Do you know how much you can learn about a car just by looking at its tires? For example, different car issues cause the tires to wear out faster in some areas than others. You can use this information to find out whether there are any issues with a used car you wish to purchase. Here are three examples of how different shapes, sizes, and locations of car wear may indicate damage to the car:
One Side of the Tire Is More Worn Out Than the Other
This kind of wear means the worn side of the tire has been experiencing greater weight or friction than the other; this usually happens if the camber angle is unbalanced. The camber angle is the angle between a wheel's vertical axis and the ground (horizontal). Having the wrong camber angle interferes with the car's handling ability, especially during cornering. The wrong camber may also affect your car's acceleration ability. Apart from camber, other causes of one-sided tire wear include damaged springs, insufficient tire rotation, and worn bushings.
One Spot of the Tire Is Worn Out Than Other Areas
Again, this is only possible if the spot has been experiencing more friction or weight than the others. There are two common causes of single-spot tire wear. First, it happens when a driver applies the brakes at a reasonably high speed and the car skids. Secondly, it also happens if a car is parked in the same spot for a long time. In the case of skidding, you will also notice additional tread wear on the tire.
The Tire Is Worn In a Series of Hills and Valleys
The common name for this type of wear is cupping or scalloping. This is what happens when a car's suspension components are worn out and damaged, causing the tires to bounce up and down as it moves instead of rolling smoothly on the road. Any damage to the suspension system, a long as it affects the wheel's connection to the car, can cause scalloping, so further diagnosis is needed to diagnose the exact cause of the problem.
As you can see, you can tell a lot about a used car just by looking at its tires. This is why it's important to examine a car as closely as possible if you are considering its purchase. Indeed, if you don't know what to look for, it's better to take a long an experienced person rather than go it alone and make a mistake. You can then use the information during the price negotiation.
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