionless for a few days or a week. You may feel a particular problem with the tire while driving at first, but it soon disappears.
Permanent flat spots
The same, however, is not the case with semi-permanent flat spots. They occur when the vehicle remains standing in one place for about a month or more. In this case, you must contact your mechanic and let them guide you through it.
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Frequently asked questions
#1. How do you fix uneven tire wear?
Prevention is better than cure. Thus, it would help if you:
- Tried to avoid potholes and damps
- Check the tires from time to time
- Check the cold tire pressure
- Maintain rotation
- Check the alignment, and
- Check whether the tires are matched as per the brand, model, and specification.
In cases of advanced wear and tear, the tire will have to be replaced with a new one.
#2. Does the right or left tire wear faster?
Usually, it’s the right tire of the vehicle that wears faster than the left one. They are the first to get the torque and power, especially the right rear ones, thus wearing faster.
#3. Why does my right rear tire wear faster?
If the right rear tire of a vehicle wears faster than the others, it is usually due to misalignment amongst the tires – the pressure is heavier on the right tire of the vehicle.
It would be good advice for you to consult a mechanic and check the alignment of the tires before anything else.
#4. What causes the sides to wear patterns?
Some causes include improper air pressure, improper balance amongst the tires, bent wheels, misalignment, scalloping or feathering, under or overinflation, etc.
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A Few Final Words
Wearing the tire will take place sometime in the future, but you must take all the measures necessary to keep that future as far as possible.
Thus, it is essential to rotate your car’s tires from time to time, try to avoid the bumps on the road, and take your car to the service center the minute something feels wrong while driving.
Rest assured, your car’s tires will live long and give you the rides of life! Thank you for reading the article, we hope we covered all your questions. If you have more doubts, do reach out to us through the comments section.