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Is it time for your car to get new tyres? It’s worth inspecting each one before booking your car in.
Differing types of tyre wear can indicate a number of different issues surrounding your car.
We run through all of the different types, and what your tyres are telling you about your car.
How long should my car's tyres last?
There is no set guideline on how many kilometres your tyres should last, as each brand, type, and size has a different construction and with it, tread wear. Often tyres will last anywhere between 10,000km and 50,000km.
Much like all other rubber products, tyres have a shelf life. According to one of the major tyre brands, Bridgestone, “Tyres should be removed once they reach 10 years of age, regardless of appearance, mileage, or actual wear. However, most tyres will need replacing before they reach the 10-year mark.”
To find out more about tyre life, head here.
What does your tyre wear say about your car?
Differing tyre wear can tell you quite a bit about your car; here’s what you should know.
If your car has no issues, your tyres should wear evenly, meaning that the tread height should remain the same across the contact patch.
Because your tyres are wearing evenly, you will not only have your tyres last as long as possible, but also get the most grip.
Worn on both the inner and outer edges
If your tyre has wear on both the inner and outer edges but less wear in the middle, it means that your tyres have been underinflated.
It is recommended that you check your tyre pressures every two weeks to ensure that there are no punctures or leaks.
To ensure full grip, you should always keep your tyres inflated to the recommended pressure.
Worn in the middle but not the outsides
If your tyre has wear in the middle but not on the edges, it means that it is overinflated.
Again, you should check your tyre pressures at least once every two weeks and maintain the factory-recommended pressures.
Over-inflation can lead to a severe lack of grip as well as causing them to be worn twice as fast.
Worn on the inner or outer edge, but not both
Having wear on the inner or outer edge of the tyre but not both on the same one (like an under-inflated tyre) means you have an alignment issue.
Sometimes, bumping into a gutter or hitting a pothole can be enough to throw your toe alignment out of whack, causing the wheels to not be dead straight.
Not only will steering that is out of alignment cause wear issues, but it can also make your car unstable at high speeds and veer off to the side of the road.
A steering alignment is a simple job done by most mechanics and tyre shops. You can expect to pay around $100–$200.
Diagonal wear starting from the centre of the tyre leading into the inner edge is another alignment issue, but it is a camber alignment.
Typically, this is an issue for cars with modified suspension, but if the lower control arms or suspension struts are bent, they can also cause the wheels to have a camber.
A wheel alignment will reveal if the camber is out, and the aligner can advise you if you need new control arms or struts.
If you have patches of wear, then you can most likely feel there is something wrong with your car without the need to look at your tyres.
Uneven patches can mean loose ball joints, unbalanced wheels, damaged wheel bearings, or a bent wheel.
You would be able to feel vibration through your steering wheel, and you should address that issue as soon as possible.
Zane Dobie comes from a background of motorcycle journalism, working for notable titles such as Australian Motorcycle News Magazine, Just Bikes and BikeReview. Despite his fresh age, Zane brings a lifetime of racing and hands-on experience. His passion now resides on four wheels as an avid car collector, restorer, drift car pilot and weekend go-kart racer.
