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Last Updated: Sep 3rd, 2008 - 11:24:43 |
Uneven tire wear is a common--and potentially dangerous--problem. Here's what to look for, and what NOT to get conned into buying to fix the problem.
Reader Question:
Let me first thank you for your help. I sure don’t know what I should do. I have a 94 Nissan Altima.
On the driver’s side, the tire is wearing down pretty good. It also has a bumping feeling.
I know is not the tire because when I bought new ones it still did the same thing. Any advice?
Thanks so much, Lori
Hello Lori,
Without looking at the tire myself, I can only assume you have an “out of alignment” issue.
If one tire is wearing unevenly or more so than the others, there is probably something out of
whack with the alignment of the vehicle.
If a tire has some raised bumps on it, called scallops, this is usually caused by lack of tire
rotation and wheel balancing. If the driver side tire is not deemed a dangerous condition by your
mechanic, you might be able to rotate and balance all four wheels, move the driver tire and
wheel to the rear of the car, put the best two tires on the front of the car, and then check the
alignment of the vehicle.
The majority of the stopping power is done by the front brakes, so you want to make sure you
have the best tires on the front of the vehicle.
Don’t be swayed into buying shocks and struts as a remedy for this situation. These items are
commonly sold when abnormal tire wear is present. In my opinion, they are sold more because
the customer is familiar with the terms shocks and struts, and the slick advertising done by the
strut companies. In 90% of the tire wear cases shocks and struts are not the culprit. Rather,
out of alignment, lack of tire rotation, and wheel balancing or the failure of some front end
alignment part is the cause for tire wear.
Blessings,
Austin C. Davis
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