What Is Tread Wear In Car Tyres And How It Is Problematic For Car Drivers?

What Is Tread Wear In Car Tyres And How It Is Problematic For Car Drivers?
6 min read
09 June 2023

Your car tyres perform on open roads. Therefore, it is totally possible for the tread rubber to become shallow over time. Besides natural tread wear, tyres face uneven tread wear due to several reasons as well. Whether it is natural tyre wear or uneven tread wear, you have to change your tyres if you observe bald spots on their surface.

If you want to change your faulty Car Tyres Shrewsbury at the correct time, you have to keep an eye on the tread depth. Driving with bald tyres is not a good decision.

Why should you not avoid tread wear?

Bald areas on your tyres are not safe for driving conditions. Your bald tyres would not be able to grip on the road surface. Therefore, you may lose control at any moment. The risk of skidding is higher if you are running your vehicle on a snowy or wet road.

A suitable tread pattern and tread depth determines the shape and size of the contact area between the road surface and body of the tyre. A perfect contact area will provide driving ease and road safety. On the other hand, a bad shape of the contact area will reduce the level of driving comfort.

Tread wear is a troublesome issue for a car driver because of the risk of punctures and blowouts. According to experts, bald tyres are more susceptible to these problematic conditions. A bald and worn layer of tread will be an easy target for a sharp object.

Tread wear is not a good sign for your tyres because of the risk of hydroplaning. You need proper tread depth to channel extra water on wet roads. Therefore, you would not be able to get enough traction on a wet surface because of smooth tyres. The same conditions will occur on a snowy surface as well where slush can eliminate the traction between your tyres and the road surface.

How would you measure the minimum tread depth?

Minimum tread depth in the UK is 1.6mm. If your tread depth reaches below this limit, you have to change your tyres immediately.

You have to keep an eye on the tread depth to drive safely on roads

Modern tyres come with tread wear indicators. These wear bars are visible when your tyres face balding. If you can observe tread wear indicators easily, you have to be ready for a new set of tyres.

You can also use a tread depth gauge to measure the tread depth. Moreover, you can simply use a coin as well. Place the coin in a tread block and observe the head of the coin. If you can see the head easily, your tyres are facing tread wear.

As you see, you have to change your tyres if you observe indications of tread wear. You can use your tyres for a prolonged period of time if you are well aware of the reasons that cause tread wear.

The following reasons are commonly responsible for tread wear:

Improper air pressure:

If your tyres are running on roads with wrong air pressure, it is more likely that they will start to wear quickly. Your car makers have provided proper recommendations for correct air pressure in rear and front car tyres. You have to keep the air pressure at the correct level to avoid unnecessary tread wear.

High air pressure will shrink the contact area and only the middle part will touch the road as a result. So, your over inflated tyres will wear out in the middle area more than both sides.

Low air pressure increases the contact surface and both sides flex more on roads. As a result, both sides of the tread will face more wear and tear.

If you want to avoid tread wear due to wrong air pressure, check the inflation pressure regularly with the help of a high-grade gauge.

Wrong tyre alignment

Tyre alignment or wheel alignment has a link with your car’s steering and suspension components. Proper adjustment of the suspension component adjusts the angles of car tyres. Correct angles of tyres are essential for driving ease and proper handling.

On the other hand, wrong wheel alignment will bring handling difficulties and uneven tread wear.

Actually, uneven tread wear is a sign that your tyres is running on roads with wrong wheel alignment. You have to see a mechanic soon if you observe these signs.

Avoiding these adverse effects is possible if you check the wheel alignment at regular intervals.

Speed, heat and friction:

Tyre manufacturers make tyres to run on roads at high speeds. High speed will create friction and heat. These factors degrade the tread rubber rapidly. The level of friction and heat depends on the speed. High speed will create more friction and heat.

As you see, there are several factors that promote tread wear. If you keep air pressure in your tyres at the correct level, you will save your tyres from unnecessary tread wear. Moreover, saving car tyres from heat, sunlight, and UV rays will enhance the life of your Buy Tyres Shrewsbury as well. In addition, improving driving habits is also helpful in keeping tyres in good condition for a long time.

 

 

In case you have found a mistake in the text, please send a message to the author by selecting the mistake and pressing Ctrl-Enter.
SP Tyres 2
Get a sturdy Tyres Shrewsbury from SP Tyres; we provide a wide assortment of tyres to suit your needs and budget for cars, vans, and 4x4s. Whether you're lookin...
Comments (0)

    No comments yet

You must be logged in to comment.

Sign In / Sign Up