For an unsuspecting car owner, only a few situations can be as tricky as being forced to change your tires.
You have no option but to change them. Worn-out tires, especially if the damage is uneven (inside more worn) can be a safety hazard.
So, what causes tires to wear on the inside?
The main culprit is the suspension. Read on to know the 5 most important reasons and how you can prevent that.
5 Reasons Why Your Tires are Wearing on the Inside
In most cases, the main causes behind tires wearing on the inside have to do with your suspension and other related settings.
The camber angle and other alignment settings, the condition of your suspension, and your control arms are some of the most common reasons behind this issue.
1. The Camber Angles
Ever noticed cars with wheels protruded out as if they are not flat on the road?
That is because of their camber angle, which determines exactly how much of the tire will be in contact with the surface.
The ideal scenario is a camber angle where your tires sit flat on the road.
However, your alignment, tire inflation, and the condition of the suspension determine if that’s possible or not.
That’s why most cars will have a slight negative or positive camber, which naturally causes uneven wear.
Depending on the type of vehicle and application, you’ll have a slight positive or negative camber in your system.
However, it’s important to remember that the camber affects the stability and traction of the vehicle. Therefore, you’ll have to compromise a little on the wear part to ensure performance.
2. Wrong Alignment
The next thing that can cause your tires to wear out on the inside is a wrong alignment setting.
Bad alignment causes a shift in your toe and camber angles, which in turn causes tires to wear from the inside.
In most cases, alignment shifts from its setting because of driving on potholes, or unnecessary off-roading.
Setting the alignment back is a simple process, and you can get it done quickly at any tire shop.
The benefits are not limited to preventing inner tire wear as well.
Your wheel alignment directly affects your riding experience and even affects the overall fuel efficiency of the engine.
So, that’s why it’s necessary to get your tires aligned whenever you feel your car going towards one side on a flat road.
3. Faulty Suspension Components
The next thing that can directly cause the tire to wear from the inside is a plethora of problems with your vehicle’s suspension.
Generally, shock absorbers, joints, springs, and numerous other components work collectively to smooth out your riding experience.
However, the entire system is interconnected and anything worn out can result in a series of issues including tire damage from the inside.
The suspension does get damaged by potholes, speed breakers, and other obstacles on the road.
Even if you drive on paved roads, they’ll still get deteriorated with time, so you’ll need to replace some parts after a while.
4. Worn Out Ball Joints
Problematic ball joints are another common cause of uneven tire wear.
So, what is it exactly that they do?
Ball joints connect the vehicle’s control arms to the steering assembly without restricting the degree of freedom.
The friction within the new ball and sockets remains minimal but gradually increases with time.
Because of this friction, the ball joints will wear with time and cause further problems down the road.
One of those problems is the uneven control of the steering knuckle itself.
The issue propagates to the tire itself and affects its camber, resulting in uneven wear on the treads.
5. Faulty Control Arms
The control arm connects the chassis and the steering assembly of the vehicle.
The entire housing comes with rubber bushings that prevent excess play and vibrations in the assembly.
With time, these rubber housings deteriorate and introduce some gaps in the system.
This results in excess vibrations, which directly affects the suspension components and the camber angle of your tires and causes them to wear on the inside.
How to Prevent Inside Wear to My Tires?
One of the best ways of stopping something from happening is to understand its causes and take steps to stop them.
As stated before, the main causes of tires wearing on the inside are related to your suspension and camber angle.
By keeping those in check, you can ensure that you’re getting the maximum life out of your tires.
Here are the three main steps that can help you out.
1. Regularly Rotate and Balance your Wheels
How balanced your wheels directly affect the camber angle.
So, it’s important to ensure that you are keeping that in check. Many drivers think about balancing their wheels after noticing uneven wear on their tires.
That’s like putting a cart before the horse. It doesn’t work like that.
Rotating your tires is another thing you can do to minimize the chances of uneven wear.
In most cases, the stresses on the front wheels are higher than the rear ones.
By regularly rotating them, you ensure that all 4 tires are of similar condition and minimize the chances of uneven wear.
2. Keep your Tires Inflated and Properly Aligned
The alignment and the inflation of your tires also directly affect the overall camber and toe of your vehicle.
Moreover, they are also important for your safety and overall experience on the road.
By keeping them inflated and getting them aligned after every 1000 miles, you can ensure that you are getting the best out of your tires.
Doing this doesn’t require a lot of resources or time. You only need to check your tire pressure from time to time and visit a nearby tire shop every 1000 miles.
3. Proactively Replace Worn Out Suspension Parts
Finally, the most important thing for you to do is to ensure that your suspension is at its 100%.
You need to proactively replace worn-out parts so you’ll always get the best performance out of your car.
In most cases, larger elements of your suspension can be repaired if the damage is not too extensive.
However, you’ll sometimes have to accept that the part you want to repair is beyond saving.
This means that you’ll need to replace it to protect all the other components of your vehicle.
Proactively repairing or replacing parts as they go bad can save you from all the costs cumulating at the end.
Key Takeaways on What Causes Tires to Wear on the Inside
Tires safety is essential to ensure that your vehicle is operating as intended and is safe for the road.
Your tires sustain a lot of stress and naturally wear down with use.
However, uneven loads can cause tires to wear on the inside and make them unsuitable for the road a lot sooner than expected.
The main reasons behind it are incorrect camber angles and issues with the vehicle’s suspension.
By focusing on the root cause of the issue, you can save yourself from the hassle and ensure the optimal performance of your vehicle.
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