When it comes to automobiles, the tiniest details matter significantly. Something that may seem trivial actually could be signaling a potentially dangerous situation. One common issue many vehicle owners face is the wearing of its inner tires. The look of your car’s tires says a lot about the condition of its suspension.
More than often, most people worry about the outer wheels wearing away while completely ignoring the inner side, even though the inner tire wear can hint towards more dreading problems, which are important to look into. That is mainly because the most insignificant problem in positioning or misalignment can lead to the tires wearing away much quicker than usual.
Causes Of Inner Tire Wear
To learn to fix the inner tire wear, it is important to look into the causes that provoke inner tire wear:
Wearing Of Ball Joint
Worn ball joints can contribute to inner tire wear by affecting the alignment of the wheels and causing uneven tire wear. Ball joints connect the suspension control arms to the steering knuckles; over time, they can wear out and cause problems with alignment.
Their excessive usage decreases their grip on the tire, making it more susceptible to wobble. That’s because, in a wheel, the ball and socket joint inter-link the arm and steering knuckles. The most noticeable sign of a worn-out ball and socket joint is weird noises from the suspension when the car crosses speed breakers or bumps in a road.
Camber Settings
Specifically related to inner tire issues are problems with the camber angle. This camber angle is meant to keep the wheels perfectly aligned with the road allowing them to stay crisply flat. If any issues arise that cause the camber angle to become negative, the top of the tire bends inwards, causing erosion at the inner surface. This is because most of the car’s weight lies on the inner side instead of evenly distributed throughout the tire. Negative camber cannot always be spotted with the bare eye, so make sure to use a leveling instrument.
Toe Angle
Often mistaken as the same thing as camber angle, toe settings are a different but equally common cause of inner tire wear. It is the angle between the tire and its central axis and can easily be observed while standing in front of tires and observing their edges. This angle balances the inward and outward forces acting on the tire, ensuring it stays level. A toeing-out mishap occurs when the toe settings are out of alignment, causing the tires to face each other. This causes fraying on the inner surface of the tire due to forces pulling the tire inwards, dominating.
Damaged Struts And Shocks
The struts, in junction with the shocks, ensure the ride you’re about is silky smooth by minimizing the jerks and bumps. With time, the eroding forces on the shocks and the springs can become loose, making them faulty and not as efficient as they once were. This can be felt when every pothole or bump on the road feels as if it’s rattling all your bones.
Another sign is the feeling of vibration through the steering wheel. The damaged struts and springs also hinder the stability of the tire, causing excessive bouncing, which means excessive uneven forces on the inner side, causing inner tire wear.
Misaligned Wheels
Malalignment of the wheels is most commonly caused over time when the vehicle often endures pothole collisions. This can lead to other issues, such as messing up the camber angle. Misaligned wheels can be detected by keeping the steering wheel straight while driving on a straight road. If your car drifts to the right or left, you will need to get it checked out.
Eroded Tie Rods
If the tie rods wear away, they, in turn, cause the tire’s surface to be uneven, leading to the wearing of the inner side of the tire. Worn-away tie rods also lead to wobbly steering as it connects the steering to the vehicle wheel. To avoid this situation, lubricate the tie rods regularly to minimize frictional forces.
Impaired Control Arm Bushing
Control bushings provide a linkage to connect the steering knuckles with the chassis. The companies manufacturing automobiles fit both ends of the control arm with either rubber components or an elastomer. These bushings then hold the vehicle in place, keeping it steady by reducing and ending extra play.
If excessive play is found, it can alter the camber angle. As with other parts of the car, due to being in continual use, the bushings also tend to wear as time passes. This leads to alterations in the camber angle and wheel issues. All these problems lead to outer or inner tire surfaces wearing away prematurely due to excessive unwanted movements.
Unevenly Inflated Tires
Tires are meant to be driven around with a particular shape given to them by an optimal level of air pressure. They will not hold their shape if they are filled with air excessively or poorly. This undesirable shape can cause some tire parts to wear away more quickly than others. This is because the tire’s sidewall can rub against the road, which speeds up tire wear.
Damaged Springs
The springs play a role as important as the shocks. Driving over potholes and speed breakers ensures the prevention of any extra movement in the tire. Like all the other suspension parts, the springs also wear away with usage and time. This wear and tear affects the tire’s capability to grasp the surface it is running over. Poor grasp of the tire means uneven surfaces with time.
Fixing Inner Tire Wear
Now that we’ve gone through the common problems causing inner tire wear, you might have a rough idea of what needs to be corrected to fix the issue. Below, we have briefly described all you need to know about fixing inner tire wear:
Supplies To Fix Inner Tire Wear
If you can afford it, the only supply you will need to fix your inner tire wear is taking your vehicle to a mechanic’s shop for repair. But if you intend to fix it on your own, the following list of items will be required:
- Air Compressor.
- Inflator or Tire Chuck.
- Tire Gauge.
- Wheel Alignment Tool.
- Jack And Jack Stand.
- Suspension Components.
- Balancing Weights.
- Tire Repair Kit.
How To Fix Inner Tire Wear?
Here are the following ways to fix inner tire wear:
Remove The Wheels And Raise The Vehicle
Raise your car using the car jack and remove the wheels. Read the labels to know if the tires are mounted in the correct orientation. Words like ‘inside,’ ‘outside,’ or arrows will guide you. Also, check if the tire’s size is proportional to your vehicle’s size. Online sites like Tire Rack can tell you the right wheels for your car.
Inspect The Tires
Using a tread depth gauge at the center and then inside and outside areas of the tire, inspect the tire’s treads. The treads should measure equal in all areas. Unequal measurement between the parts indicates issues with the tire.
Inspect The Wheel Bearings
The wheels must also be inspected for damage, as going over bumps at high speed destroys or bends the wheel at weird angles, possibly causing inner tire wear. Also, check the wheel bearings by pushing the wheel back and forth and right and left. Any play in any movement indicates issues with the wheel bearings. Damaged wheel bearings not only cause inner tire wear but can also cause the tire to fall off.
Inspect The Suspension Components
Although a professional can better assess any damage in the suspension components, you can also know something is off by looking for various signs while driving. Weird noises from the steering or the corner of the car, sway in the arm elastomer, or hydraulic fluid leaking from the shock absorbers or their springs are all signs of any of the suspension components being damaged.
Rotation Of The Tires
Rotation of the tires from front to back helps prevent the tire’s asymmetric wearing away. After a few thousand miles of driving, rotation of the tires from front to back or rotation in a unidirectional X-shaped order is the key to keeping the tires from wearing away on the inside.
Fixing Alignment
It is important to check the wheel alignment regularly to prevent premature wear and tear of its components. This helps prevent ball joints, rod tires, bushings, control arm, and camber angle issues. Getting your car wheels aligned every 5000 miles or twice yearly is recommended.
Get The Wheels Balanced
Wheels balancing once every two years is the best prophylactic approach to avoid inner tire wear. Practicing this also helps prevent inner tire wear if it has begun already. If the normal practice of getting the wheels balanced only after noticing uneven tires is abandoned, the wearing away of inner tires could be prevented to a great extent. Use the wheel alignment tool to align the wheels to the manufacturer’s specifications.
Inflate Tires Properly
Lowly inflated tires are at a greater risk of wearing away at the inner edges. That is because the low air pressure in the tires distorts their shape more easily. Make it a habit to check tire pressures at regular intervals. If you do not wish to go to the tire shop, use an air compressor or mobile tire inflator.
Check The Tires Regularly
Keep observing your tires at regular intervals, and miles were driven to see any signs of wear on the inner side. Prevention is the best way to keep your tires in the best shape possible.
Cost Of Fixing Inner Tire Wear
The cost of fixing inner tire wear depends on several factors, such as the type of vehicle, the size and type of tire, the extent of the wear, and the location where the repair is performed. Here is a rough estimate of the cost to prevent inner tire wear:
- If the issue is simple, such as wheel alignment, $60-$100 is the price range.
- If the ball joints are damaged or the control arms in the suspension component are at fault, it could cost $300. If all four ball joints and control arms need replacement, it could cost a fortune of $2000.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Is My Tire Only Wearing On The Inside?
If you notice uneven tire wear with the inner or outer edge wearing down faster, it suggests that the wheel alignment is incorrect, leading to an excessive lean in the wheels. Misalignment is the likely cause of this pattern.
Can I Drive If The Inner Tires Are Worn?
When tire wear is noticeable at the inner or outer edge, it’s a sign of misaligned wheels leaning excessively to one side. This can cause suspension or steering problems, potentially putting your safety at risk. So, no, you may not drive with inner tire wear.
Is It Better To Replace Or Patch My Tire?
Replacement is the only safe option in cases of tire damage. Tires that have been driven on while flat or low or involved in a collision cannot be repaired and must be replaced.
Is It Possible For Uneven Tire Wear To Be Fixed?
Uneven tire wear cannot be repaired once it has happened, as it results from the loss of rubber, which cannot be restored. If noticed, measures can be taken to prevent further wear, but the tire must be replaced if severe.
Is Inner Tire Wear Dangerous?
Yes, inner tire wear can compromise the stability and handling of a vehicle, increasing the risk of a crash.
Final Thoughts
In conclusion, fixing inner tire wear requires identifying and addressing the root cause, which can be due to improper tire inflation, misaligned wheels, worn suspension components, unbalanced tires, or overloading. Simple solutions include maintaining correct tire pressure, wheel alignment, tire rotation, suspension replacement, balancing, and reducing vehicle overload. If the problem persists, it is advisable to seek professional assistance for a proper diagnosis and resolution.
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