Abnormal Tire Wear: What is Looks Like, and How to Prevent it

The old "penny trick" is a common way of measuring the current depth of your car's tires. 2/32nd's is the depth in which it is recommended to purchase a new set of hoops, and is a measurement backed by government regulations. When you do in fact get a new set of tires, stretching your dollar the furthest means you need to be cautious, and take care of your new set of tires. In this week's blog post, we will show you examples of what abnormal tire wear looks like, and how you can be proactive in preventing this from happening!

Toe Wear- This is primarily caused by an alignment issue with the vehicle. The tire will show wear on one of the edges of the tire, but not the other. Have your vehicle's alignment done when getting your new tires, but also have it checked periodically to ensure the vehicle is properly aligned!
Camber Wear- The photo to the right illustrates both positive and negative camber. Essentially, one side of the tire is being stressed heavily, while the other side has minimal contact with the ground. To prevent this, an alignment should be checked and/or performed to ensure a neutral camber. Alignments can be completed at any local Bob Sumerel Tire location!
Center Wear - Over inflating your tires is the what causes center wear on your tires. Get in the routine of having your air pressure checked to ensure your tires are at the correct pressure. Your local Bob Sumerel can take care of this for you free of charge!
Edge Wear- This is the opposite of center wear, and is caused by having under-inflated tires. The majority of the stress is being put on the edges of your tires when they are under inflated, also resulting in poor handling.
Patch Wear- When a tire is not balanced properly, it is subject to "hopping" while on the road. Usually, these patterns are erratic and have no consistency with how they form. Any local Bob Sumerel Tire location will balance your tires with purchase, and can be checked periodically upon scheduled maintenance checks!
Cup Wear- These consistent bald spots in the tire usually stem from your shocks, struts, or stabilizer links going bad. A simple inspection can be done at any Bob Sumerel location to check to see if the suspension parts are holding up.

Something else to keep in mind is regularly rotating your tires, which is a free service at your Bob Sumerel Tire location with any tire purchase. By rotating your tires, you allow for the tread to be worn evenly, and preventing any wear from alignment/suspension issues. Simple checks can be done to see if your suspension is tight, or to see if your alignment on your vehicle is off. If your vehicle "pulls," or has abnormal shakes at highway speeds, contact your local Bob Sumerel for a complimentary vehicle inspection.

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Proper Shock/Strut Maintenance from Ohio's Suspension Guru's

While tires play a vital role in the overall "ride" when driving, there are several other components on a vehicle that help deliver a smooth ride. Your shocks and struts are often forgotten about, as they are usually something that will not make a vehicle inoperable. These gas-powered components play a crucial part in things like tire wear, ride control, and overall ride comfort. Monroe® suggests that your shocks be checked every 50,000 miles for wear, with the average shocks lasting anywhere from 60,000 to 90,000. Get in touch with your local Bob Sumerel Tire to have your shocks and suspension checked at no charge! Many may not notice a huge difference in ride quality as their shocks get weaker overtime, but there are a few things to keep in mind when thinking about your shocks:

• Abnormal tire wear can be a result from bad shocks. If shocks do not perform sufficiently, they can cause the tire to "hop" creating abnormal bald spots on parts of the tire.
• Visual inspection of the shocks can be done at any local Bob Sumerel Tire Co. Any signs of gas fluid leaking around the cylinder of the shock is an indication they need to be replaced. 
  
• Always replace shocks in pairs. Failing to do this will result in abnormal tire wear, and even could cause poor handling. 
• Get an alignment after having shocks/struts replaced. New shocks make alter the geometry of the vehicle, an alignment will ensure your tires wear evenly and can be done at any Bob Sumerel Tire location!

 Additional components can be replaced in accordance with your shocks to help restore your ride to its factory condition. Replacing things like coil springs, or sway bar links/bushings can improve your suspension, making it tighter and more responsive. If you are worried your suspension might not be performing as it used to, schedule a check-up with your local Bob Sumerel Tire Co to clear up any potential problems down the road!

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