It's no secret that in the process of operation a set of tires is subject to wear and tear and over time it has to be replaced with a new one. But not many people know that tires can already at the stage of purchase have a tendency to accelerated wear. What is the reason for the short life of the new wheels?

What to check when buying a new rubber?

Below are some tips on what to look for and how to proceed when buying new tires. They are pretty simple.

1. Ask about storage conditions

Correct preservation of tires in the warehouse is a guarantee of their long service life. If there is an opportunity to get to the warehouse, be sure to use it. Sometimes this can be done at the time of the final stage of issuing tires to the buyer.

If tires are stored:

• In a damp room or with high air humidity.
• In a horizontal position, in a stack (if without rims).
• In direct sunlight.
• In a room with a high air temperature.
• No covers or cape.

Then, in this case, it is better to refuse to purchase them. The thing is that as a result of such storage, microcracks, deformation and damage can appear on the rubber. This is due to the loss of elasticity of the rubber and the wrong way of preserving the tires. If the tires have the listed defects, then it will not last long. The maximum is one or two seasons.

2. You need to see the date of manufacture

If the wheels were produced more than three years ago at the time of their inspection, then it is necessary to understand that the rubber composition of such tires has already lost some of its useful properties and has lost a certain amount of elasticity. Subsequent use may result in insufficient traction and rubber degradation. Although, theoretically, tires can be stored for five to eight years without losing their best qualities.

3. It is necessary to purchase wheels in the center where there is a tire fitting

In this case, when installing new wheels, hidden defects may come to light and the seller will not be able to refuse to replace the damaged tire with a new one. In addition, a guarantee is usually given for the work of a tire fitting - within the allotted period you can come and make a claim about the installation of tires.

4. The seller is obliged to issue a check

Sometimes this is taken lightly and the check is thrown away. This should not be done in any case. It is the presence of a check that will help to exchange defective rubber for a new one.

5. Rinse the protector with your fingers

The rubber should not be too soft. The fingers should not fall inward, but only slightly bend the tread - in this case, we can talk about good elasticity, and therefore about the retained grip properties.

6. Inspect the sidewalls of the tire.

They should not have scuffs and, moreover, no cracks / cut fragments. The sidewalls are the bearing part of the tire, and therefore any damage to them can cause an explosion / rupture of the wheel while driving, which is very dangerous.

Outcome: These simple recommendations can make it easier to choose tires and avoid buying defective ones. However, there is still no one hundred percent panacea for low-quality rubber - the main defects are revealed only during operation.

Wheels provide the vehicle with grip on the road surface, transmission of traction and braking forces. Excessive tire wear has a negative impact on characteristics such as flotation, agility, handling and ride quality, as well as fuel consumption and noise levels. The condition of the tires is one of the most important factors affecting the safety of the vehicle.

The road traffic regulations set the maximum tire wear, which is defined as the height of the tread pattern. This parameter is set for each vehicle category separately:

• For cars and trailers, it must exceed 1.6 mm.
• The same indicator for winter tires, as well as all-season tires (marking "M + S") - not less than 4.0 mm.
• Cars used for the carriage of goods - 1.0 mm or more.
• For buses - not less than 2.0 mm.

A natural question arises of how to determine tire wear on your own and what signs indicate the unsuitability of tires for further use. Vehicle manufacturers recommend that all wheels be inspected and pressure checked before driving. These simple steps will help you avoid many troubles on the road.

Degree of wear of automobile tires: method of determination and impact on traffic safety

In the process of movement, the wheel is subjected to significant mechanical loads, which are caused by the following factors:

• The weight of the vehicle.
• Centrifugal forces from the rotation of the wheel.
• Efforts arising from interaction with the coating.

The last factor is decisive, especially in our country, where the condition of highways in many sections is far from ideal. In addition to poor-quality coating with a significant number of pits and potholes, increased rubber wear causes:

• Wrong selection of tires for the season and speed limit.
• Unsatisfactory technical condition of the running gear, suspension, steering mechanism and brake system.
• Overloading the vehicle.
• Mismatch of tire pressure to the set values.
• Driving style with frequent and intense acceleration, cornering and braking.
• Violation of storage conditions for seasonal rubber and installation technology.

The current traffic regulations explicitly prohibit the use of tires with the following types of damage:

• The height of the picture is less than the values ​​provided for this type of vehicle.
• An indicator of the degree of wear of the tread of the tire with even wear appeared at the bottom of the groove of the treadmill.
• Broken tires: cuts and tears: through, stripping and superficial.
• Deformations: Blisters on the sides and the treadmill.
• Complete or complete peeling of the tread from the base.

If the tire wear is uneven, the tire wear indicator is checked in two sections. Their appearance indicates the unsuitability of the wheels for further use. The use of such tires can lead to loss of vehicle control, reduced flotation and increased fuel consumption. In case of significant damage to the tire structure, its complete destruction on the go with unpredictable consequences is possible.

The tire wear pattern says a lot about the technical condition of the car and the driving style of its owner, in particular:

• The development of the outer stripes of a treadmill indicates prolonged low pressure driving.
• The wear by spots located in different places of the tread directly indicates the wrong wheel balancing and damper damages.
• The low tread height in the center of the treadmill indicates the use of tires under increased pressure.
• Wear on the inside of a tire or outside indicates a violation of the wheel alignment angles.

The diagonal tread pattern of the treadmill clearly demonstrates the car owner's commitment to an aggressive driving style.

Method for determining the degree of wear of automobile tires

The current traffic rules directly prohibit the operation of vehicles with tires that do not meet the established requirements. How to check tire wear and avoid getting into an unpleasant situation on the road? You can do this yourself, but it is better to contact a specialist. The method for determining the degree of tread wear is as follows:

• Measurements are made using a special tool: a depth gauge. It is possible to use a caliper and even improvised means such as a ten-kopeck coin as a template.
• The depth of the tread pattern with uniform wear is controlled in a separate area, the area of ​​which is at least 1/12 of the size of the treadmill.
• The height of the pattern is determined in the places with the greatest tread development. If there is an edge in the center, then measurements are made along its edge.

In case of uneven wear of car tires, the check is carried out in several sections, the total area of ​​which is equal to the value indicated in the first paragraph. Measurements are made at different points with the highest output, the lowest value is taken into account.

Tread condition monitoring should be entrusted to the tire fitting specialists of our auto technical center, who have extensive experience in carrying out such operations. The technicians will not only establish the possibility of further use of tires, but also point out possible malfunctions of the car. Consultations on the rules and conditions for seasonal storage of rubber will also be useful.

Tires that have exceeded their wear limits will significantly reduce the vehicle's handling and may cause a road traffic accident. In this case, you should adhere to the rule: erased a tire - replace a pair, while better preserved rubber can be used as a "spare tire".

An article on how to determine the wear and tear of car tires and what affects it. At the end of the article - a video about defects in car tires.

The content of the article:

How to check tire wear? The answer to this question saved many drivers not only from getting into an accident, but also from having to pay a fine. The main thing is to put your knowledge into practice in time and change tires when the maximum allowable wear is reached.

When to change tires. Causes and effects of wear

The average life of a tire is 5 to 7 years. Most manufacturers define a service life of 10 years, but in reality, replacement is required for about 6 years of service.

Of course, a wheel can last 10 years if the tire is made of quality material, the car is used lightly and on a good road, and the owner carefully monitors the condition of the wheels and the car as a whole.

But in reality it is quite difficult to keep the car in perfect condition, and the times when the car was bought "to boast", and not for business, have long sunk into oblivion. Today, the car owner exploits his iron friend to the maximum, and does not shake, as over the greatest treasure. And tires in the process of work receive a load (and not small) in the first place.

Factors Affecting Tire Wear

Road surface quality

The road has the greatest impact on the condition of the tires. Unfortunately, perfect asphalt pavement remains something of a fantasy, especially in smaller towns. Bumps in the road, pits and potholes do not have the best effect on the condition of the tread.

Intensity and features of operation

A worn tire is an indicator not only of the condition of the road, but also of the driver's skills. The tires of a reckless motorist will fail much earlier than those of a calm and experienced car owner.

Caring for wheels and the machine as a whole

Regular checks of the condition of the machine, attentiveness to the needs of the "iron friend" and regular diagnostics can significantly increase the service life of tires.

Rubber quality

Savings in quality can not only affect safety, but also require a rubber change much earlier than is normally required.

Suspension condition

Suspension system malfunctions do not affect the condition of the wheels in the best way.

Wheel imbalance and other causes

A worn out tread can cause a lot of trouble and jeopardize the safety of the driver and passengers of the vehicle, as well as the car owner's wallet.

Why worn tires are dangerous:

1. The adhesion of the wheel to the road surface is reduced. This can lead to skidding when cornering and braking, especially on wet / icy surfaces.
2. The vehicle's cross-country ability decreases in off-road conditions.
3. The risk of tire damage increases. The leaky rubber puncture is only a matter of time.
4. High risk of aquaplaning.

The tire wear rate is determined by law and is spelled out in the traffic rules.

The maximum allowable abrasion rate of summer rubber is up to 1.6 mm over the entire tread surface. For winter - 4 mm. For trucks - 1 mm.

These indicators are the limit prescribed in the law, but from a safety standpoint, it is recommended to change the rubber earlier, when the level of abrasion is 1 - 3 mm less.

Tire wear index

Each manufacturer is obliged to mark the side of tire products in accordance with international requirements. Initially, this standard was used only in the United States, but gradually spread throughout the world. In addition to the country of manufacture, model, purpose, direction of rotation and other characteristics, the level of wear resistance is indicated on the side of the tires.

Treadwear- definition indicating the coefficient of wear resistance. Treadwear of 100 (average) assumes a range of 48,000 km on standard road surface typical of a test site.

Of course, in natural conditions, this indicator is not so accurate - the quality of the road, driving style, weather conditions and other factors significantly affect the tread wear and service life. But, paying attention to the index, you can still determine the level of tire wear resistance.

Methods for determining tire wear

The wear level should be checked regularly. This will avoid not only a fine from the traffic police, but also reduce the risk of trouble on the road.

There are several ways to determine the degree of tread wear.

Method 1. Check the tire wear indicator

An indicator is a tread block located inside the tread grooves. Its height is equal to the permissible wear rate (1.6 / 4 mm). If the tread has worn down to the level of the indicator, then the rubber must be urgently replaced.

To find where the indicator is located, examine the side of the tire. Opposite the tread block, a small stamp is usually applied in the form of a triangle, the logo of the manufacturer, a snowflake or the abbreviation TWI.

Recently, digital indicators have become widespread. On the surface of the tread there are numbers that show the level of the groove. As they wear out, they are erased, starting from the largest in value and ending with the smallest and most "deep". For example, if only the numbers 2 and 4 remain visible on summer tires, then this is a signal for an imminent tire change. After the number 2 disappears, the tire reaches the maximum allowable wear level and requires an immediate change.

Method 2. Use a special meter

The indicator is not always accurate, so it is advisable for the driver to purchase a tread depth gauge. With this small and inexpensive device, the car owner can independently check the level of abrasion in several places.

Method 3. Use a coin

If attrition is in doubt, and the meter is not at hand, you can resort to using a 10-kopeck coin. It is placed with the inscription "kopecks" in the tread groove.

The word "kopecks" should not be visible. If it reads well, then the tire should be changed or subjected to a more thorough check.

These methods are used to determine the allowable tire wear, which occurs evenly. But often, under the influence of a car malfunction or other factors, the tread wears out completely in the wrong way. To find out if there is any unnatural damage, you need to carefully inspect the wheels.

How to visually identify tire wear

The tread is worn in the middle

If the rubber wears off more intensively in the middle of the wheel, then the greatest load as a result of friction falls on this area.

Possible reasons:

1. The tire adheres unevenly to the road surface. Most often this happens if the tire pressure does not meet the manufacturer's requirements.
2. Another reason is the pressure drop due to temperature changes. For example, during frosts, the pressure in the chamber decreases, and after the temperature rises or the chamber warms up during movement, it rises and often exceeds the permissible norm.
3. The wheels are too inflated. This can happen due to the driver's carelessness or for a specific purpose - some are trying to reduce fuel consumption in this way.

Rubber worn around the edges

If the wear at the edges is much stronger than at the center, watch out.

Possible cause is too low pressure. In this case, the tire is prone to permanent deformation and the tread adheres unevenly to the road surface. To avoid such a nuisance (and the operation and durability of the suspension depends on the under-pumped wheel), the pressure in the chamber should be measured regularly, especially in winter.

The leading edge of the tread pattern is intensively erased

If the corners of the pattern are erased unevenly (the front edges are smoother, and the rear edges are practically not worn out), this indicates insufficient rotation of the wheel.
Possible reasons: problems with the operation of the suspension, failure of ball joints or bearings.

This happens quite often; if such wear is found, the machine should be checked for proper suspension.

A tire is excessively worn on any one side

The culprit is the same loose adhesion to the road surface.

Possible causes: suspension malfunctions or misaligned camber.
Similar symptoms are also typical for trucks - the cause is excessive load on certain parts of the wheel.

Cracks on the sides of the tires

Possible reasons: off-road driving, low pressure, poor quality tires or long service life.

Such deformations usually occur when hitting pits and potholes with insufficiently inflated (or vice versa, inflated) tires. If the wheel pressure meets the requirements, then the bumps on the road are smoothed out due to a kind of shock absorption. But if these requirements are violated, the wheel is subjected to a load and takes the entire blow on itself, deforming under external pressure.

Cracks may indicate that the quality of the material of manufacture leaves much to be desired. They also signal the old tires and the need to replace them with new ones.

Bulges on the sides of the tires

Possible causes: Damage to the rubber as a result of hitting a hard surface with the side of the wheel.

The bulges appear some time after the impact. A wheel with such damage becomes dangerous for operation; it is advisable to replace the tires as soon as possible.

Dents on the tread

Possible reasons: insufficient depreciation, unregulated camber.

The shock absorber is responsible for smoothing and evenly distributing the shock load during movement. If it breaks down, the wheel suffers in the first place, receiving an increased impact on certain parts of the tire. As a result, dents and bumps are formed on the entire surface of the wheel.

At the first sign, you should drive the car for diagnostics and check the serviceability of the suspension.

Wear in the form of individual spots on the tread

Possible causes: heavy braking, a sharp turn or a skid with the wheels locked.

Also, the reason can be a long-term fixed load on the same section of the tire, for example, when the car is left idle for a long time, leaving to rest or not using it in winter.

With regular checks, it's hard to miss the moment when it's time to change tires or worry about the causes of unnatural wear. Careful attention to the machine will help you avoid many troubles and troubleshoot problems before it's too late.

Wheels provide reliable grip of the car with the road. Therefore, if the tires are in improper condition, this can cause serious difficulties on the road. Simply put, the car becomes difficult to control, especially when it comes to cornering.

Excessive tire wear is most dangerous in winter. It was during this period that special attention should be paid to the shoe of the car. If you forget to make a replacement, the highway can turn into a real ice rink.

Tire wear can vary. In addition, there are many techniques for determining when to replace. Most experts agree that there is no need to wait until the last minute. It is best to change your tires a little earlier.

Causes of tire wear

Before talking in detail about the tire wear itself, you need to understand why this is happening. Unfortunately, it is impossible to give an unambiguous answer to this question. There is a whole range of factors that negatively affect the condition of the protectors, among them:

• inconsistency of the pressure level in the tires, the standards declared by the manufacturers;
• aggressive driving;
• increased loads;
• failure to meet the deadlines for maintenance;
• incorrect installation;
• imbalance;
• malfunctions in the steering mechanism or chassis.

Tire wear depends a lot on riding style. If we group all the above reasons, then we can say that premature the deterioration of the protectors is the result of improper operation, carelessness of the driver or poor technical condition of the vehicle.

Moreover, even if you keep the car in perfect technical condition, drive carefully and periodically carry out maintenance, such a factor as aging cannot be written off. Wheels over time, one way or another, will have to be changed. But if you do everything right, then their service life can be significantly increased.

Any tire has a 10-year lifespan. Even if the car was just parked in the garage, the tires need to be replaced. External factors such as humidity and temperature, as well as internal pressure can lead to cracks and weakening of strength.

Important! Over time, the rubber becomes porous. Moisture begins to penetrate into it. Because of this, the metal cord is destroyed.

A break in the cord leads to a break in the tire. With this outcome, the consequences can be unpredictable. This breakdown is especially dangerous at high speeds. The car just loses control.

Important! Rubber loses about 10 percent of its strength every three years.

Wear types

Depending on the reasons affecting the tires - wear can be of a different nature. Usually, special indicators are used to determine the species. Moreover, each company produces its own.

Normal wear and tear

This type of tire wear occurs during normal vehicle use. It largely depends on where the wheel is located. In this context, uneven wear of the front and rear pair of driving wheels is considered normal.

Important! To ensure even wear on the front and rear tires, they must be swapped from time to time.

The fact is that the steered wheels have a double load. The side surfaces are subject to the greatest wear. On the drive axle, rubber wear in the middle is much greater than on the secondary. The thing is that the middle part of the tire interacts much more with the track.

Attention! In a rear-wheel drive car, the front wheels wear more on the sides, and the rear wheels in the middle.

If we take a front-wheel drive car as an example, then its tires wear out more evenly. However, a rearrangement still does not hurt. It will significantly extend the life of the tires.

Double sided and center wear

Usually the cause of this phenomenon is the wrong level of pressure inside the tire. Consider a specific example, when the pressure is too low - the contact plane between the rubber and the asphalt road increases. In this situation, wear is observed precisely on the sides.

If the pressure is too high, tire wear is exactly the opposite. The contact area is reduced. As a result, the rubber is rubbed exactly in the middle.

Important! Do not forget to periodically check the pressure inside the tires - this will greatly extend their life.

Circumferential and spot wear

Imbalance is very often the reason that tire wear is extremely abnormal. Most often, it is the front axle that suffers from a similar problem. Simple balancing helps to get rid of this defect. The main thing is to carry it out until the wheel loses its shape.

Important! If you have carried out balancing and changed tires, and scuffs appear in the same places, then the problem is in the suspension. Usually it lies in faulty levers or shock absorbers.

The operation of damaged rubber not only affects driving safety, but also the technical condition of the car, which in the future can lead to serious damage. If we are talking about a single spot, then in most cases it is the result of emergency braking.

Sawtooth

This defect can often be seen on the block protectors of the drive axle. It occurs as a result of deformation of the wheel, the latter appears when the tire blocks are crushed and dragged along the asphalt. The result is extremely predictable - the protective coating is simply erased.

Important! The only way to minimize sawtooth wear is to periodically replace the front and rear wheels.

Determine tire wear

To protect yourself from the potential consequences of using worn rubber, you need to know exactly when to change it. For this, you can use both special equipment and folk methods. Naturally, the first option allows you to achieve much more significant accuracy. Nevertheless, a similar effect can be achieved with the help of improvised means.

Just take a regular ruler. If it is not at hand, a match or even a coin will do. With their help, you can check the tread height in different places. It is enough to make special marks, and you can easily identify the most vulnerable spots of the tires.

Attention! Professional indicators themselves determine the level of tire wear and give the finished result.

When assessing the wear and tear of a car's tires, you should take into account that each manufacturer's tires are very different. It is not surprising that the norms for each wheel are different. Moreover, there are a huge number of tire types. For example, for sports driving, or for different seasons and climatic conditions.

To understand the difference in measurements, let's take a specific example, namely a summer tire. For a comfortable ride, the tread height should be at least 7 millimeters. The error is in the region of one millimeter. The winter tread is an order of magnitude higher and reaches 11-12 mm.

These parameters are specific to new tires only. As the number of kilometers increases, the tread height on the speedometer decreases. Therefore, you should know what kind of tire wear, for example, for a car.

It is best to focus on European standards. If we take the parameter for winter tires, then it is set at 6 millimeters. Decrease to 4 is allowed, but no more.

If we are talking about summer tires and their wear, then this parameter is reduced to 1.7 mm. This is a limiting indicator, ideally, it should not fall below two, but if we are talking about wide-profile tires, then it is better to stop at three. The replacement must be carried out not end-to-end, but with a certain margin.

Nevertheless, these are averaged indicators of extreme values. To find out the exact figure, it is better to use the following formula: (initial tread height - current / initial tread height - minimum allowable tread height according to RF standards) * 100%.

After calculating this formula, you can find out the percentage of current tire wear. To get the most reliable data, it is best to check not in one place, but in several, in order to then derive an average indicator based on the collected data.

When measuring tire wear, many drivers find it difficult to determine the tread height for a new tire. If you do not have the opportunity to take measurements, and there is no data on the manufacturer's website, take the indicator for summer tires at 7 mm, and for winter tires at 8.

Tire wear indicator

A tire wear indicator often helps drivers easily know if a tire change is worthwhile. For example, renowned manufacturers such as Nokian and Bridgestone use these markings on their products.

Bridgestone

Bridgestone is very popular in the Russian market. The brand's products have gained popularity among motorists due to their high reliability and durability. Ease of use also cannot be written off.

The tires from this company have a tire wear indicator. Moreover, there may be several of them in one product. More precisely, two, each of which signals a certain degree of erasure.

The first indicator indicates that the tires need to be changed urgently. It shows that the tread height is critical, namely 1.6 mm. The scales are located in 6 places. To make it easier to find them, there are special white marks. They are located on the outside of the tire.

The second tire wear indicator shows that they are more than half worn out. These scales are only installed on winter tires. In fact, this is a simple ledge that has several stiffening ribs. There are four of them in the design. The important thing is that it is enough to completely erase one indicator and the tires need to be changed.

The good thing about tire wear indicators is that you don't need to make any calculations. It is enough to look at the places where the arrows point, and you will immediately understand whether it is worth changing the tires.

Nokian

The tires from this brand are equipped with wear indicators. It is made in the form of numbers that indicate the tread height. There is also a snowflake among the markings. If it disappears during operation, then the tires cannot be used in winter.

Important! The standard Nokian tread height is 5 millimeters. Only with this size can the tires be used on winter roads.

To prevent wear and tear on car tires, you should follow these recommendations:

1. Uneven wear or roll to one side indicates a camber or toe malfunction.
2. Always check camber after repairs or suspension bulkheads.
3. Monitor tire pressure.

These seemingly simple rules will help you avoid premature tire wear.

Outcomes

Tire wear is inevitable. Nevertheless, following fairly simple recommendations, as well as careful driving style and timely maintenance, can significantly increase this period.

Tire wear can vary. It directly depends on the reason that triggered this defect. For example, a sawtooth erase is the result of wheel deformation.

Moreover, absolutely all tires wear out - chamber and tubeless, winter and summer,. You can check the degree of their wear using a special device, an ordinary coin, or using the tire wear indicators on the tire (not available on all rubber).

The minimum allowed indicator height is 1.6 mm. When it touches the asphalt, it means it's time to change the tire.

After the first winter, the grip of the tire decreases by about 10%. Further, the characteristics deteriorate exponentially (faster and faster). In addition, the elasticity of the tread rubber is reduced. Car tire wear occurs gradually, so it is quite difficult to determine wear by the behavior of the car on the road.

The check must be done visually. Otherwise, in the event of a critical situation, the rubber may not cope with the functions assigned to it, which can lead to an accident. The permissible tire wear is most often determined by the depth of the remaining tread at the location indicated by the rubber manufacturer. For example, for winter tires minimum corresponding depth is 4 mm, a for summer - 1.6 mm... But it is worth noting that the wear is not always uniform and if a certain reason arises, it can be more from the inside, outside or sawtooth.

Types of rubbed rubber with uneven wear and recommendations for remedial action
Type of	Illustrative example	Factors	Causes	Advice
Eats rubber in the center		High pressure in the center of the wear scar	Discrepancy in disc size, pressure or load. Incorrectly selected or over-inflated tires	Find more suitable tires. Balance the pressure according to the loads. Check the similarity of wheel and tire sizes.
Rubber wears off at the edges (shoulder areas)		Concentration of increased pressure at the edges of the shoulder areas	Discrepancy in disc size, pressure or load. Incorrectly selected or low tire pressure.	Balance the pressure according to the loads. Check the similarity of wheel and tire sizes. Find more suitable tires.
Washable on one side (outside of the wheel or on the inside)		Lateral pressure build-up	Unbalanced position of axles and / or wheels on them.	Check and install similar camber.
Lateral comb wear
Staggered shoulder wear on both sides
Longitudinal comb wear		Dragging	A certain driving style. Unbalanced axle position. Discrepancy in loads and pressure.	Check and balance the axles of the car. Balance the pressure according to the loads.
Wavy shoulder wear on one side			Unbalanced position of the axles and / or wheels on them. Suspension knots malfunctions. Disproportionate tire weight.	Check and balance the axles of the car. Check and, if necessary, repair suspension components. Eliminate imbalance.
Eccentric wear		Dragging	Correct wheel size distortion. Weight disproportion in the wheel and / or power diversity.	Identify the causes of incorrect wheel geometry and eliminate them.
	Dragging	Difference between tires when paired installation. Inoperability of individual suspension units.	Check the paired tires for consistency. For prevention purposes, periodically swap them. Check and, if necessary, repair suspension components.
	Lateral pressure or pulling through	Difference between tires when paired installation. Unbalanced position of axles and / or wheels on them. Inoperability of individual suspension units.	Check the paired tires for consistency. For prevention purposes, periodically swap them. Check and balance the axles of the car. Check and, if necessary, repair suspension components.

Causes of tire wear

In total, there are seven main reasons that affect vehicle tire wear. At the end of the article, there will be recommendations to help drivers extend the life of their tires.

Asphalt temperature

The first factor affecting wear on passenger car tires is road surface temperature, most often, asphalt. It should be pointed out right away that the higher it is, the higher is the wear of car tires. There is a perfectly logical explanation for this.

The fact is that when the wheel moves, its surface heats up due to natural friction against the road surface. And the higher the speed, the higher the temperature. Under normal conditions, heat should be transferred from the rubber to the asphalt. However, in the heat, the opposite situation occurs, as a result of which the wheels are even more heated. The surface temperature of the tire can reach + 60 ° C ... + 70 ° C and even higher. Under such conditions, the top layer of rubber softens and wears out (it simply “stays” on the asphalt).

In hot weather, always monitor the tire pressure. It can be increased by 0.2 ... 0.3 bar, but no more!

Asphalt granularity

Driving on coarse-grained asphalt will result in excess tire wear. Crushed stone with sharp edges often sticks out on the surface of the road, which in itself is harmful to rubber. And if you add here the summer heat, then the colors are completely thickened. In addition, according to statistics, driving on such asphalt is associated with approximately 0.3 ... 0.5 liters for every hundred kilometers.

There is only one way out in this case - try to drive at a low speed and control the tire pressure. When using block wheel protectors on the drive axle, wheel deformation can occur when driving on poor asphalt. This will result in the so-called sawtooth tread wear. It is due to the pulling through of the mentioned blocks. This is fraught with their complete abrasion.

Speed ​​mode

Driving at high speeds is accompanied by excessive tire wear. This is due to the high mechanical stress and high temperature at which they have to work. According to statistics, at a speed of 120 km / h, the tire wears out approximately twice as fast as at 60 km / h. However, it depends. The higher the speed the tire is designed for, the softer its surface will be.

However, this applies more to racing tires, and for an ordinary motorist, the main thing to remember is that driving at high speed will significantly reduce the tire life.

Tire pressure

The air pressure in the wheels affects not only a comfortable ride, but also the wear of the rubber. Its excessive value leads to wear of the central part of the tire, and insufficient - to the side. It is especially important to check the pressure and, if necessary, inflate the wheel before a long trip with a load (for example, on vacation). In this case, the pressure value should be slightly higher than the standard value.

Defective shock absorbers

Shock absorbers not only provide a comfortable ride for the driver and passengers, but also smoothly distribute the forces to the wheels. Especially when driving in holes, when the suspension actually works. Accordingly, with faulty shock absorbers (the more worn they are, the stronger) the load on the tires increases, which means excessive wear of the rubber occurs. 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 / convergence. In normal position all wheels must be strictly vertical... Otherwise, the ride will not be performed over the entire area of ​​the tire, but along the inner or outer part of it. Accordingly, its wear and tear will be the same. There is one more nuance here. The fact is that when driving in full area, the contact patch with the road will be maximum. This means that, other things being equal, wear will be evenly distributed over the rubber surface. Camber / toe imbalance is the main cause tire wear on the inside.

If the wheel is tilted to one side, 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 pit caught in the way, which led to an imbalance of camber / convergence, can literally "kill" a tire even after 1000 km of run. Therefore, be sure to observe this important characteristic of the undercarriage of the machine. If camber / toe is not observed on the rear axle, then there is a risk of damaging the silent blocks with the ensuing consequences.

Outside tread wear 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 speaks of baldness at the same time on the outside and inside, then there is a low tire pressure.

For more even wear of the driven and driven wheels, it is recommended to periodically swap the front and rear tires.

In case of incorrect camber / toe-in, the vehicle on the road will scour from side to side. Also, in this case, there will often be a squeak of rubber when cornering, even at a normal (not overestimated) 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 the so-called bald patches... Moreover, they can have a point (spotted) character. Naturally, the thickness of the rubber in the spot area will decrease faster until the tire is completely out of order.

In fact, this phenomenon is very dangerous, because a bald spot on a wheel is more difficult to find than a bald patch in the form of a strip or uniform wear. At the same time, driving at high speed on such a tire is very dangerous. Especially on poor quality and / or hot surfaces (asphalt). Therefore, always keep an eye on the balancing of all wheels of your vehicle.

How to determine tire wear

There are several easy ways to check tire wear. Among them:

Michelin and Nokian tire wear indicator

• Wear indicator... This is the jumper on the center groove. As long as this jumper does not touch the asphalt, the tire can be safely used. But as soon as the tread wear has reached the stage when the indicator jumper also began to touch the road, and even more so wear out, it means tire to 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, TWI lettering, or an indicator located near the brand lettering on the tire.
• Digital indexes... In the body of the tread, numbers from 8 to 2 are squeezed out on summer tires or up to 4 on winter tires. Digit 8 has the smallest depth, respectively 2 and 4 - the greatest. As the tires wear, the numbers wear out, which makes it possible to assess the condition of the tread. The critical level of rubber wear comes when the last figure disappears from view.
• Color indicators... Recently, tires have appeared on the market, the surface of which changes color with wear. Typically, the tire turns red when it is most worn. However, these 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 fine tip that is inserted into the protector to measure its depth.
• Other methods... Tread wear can also be measured with 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. So, the head of the engraved eagle is placed in the protector. Accordingly, after this, the head should not be visible, which means that the rubber is in order. If the whole eagle remains in sight - it's time for you to go to the car 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.

Wear indicators of famous brands - Bridgestone, Dunlop, Yokohama, Kama

In most of the world famous tire manufacturers, the wear indicators are slightly different.

So, a well-known brand Bridgestone The tire wear indicator is located on the side of the tread. These marks are made in the form of an arrow, and there are 6 of them on the bus. The manifestation of these marks on the use of tires means that the wear has come to a critical point, and it is better to replace them.

Have Yokohama similar wear indicators. Additionally, the winter tire has a special mark in the form of a protrusion in the middle of the tread. Replacement signal - if this protrusion is compared to the rest of the tire surface.

On tires from Kama the wear indicator is implemented as a scale. There is a special scale on the side of the tire, from 2 to 7 mm. Nearby, parallel to the scale, a small groove is made, which has a gradual deepening from one edge to the other. And thus, in the process of tire wear, this groove decreases, and on the scale it clearly shows that the rubber is worn out, how many mm of wear.

On tires from Dunlop wear marks on the tires in the tread grooves there are special jumpers. When they compare in height with the rest of the surface, then it's time to change the tires.

Regardless of what the cause of tire wear was in your case, there are several simple recommendations, the implementation of which will allow you to increase (it does not matter, winter or summer). These include:

Measuring the depth of tread wear with a coin

• Correct tire pressure... Its value should be checked approximately every two to three weeks, and if necessary adjusted (pumped up). Remember that low pressure not only wears out the 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 low tire wear. Monitor their condition and, if necessary, repair or replace.
• Choosing the right speed limit... This is one of the most important factors affecting tire wear. Firstly, the faster the car travels (the wheel rotates), the faster the rubber becomes bald. Secondly, when the car rolls in a corner at high speed, the outer and even the lateral surface of the tire is worn out. Always adhere to the speed limit and try not to start and brake abruptly (and even more so with slipping or skidding).
• Buy good rubber... We are not talking about expensive world famous brands. But it is also not worth purchasing frankly low-quality rubber. It is highly likely that such a tire will not last long. This means that you will have to go to the store again. Everyone knows the saying “a miser pays twice”.
• Change tires in time in autumn and spring... Not only is it dangerous to ride on summer tires in winter, but it also leads to wear when slipping on ice or in snow. Likewise, it is not recommended to ride winter tires in summer, especially if they have studs. This brings the tire to its limit.

Conclusion

You can check tire wear only visually using a special device, a coin or an indicator of their wear, if any, on the tread. If the tires of your car suddenly began to go bald quickly, look for the reason among the above. And eliminate it accordingly. And the sooner you do this, the longer the tire will serve you later. Well and heed the recommendations for in working order. For new tires, try to buy tires from the mid-range or higher price range. Cheap rubber does not last long even if the listed recommendations are followed.