How to determine the wear of tires (rubber, tires) and what is the permissible rate
One of the car parts that is most susceptible to wear and tear is the tires. Tires provide contact between the vehicle and the road surface.
Long service life and performance of direct functions causes their wear and tear.
The safety of driving on the roads depends on the performance of the tires, and for this reason it is necessary to carefully monitor their condition.
The dangers of driving on worn-out car tires
The condition of car tires primarily affects the suspension. In fact, the wear pattern of tires is an indicator of the condition of the car as a whole. Uneven and increased tread wear is the consequence of various faults that require elimination.
Car tires with even half-worn tread can become very dangerous companions when driving at high speeds. The grip of a car with the road surface in rainy and snowy weather deteriorates several times, which can cause road accidents.
Tests conducted using worn tires showed that the quality and reliability of their grip on the surface is two times worse compared to new tires.
Sipes located on winter tires help the car “bite into” the snow, providing excellent traction even on icy roads. In the case of a worn tread, small inclined sipes do not cope with their duties: the quality of the grip deteriorates, as does the traction of the car as a whole.
When driving on wet roads, the risk of hydroplaning increases: the faster the car moves, the higher the likelihood of this, since water does not have time to completely drain out through the tread grooves. A practically worn out tread significantly worsens the situation, since a large amount of water remains under the tire. The high risk of aquaplaning can lead to dire consequences, including an accident.
Hydroplaning a car on a wet road is very dangerous!
Rainy weather increases braking distances, which can be much more dangerous than hydroplaning. Compared to new tires, worn ones require up to 2 meters or more to come to a complete stop at low speeds - about 64 km/h - taking into account the use of an anti-lock braking system.
Worn tires perform best on completely dry tracks: almost completely worn out grooves and sipes have better contact with the road surface.
Despite the last advantage of worn tires, driving on them is extremely dangerous and undesirable: an increase in braking distance, an increase in the risk of aquaplaning and a decrease in adhesion to the road surface can cause traffic accidents.
Causes of tire wear
There are several factors that have a negative impact on the condition of the protectors:
- Poor quality of trails. You will have to come to terms with this factor and try to develop a suitable driving style in order to minimize the destructive impact;
- Driving style. It affects not only tire wear, but also the technical condition of the car;
- Untimely maintenance of the vehicle;
- Incorrect tire pressure;
- Wheel imbalance;
- Failure to comply with speed limits. Each tire has corresponding indices that need to be taken into account when choosing new tires;
- Incorrect seasonal tires. Winter tires are characterized by softer rubber compared to summer tires, which is why they quickly wear off on the road surface and lose their studs. Summer tires are hard, but at low temperatures they become even harder. As a result, they can become very damaged and are not able to provide the required level of adhesion to the road surface;
- Incorrect wheel installation;
- Malfunctions of the steering and chassis of the car;
- Dragging or dragging;
- Tire structure;
- Skids.
An important factor that is also advisable to take into account is the banal aging of the wheels. Over time, tires will have to be changed anyway: the maximum service life is 10 years.
Even if the car has not been used and has been stored in a garage for several years, it is necessary to change the tires.
The reason for the decrease in strength and the appearance of cracks in tires can be not only infrequent use of the car, but also exposure to the environment - high levels of humidity and temperature.
Structural changes in rubber caused by long service life lead to the accumulation of moisture, which can cause deformation of the metal cord.
Failure of the cord will cause the tire to rupture. Such a breakdown is most dangerous at high speeds: as a result, the car completely loses control, which can lead to an accident.
Types of tire wear
The specific type of wear is determined using various indicators, individual for each tire brand.
Types of tire wear, causes and solutions
Normal Wear
This view is typical for standard operation of the machine. Depends mainly on the location of the wheel. It is normal for this type of tire to wear unevenly on both pairs of tires.
It is advisable to periodically swap the rear and front wheels to ensure even wear.
The steered wheels bear an increased load. The side surfaces are the most worn part of the tires. For a pair of wheels located on the drive axle, the wear of the middle part is several times greater compared to the driven pair. This is explained by the fact that the middle of the tire is in greater interaction with the asphalt.
On rear-wheel drive cars, the front wheels wear mainly on the sides, while the rear wheels wear in the middle.
On the left are the front wheels with normal wear, on the right are the rear wheels
Central and bilateral
The cause of both types of tread abrasion is increased or decreased pressure in the wheels. Central wear is detected when the pressure is too high, when only the middle of the wheel is in contact with the road surface.
Bilateral wear, on the contrary, is characteristic of low pressure: the tires come into contact with the track surface over a larger area, which leads to abrasion of the rubber sides.
Spot and circumferential wear
Wheel imbalance often causes abnormal tire wear. Most often it is fixed on the wheels of the front axle. The defect can be eliminated by regular balancing, which is carried out until the tire completely loses its shape.
If balancing has been carried out, but the tires still wear out, then the problem lies in the suspension. To eliminate it, it is enough to diagnose and repair shock absorbers or levers.
A single wear spot occurs in cases of sudden emergency braking.
The spots may be chaotic and small over the entire surface, or there may be single large traces of braking
Sawtooth
It usually affects the block treads of the wheels on the drive axle. Its cause is the deformation of the wheel, which occurs when blocks are dragged along the asphalt. In such a situation, the protective coating of the rubber is completely worn out.
Scaly
The tooth-like, or scaly, wear characteristic of truck wheels is a consequence of overload. If it is present, it is advisable to check the inside of the tires for cracks.
There is a high probability that this type of wear was caused by improper tire selection under maximum load. It is advisable to install tires on trucks with a 10%–15% margin for this indicator.
The service life of tires with an underestimated rating is reduced several times.
Formation of sharp edges on one side of the front wheel
There may be sharp edges on one side of the front wheels. The reason for this is a careless driving style and poor road surface. On gravel tracks, rubber quickly becomes unusable due to high abrasive wear and the appearance of cracks, scratches and tears. An increase in tire temperature during fast driving can cause delamination of its components.
Drawing
One of the types of wear on tires installed on trucks. It is fixed when there is a difference in the outer diameters, pressure or tread depth of a pair of wheels on the same axle. This can cause the smaller tire to drag behind the larger one, skipping and causing constant braking.
The edge of the tire is worn out due to dragging
Dragging is also typical for one tire with too high or low pressure and an incorrectly selected rim. At normal tire pressure, the contact patch with the road distributes the load evenly.
If there is a deviation upward or downward from the permissible norm, the size of the spot changes and the load is redistributed unevenly. Local wear can cause wheels to become unbalanced.
Longitudinal comb
Characteristic for wheels mounted on the drive axle with a block tread type. It is distinguished by greater wear on the running rather than the advancing edge of the rubber. You can get rid of it by changing the direction of rotation of the wheel.
Sharp braking and acceleration, sharp turns do not have the most favorable effect on the tires of the car.
Such driving leads to longitudinal ridge wear, accompanied by tire blowouts and cracks in the tread grooves, which is especially common with low-profile tires.
Emergency braking or malfunctions of the brake system can cause the appearance of so-called “sliders”.
In practice, it is almost impossible to avoid sharp turns: they are fraught with “breaking” of the tires. However, most often the cause of this type of wear is the driver himself and his driving style.
When to change worn tires: standards and calculations
“Bald” tires do not perform their functions and can cause an increase in braking distance, aquaplaning and skidding, which, in turn, can provoke a traffic accident.
There are many ways to measure wear, but digital meters are always as accurate as possible.
Regular visual inspection of your car's wheels will help determine when to replace tires. It is advisable to change tires in the following cases:
- The maximum wear limit has been reached where the tread depth is less than 1.6mm (see below for details). Tire sipes and treads usually contain wear indicators. Wheels are replaced every 40–50 thousand kilometers. The service life of wheels may vary depending on the manufacturer, tire composition, driving style, and road;
- Abnormal tire wear. There are several types: wear of the lateral or central part, working edges, or asymmetrical. It can only be eliminated by getting rid of the mechanical malfunction that caused it;
- The depth of the grooves of tires mounted on the same axle varies by more than 5 mm. Affects the vehicle's handling;
- Tire damage. Any violation of the integrity of the tire can cause it to rupture at high speed;
- The wheels do not comply with the manufacturer’s recommendations: the sizes are incorrectly selected, the speed and loads are not observed.
For different categories of vehicles and types of tires, certain tire wear standards are established:
- for passenger cars - 1.6 mm;
- for motorcycles - 0.8 mm;
- for trucks - 1 mm;
- for buses - 2 mm.
For Russia and European countries, uniform tire wear standards apply. For winter tires they are 4–6 mm, for summer tires - 1.6 mm. Such data is limiting. Summer tires can be safely used with a tread height of at least two to three millimeters.
How to determine tire mileage
Wear indicator
It is a small column of rubber 1.6 mm high placed in the tread grooves. Actually, the tire requires replacement after the tread height is equal to this block.
Wear block located in the tread
You can determine where exactly the wear level indicator is located by looking for one of the marks on the side:
- triangle;
- TWI sign;
- brand logo.
Many manufacturers produce tires with intermediate indicators. Their scuffing indicates that the tires are no longer able to provide any proper grip on wet asphalt.
Digital indexes on the protectors
Digital indicators are extruded into the sipes and treads of the rubber, each of which differs in depth.
The largest number (standard is eight) is extruded to a shallow depth, the smallest (for summer tires is two, for winter studded or Velcro tires is four) to the maximum. As tires wear out, the numbers wear out and disappear.
The remaining tread level is determined by the highest of the remaining numbers. Critical wheel wear is detected after the last indicator is erased.
Tire tread marking with digital wear indicator: example
Manufacturers apply three main types of digital indicators to protectors:
- A series of numbers from “2” to “4”, indicators are marked in millimeters;
- A series of numbers, indicators are marked as a percentage of the tread height;
- An indicator that has one segmented digit, made in such a way that each of its segments is extruded to a different depth. As the tire wears, different numbers appear. Such indicators are marked in millimeters.
Changing tire color
Relatively recently, wheels have appeared on sale that change color as they wear. When the rubber wears out, the tread turns a bright shade, which lets you know when the tires need to be changed.
Determining the level of tire wear by changing color is convenient, but the wheels do not always look aesthetically pleasing
Profile depth measurement
Indicators allow you to quickly determine the level of wear, but do not provide accurate results. To get accurate readings, use a tread depth gauge - a small device that measures the depth of the tread grooves in several places. If the results obtained are less than those established by law, the rubber should no longer be used.
Determining tread wear using a tread depth gauge
Manual methods: coin, ruler, caliper
Perhaps the simplest and easiest way to measure the depth of the tread grooves is using a ruler or caliper. To do this, the caliper probe is lowered to the bottom of the groove and the resulting value is recorded. Tire wear is measured in the same way using a ruler - it is inserted into the tread and its depth is checked.
You can determine the level of tire wear with any metal coin - dollar, euro or ruble. For example, the dollar is lowered by the president's head into the tread groove. It's time to change the tire if Washington's hair is visible from the perpendicular line of sight. In a similar way, tire wear can be determined with a one-cent coin - only in this case the top of Lincoln's head should be visible.
Determining the level of tread wear using a coin - an express method
Russian double-headed eagle coins are also suitable for this method. Two rubles are placed in the groove with the eagle's head down. If the tires are in good condition and do not require replacement, then the bird’s head should not be visible, but tires need to be changed if the entire eagle is visible.
You can find out the condition of the tires using a one euro coin. If the gold rim disappears into the tread groove, then there is no need to change the tires, but if most of it is visible, then you will have to buy a replacement.
How to prevent car tire wear
To increase the service life of rubber and reduce its level of wear, it is enough to follow several recommendations:
- an incorrectly performed wheel alignment can cause uneven wear or tilt to one side;
- After carrying out repair work or overhauling the suspension, it is mandatory to carry out wheel alignment;
- It is necessary to constantly monitor the level of pressure in the wheels.
Simple rules will help prevent premature wear of rubber and extend its service life.
Car tire wear is an inevitable consequence of vehicle operation. Its causes can be various factors - both technical faults and driving style.
Nevertheless, following simple recommendations, regular visual inspection of wheels and timely maintenance of the car will help not only increase the life of the tires, but also prevent the serious consequences of its wear.
Source: https://carnovato.ru/vsyo-chto-nuzhno-znat-ob-iznose-shin-vidy-i-prichiny/
Tire wear. Determination methods
Tire life cannot be predicted. Its size is directly dependent on several factors in combination: design, pace and level of driving, climate, condition of road surfaces, maintenance.
The current condition of tires is directly dependent on the mileage of the car and is one of the first ranks in the rating for safe driving on the roads.<\p>
To ensure this, strict adherence to the rules of vehicle operation and constant monitoring of the condition of the tires and the degree of their wear are necessary.
It is unacceptable to use a car if the remaining tire tread height is below the minimum permissible level. How to determine tire wear? What are its symptoms? We'll talk about this.
Types of tire wear, causes
The tread is the only component of the tire that has direct contact with the road. The main technical indicators for the vehicle’s grip on the road surface are high-quality tires and tread depth.
| No. | Irregularities in operation | Type of wear | Causes |
| 1 | Tire overload as a result of non-compliance with internal air pressure standards. | Double-sided, along the perimeter of the wheel. | The tire pressure is too low. |
| 2 | Lack of systematic maintenance and repair of tires. | In the middle around the entire perimeter. | The tire pressure is too high. |
| 3 | Installation and dismantling of tires is carried out in violation of the technical regulations. According to the rating, it occupies a leading position. | The front wheels are subject to wear on the outside. | The wheel alignment angles are incorrectly adjusted, high speed on a curved road (the rating goes off scale). Flipping the tires on the rims or swapping the front and rear wheels helps prevent continued wear. When tires abrade on the outer edge more than in the center, this indicates long-term operation of the machine at a reduced level of tire pressure. |
| 4 | Wheel imbalance | The side parts of the working surface are subject to partial abrasion. | The static and dynamic balancing of the wheels is impaired. It is possible that there may be excessive side runout of the disc or increased play in the wheel bearings or suspension arms. |
| 5 | Violation of the operating condition of the vehicle's chassis and steering. | The working surface of the tire is partially worn down in the center. | There is no static wheel balancing. Excessive rim runout may occur. |
| 6 | Accompanying overloads or underpressure by up to 10% can reduce mileage by 20%. When choosing tires based on given rating parameters, you should adhere to the indicators characterizing the maximum load. A margin of 10-15 percent will preserve the tires even with partial overload. | Significant wear. | The result of wheel locking during emergency braking. Or the blocking is accompanied by the unchanged position of the oval brake drum. |
| 7 | Gravel and crushed stone on the road surface cause damage to rubber. | Wear of a scaly or jagged format resulting from frame breaks. | Exceeding the maximum possible load; It is necessary to examine the inside of the tire to detect cracking. |
| 8 | Systematic movement in high speed mode. The resulting thermal energy, as a result of internal friction, leads to heating of the rubber coating. Unfavorable temperatures of the outer and inner parts destroy the tread surface and lead to delamination between the connecting parts of the tire. A temperature of 120 degrees reduces the strength of rubber by forty percent. | Sharp edges on the front wheels. | The result of frequent and high-speed driving on “broken” roads and on turns. |
| 9 | The format of sports driving with frequent and sharp acceleration and braking leads to increased wear. This situation is based on the tread slipping in the contact patch. Long-term emergency braking at high speeds provokes the creation of wear spots, not excluding the separation of tread elements. | Fracture of the frame base. | High-speed driving in extreme mode on dangerous surfaces (the leading position in the ranking is sharp stones, rail joints, etc.). |
Tire tread. Wear detection
You can track the degree of wear of your car tires using:
- wear indicator,
- profile depth markings,
- changes in tire color scheme.
The wear indicator is a system familiar to all car enthusiasts, occupying one of the first places in the ranking. The indicator, otherwise the tread block (1.6 mm) is located in the longitudinal grooves. The connection of the groove and tread levels indicates the end of the tire's useful life and must be replaced. Otherwise, it is considered as an offense.
As a classic method of identification, marks are recorded on the side of the tire:
- TWI markings;
- marker logo;
- indicator in the shape of a triangle.
Some manufacturers practice the use of intermediate indicators, the disappearance of which on the surface of the rubber signals the danger of use on slippery surfaces.
The digital wear indicator is based on the printing of digital symbols on tire treads. The numbers corresponding to the depth of the grooves are abraded according to the level of wear achieved. This method of determining tire wear is used by rating companies Nokian and Matador.
Profile depth gauge. Available in small device format. Can be purchased at a specialized auto center at the best price. Equipped with functionality for measuring the depth of tread grooves. If wear indicators are a quick way to determine wear, then a tire profile depth gauge is a highly accurate prediction.
Determining tire wear is a very important process on which the comfort and safety of the driver depends. You should always monitor the condition of your car and be able to determine the condition of the tires in a timely manner.
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Tire wear indicator: its location and explanation
Hello everyone, dear motorists! Any normal driver strives to drive a car not only with the maximum level of comfort, but also safety. This criterion is directly influenced by the steering and braking system, as well as the quality of car tires.
And we have already discussed which tires are better to buy, friction or studded, for the winter, and we talked about the advisability of buying all-season tires.
The degree of wear plays an important role; in determining it, a tire wear indicator can be a good assistant - what it is and where it can be found, we’ll talk in today’s publication.
Traffic regulations
One of the key characteristics that is responsible for vehicle controllability and stability on the road is the tire tread height. Sometimes it is not possible to objectively assess this indicator by eye.
In this case, a special indicator that is integrated into the rubber by the manufacturer will not help. It is the tread that provides high-quality traction between the wheel and the road surface, and it is especially important to monitor its degree of wear in bad weather.
During and after rain, snow, and ice, the vehicle's contact with the road deteriorates significantly.
The traffic rules, for their part, regulate what the degree of wear should be, and clear quantitative indicators are provided for this:
- passenger cars - 1.6 mm;
- motorcycles - 0.8 mm;
- buses - 2 mm;
- trucks – 1 mm.
And in order to assess the tread height, we just need an indicator indicating tire wear. It is a part of the tread that differs in position, shape and size from the rest of the tire pattern. Most often, such an indicator is volumetric and placed in a groove. Another option is a digital beacon in the form of digital markings at different depths.
Main types of indicators
The simplest is a volumetric type determinant, which functions simply and clearly. As the tread wears off, it begins to compare with the height at which the beacon is located.
This means that the tire must be replaced.
Today, manufacturers equip tires with not only the main indicators, but also intermediate ones, so that the driver can monitor the wear of the pattern in advance and prepare for replacement.
The digital indicator on the tires looks somewhat different. Represents numbers extruded into the tire at a certain depth. The smallest number (usually 2) is at the greatest depth and vice versa.
During operation, the tread will wear out, and the numbers themselves, accordingly, will disappear. As soon as the last one disappears, it means that the rubber has reached a critical level of wear.
It is digital beacons that have become most widespread for the reason that they do not need to be deciphered, and even a child can understand their meaning.
The Nokian wear indicator has its own distinctive feature: these are several numbers located in the center of the car tread. It is with their help that it is possible to determine the change in the height of the pattern on the rubber, which is measured in millimeters.
This manufacturer can additionally place a snowflake icon, which allows you to determine the nature of wear in the winter season.
As soon as the designation disappears, that is, it is “eaten up,” the car tires must be immediately replaced with new ones, since they will no longer provide the same contact on a snowy road surface.
The bridgestone indicator is somewhat different from it. There are arrows in several places on the outside of the rim.
When they disappear, it means that the tread has reached its critical point, that is, its height does not exceed 1.6 mm.
Winter tires have an additional indicator in the form of a ribbed protrusion. It is applied in 4 places on the tires, which are equally spaced from each other.
Let's consider what the Michelin manufacturer offers its customers. To do this, you need to find any of the marks on the side of the tire. This can be a brand logo, a TWI icon, or a triangle image. The TWI icon tells us where to look for the indicator itself, which characterizes the degree of tire wear.
As soon as the wheel tread height begins to approach a dangerous value, the driver needs to take action. If you neglect this rule, the length of the braking distance of the car increases. And this threatens with increased accident rates. Experienced drivers always pay attention to the wear indicator values.
So we tried, friends, to determine where exactly the indicator is located, which monitors the degree of tread wear on car tires.
Do not forget to also maintain the required pressure in the wheels of your car. Now you have all the necessary knowledge to independently determine the moment when you need to go to the auto shop for new wheels.
Well, we’ll say goodbye for today, read the blog in the next issues and bye!
Sincerely, blog author Andrey Kulpanov
Source: http://avto-kul.ru/ekspluatatsiya-avtomobilya/indikator-iznosa-shin.html
Tire wear. Several Types – 7 Reasons (Detailed Analysis)
Tire wear is a phenomenon that occurs due to surface contact with asphalt. It can be either natural, during long-term operation, or accelerated - due to an incorrect wheel alignment/camber angle, selection of the wrong tire pressure, faulty shock absorbers, or too high a speed.
Reasons for wear:
Wear detection
Tips for extending service life
Moreover, absolutely all tires wear out - tubed and tubeless, winter and summer, low and high profile. You can check the degree of wear using a special device, a regular coin, or using the tire wear indicators on the tire (not all tires have them).
The minimum permissible height of the indicator is 1.6 mm. When it touches the asphalt, it means it's time to change the tire.
After the first winter, the grip properties of the tire decrease by about 10%. Further, the characteristics deteriorate exponentially (ever faster). In addition, the elasticity of the tread rubber decreases. Car tires wear out gradually, so it is quite difficult to determine wear by the car’s behavior on the road.
The check must be performed visually. Otherwise, if a critical situation arises, the rubber may not cope with the functions assigned to it, which can lead to an accident. Acceptable tire wear is most often determined by the remaining tread depth in the location specified by the tire manufacturer.
For example, for winter tires the minimum relevant depth is 4 mm , and for summer tires it is 1.6 mm .
But it is worth noting that wear is not always uniform and if a certain reason occurs, it may be greater on the inner, outer sides or sawtooth
Causes of tire wear
In total, there are seven main reasons that affect the wear of car tires. At the end of the article, recommendations will be given to help drivers extend the life of their tires.
Asphalt temperature
The first factor affecting the wear of passenger car tires is the temperature of the road surface , most often asphalt. It’s worth pointing out right away that the higher it is, the higher the wear of car tires. There is a completely logical explanation for this.
The fact is that when the wheel moves, its surface heats up due to natural friction with the road surface. And the higher the speed, the higher the temperature. Under normal conditions, heat should transfer from the rubber to the asphalt.
However, in hot weather the opposite situation occurs, as a result of which the wheels heat up even more. The tire surface temperature can reach +60°С…+70°С and even higher.
Under such conditions, the top layer of rubber softens significantly and wears out (simply “remains” on the asphalt).
In hot weather, always monitor your tire pressure. It is allowed to increase it by 0.2...0.3 bar, but no more!
Asphalt grain size
Driving on coarse asphalt results in excessive tire wear. Often, crushed stone with sharp edges sticks out on the road surface, which in itself harms the tires. And if you add the summer heat, the colors become even darker. In addition, according to statistics, driving on such asphalt is associated with increased fuel consumption by approximately 0.3...0.5 liters per hundred kilometers.
In this case, there is only one way out - try to move at a low speed and control the tire pressure. When using block wheel treads on the drive axle, wheel deformation may occur when driving on poor asphalt. The consequence of this will be the so-called sawtooth wear of the tire tread. It is caused by the pulling through of the mentioned blocks. This is fraught with their complete abrasion.
Speed mode
Driving at high speed causes excessive tire wear. This is due to the high mechanical load and high temperature at which they have to work.
According to statistics, at a speed of 120 km/h a tire wears out approximately twice as fast as at 60 km/h. However, this depends on the speed index.
The higher the speed a tire is designed for, the softer its surface will be.
However, this applies more to racing tires, and for the average motorist the main thing to remember is that driving at high speed significantly reduces tire life .
Tire pressure
Air pressure in the wheels affects not only a comfortable ride, but also tire wear. Its excessive value leads to wear of the central part of the tire, and its insufficient value leads to wear on the side parts. It is especially important to check the pressure and, if necessary, pump up the tire before a long trip with a load (for example, on vacation). In this case, the pressure value should be slightly higher than standard.
Faulty shock absorbers
Shock absorbers not only provide a comfortable ride for the driver and passengers, but also smoothly distribute forces to the wheels. Especially when driving through potholes, when the suspension actually kicks in.
Accordingly, with faulty shock absorbers (the more worn they are, the more), the load on the tires increases, which means excessive wear of the rubber.
There is only one way out - to monitor the condition of the suspension elements and, if necessary, carry out timely repairs.
Wheel alignment angles
This is the so-called camber/alignment. In a normal position, all wheels should be strictly vertical . Otherwise, driving will not be carried out over the entire area of the tire, but along its inner or outer part. Accordingly, its wear and tear will be the same. There is one more nuance here.
The fact is that when driving on a full surface, the contact patch with the road will be maximum. This means that, other things being equal, wear will be evenly distributed over the surface of the rubber. Camber/alignment imbalance is the main cause of tire wear on the inside .
If the wheel is tilted in any direction, the contact patch will be significantly reduced, and a similar load will fall on a smaller area. And the smaller the spot (narrower track), the greater the wear.
In fact, a hole in the way that leads to camber/toe imbalance can literally “kill” a tire even after 1000 km. Therefore, be sure to keep an eye on this important characteristic of the vehicle’s chassis. If the camber/toe is not maintained on the rear axle, then there is a risk of damage to the silent blocks with the ensuing consequences.
Tread wear on the outside can also be caused by high-speed cornering. But wear on the inside is only due to incorrect camber/toe. If the wheel is installed strictly vertically, and the wear pattern indicates baldness on both the outer and inner sides, then low tire pressure occurs.
To ensure more even wear on the drive and driven wheels, it is recommended to periodically swap the front and rear tires.
If the wheel alignment is incorrect, the car will scoot from side to side on the road. Also, often there will be a squeaking sound from the tires when cornering, even at normal (not excessive) speed.
Wheel imbalance
If the wheel is not balanced and some part of it weighs a little more (mass shift), then this can lead to the appearance of so-called bald spots . Moreover, they can have a point (spotted) character. Naturally, the thickness of the rubber in the area of the spot will decrease faster until the tire completely fails.
In fact, this phenomenon is very dangerous because a bald spot on a wheel is more difficult to find than a bald spot in the form of a stripe or even wear. However, driving at high speed on such a tire is very dangerous. Especially on low-quality and/or hot surfaces (asphalt). Therefore, always ensure that all wheels of your vehicle are balanced.
How to determine tire wear
There are several simple ways to check tire wear. Among them:
Wear indicator on Michelin and Nokian tires
- Wear indicator . This is a jumper on the center groove. As long as this jumper does not touch the asphalt, you can safely use the tire. But as soon as the tread wear has reached the stage when the indicator jumper also begins to touch the road, and even more so to wear out, then the tire must be replaced . Unfortunately, not all tires have a wear indicator, but only more or less expensive ones produced by well-known brands. As a rule, rubber manufacturers visually indicate the place where the indicated indicator takes place on the tire. Typically this is one of three options: a triangle icon, a TWI inscription, or an indicator located near the brand name on the tire.
- Digital indexes . Numbers from 8 to 2 on summer tires or up to 4 on winter tires are squeezed into the tread body. The number 8 has the smallest depth, respectively 2 and 4 - the greatest. As tires wear, the numbers wear off, making it possible to assess the condition of the tread. The critical level of tire wear occurs when the last number disappears from visibility.
- Color indicators . Recently, tires have appeared on the market, the surface of which changes color as it wears. As a rule, the tire turns red when it is worn the most. However, such tires are quite expensive, so they have not yet found widespread use.
- Profile depth gauge . This is a special small, usually plastic, device with a thin tip that is inserted into the tread to measure its depth.
- Other methods . Tread wear can also be measured using a caliper, ruler or coin. The first two tools can be used by simply inserting them into the groove and measuring the depth accordingly. As for the coin, a two-ruble coin is suitable for this. Thus, the head of an engraved eagle is placed in the protector. Accordingly, after this the head should not be visible, this means that the rubber is in order. If the entire eagle remains visible, it’s time for you to go to the auto shop for new tires.
Do not forget to regularly check the condition of the tires, and do this not only in the off-season when changing summer tires to winter ones or vice versa, but also while driving, especially after long trips or driving on bad asphalt.
Recommendations for extending tire life
Regardless of what the cause of tire wear was in your case, there are several simple recommendations that, if followed, will allow you to increase the life of your tires (no matter winter or summer). These include:
Measuring tread wear depth with a coin
- Correct tire pressure . Its value must be checked approximately once every two to three weeks, and, if necessary, adjusted (pumped). Remember that low pressure not only wears out tires excessively, but also increases fuel consumption, and therefore your money.
- Serviceable suspension . Serviceable shock absorbers are not only synonymous with a comfortable ride, but also with low tire wear. Monitor their condition and, if necessary, repair or replace them.
- Selecting the correct speed mode . This is one of the most important factors affecting tire wear. Firstly, the faster the car drives (the wheel rotates), the faster the tires go bald. Secondly, when the car rolls in a turn at high speed, wear occurs on the outer and even side surface of the tire. Always adhere to the speed limit and try not to start or brake suddenly (and even more so with slipping or skidding).
- Buy good tires . We are not talking about expensive world famous brands. But it’s also not worth purchasing frankly low-quality tires. There is a high probability that such a tire will not last long. This means that you will have to go to the store again. Everyone knows the saying “the miser pays twice.”
- Change tires on time in autumn and spring . Not only is it dangerous to drive on summer tires in winter, but it also leads to wear when slipping on ice or snow. Likewise, it is not recommended to drive on winter tires in summer, especially if they have studs. This brings the tire to its wear limit.
Conclusion
You can only check tire wear visually using a special device, a coin, or a tire wear indicator if present on the tread. If the tires of your car suddenly begin to go bald quickly, look for the reason among those listed above. And accordingly, eliminate it.
And the sooner you do this, the longer the tire will serve you later. Well, listen to the recommendations for keeping your tires in working condition. When it comes to new tires, try to buy tires in the mid-range or higher price range.
Cheap tires don't last long even if you follow the recommendations listed above.
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Source: https://etlib.ru/blog/740-iznos-shin
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