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Tyre tread wear: Common reasons & preventive measures
Much
like vehicles, drivers and their driving habits; tyres are also
different along with their tread wear rate. For instance, high
performance sports cars wheels wear quicker than the usual car and
bus tyre.
However, there’re various factors that cause irregular and untimely
wear. The two most common causes of early and asymmetrical wear are
detailed below;
Improper
inflation pressure
When
a tyre’s improperly inflated, chances of rapid and uneven wear are
higher. Vehicle manufacturers nowadays specify the inflation pressure
for both the front and rear wheels to optimise comfortable ride and
overall vehicle’s performance. It also helps in managing fuel
economy as well as take preventive measure to minimise tyre wear.
Proper
inflation pressure distributes the vehicle load, braking,
acceleration and other mechanisms equally. In case the tyre pressure
is extreme; that is too high or low, contact patch isn’t optimised
for properly handling overall vehicle. This is the reason different
tread parts may graze quickly and regularly.
Check
the pressure in all the tyres including the spare almost every month.
Don’t forget to check before going on a long trip or when carrying
extra load. You can easily find the bus tyre pressure specifications
on the label affixed to the driver’s door or the user manual.
The
out-of-spec tyre alignment
Tyre
alignment; commonly known as wheel alignment is the adjustment of
steering and suspension functions of a vehicle; this is the system
that controls entire motion of the wheel. It’s important to note
that wheel alignment isn’t just restricted to the adjustment of
tyres but angles, traction and different parameters like the toe,
camber and caster are also considered. Improper alignment causes
premature and unequal wear.
Common
conditions for improper alignment are;
- Toe/heel tyre wear
In
this situation, single side of the tread block deteriorates faster
than the other from the border. Run your hand slowly over the tread
block and they’ll feel like jagged teeth; a common indication of
heel/toe wear. It typically occurs in shoulder rib caused by excess
negative or positive toe.
- Feather edge tyre wear
When
tread ribs are worn from one end and sharper on the other side, this
is referred to as “feathered” tyres. Yet again, this is
caused due to a combination of improper alignment settings like
extreme caster and toe.
- One-sided shoulder tyre wear
Either
interior or exterior shoulder rib of the tread is more worn than
other in this particular situation. Also termed as “camber
wear”, excessive negative or positive camber causes this type
of deterioration.
Pay
attention to worn tyres
Less
or worn tread of bus tyre or any other vehicle raises certain risks.
It diminishes road traction and a driver may lose control of the
vehicle. This is more important when skimming on wet or snowy terrain
as enhanced traction deflects water from under the wheels keeping
them in contact with the road without slipping.
Tread
depth rate varies from a state to another but the standard count in
2/32-inch minimum. In case it falls below the standard, tyre must be
replaced without unnecessary delay.
Conclusion
So
now that we know about a few common reasons as to why tyre tread
wears, taking preventive measure for safety of both the vehicle and
yourself is a must.
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