Description
Excessive wear on outer edges of tyre Inspection
How this system works:
Your car is designed to have all four wheels contact the road at a specific angle. This is called alignment. Over time, and for various reasons, the angle of your wheels can alter, and they will need to be realigned. Realigning the wheels simply returns them to their optimal angle. This angle allows all four wheels to work in unison with each other and with the suspension system, and makes for better turning. It also helps increase the longevity of your tyres.
Common reasons for this to happen:
Excessive wear on the outer edge of a tyre is almost always because your wheels are not aligned. But even though misalignment causes abnormal wear, it may not be the root of the problem. Oftentimes the misalignment is caused by a more serious problem.
- Standard misalignment: Over time, and with generic wear and tear, your wheels will slowly shift, so that they are no longer at an optimal angle with the road. This can also happen when your tires are changed or your wheels are rotated, if a mechanic did not do a perfect job. Altering the angle of your wheels means altering the centre of gravity, and altering what part of the tyre makes the most contact with the road. If a wheel is misaligned in one direction, it will experience excessive wear on the outer edge, while a misalignment in the other direction will wear out the inner edge.
- Sagging springs: Springs help support and distribute the weight of the vehicle. By doing so, springs help hold the vehicle up at the right height. As springs wear and tear, they begin to sag and are no longer able to support the car’s full weight. If you’ve ever noticed a car that appears lower to the ground than it should be, it’s likely that the springs were sagging. This lowered height and lack of weight support puts excess force on the wheels, which will often result in the wheels becoming misaligned.
- Worn out ball joints or control arms: The ball joints and control arms are vital pieces of your suspension system. The control arms connect the suspension to the frame of the car, while the ball joints (which act very similarly to human joints), connect the control arms to the steering knuckles. Because the ball joints and control arms are so close to the wheels, their function has an impact on the wheels. If the ball joints or control arms fail (the control arm bushings are particularly susceptible), then your wheels will absorb too much force from the road, and may be jarred such that they become misaligned.
What to expect:
A top-rated mobile mechanic will come to your home or office to determine the cause of the excessive wear on the outer edges of the tyres, and will then provide a detailed inspection report that includes the scope and cost of the necessary repairs.
How it’s done:
A mechanic will thoroughly inspect your suspension, and your springs, to make sure that they locate the root of the excessive wear on the outer edge of your tyres. If the problem lies with sagging springs, or broken control arms or ball joints, then those parts will need to be replaced before the vehicle is sent into a shop for a wheel alignment.
How important is this service?
Any service involving your tires is extremely important. Tyres with excessive wear on the outer edge are more susceptible to blow out, and your car will not drive optimally. Furthermore, excessive outer wear suggests that there may be a larger, more severe problem with your vehicle, so you’ll went to get it inspected as soon as possible.
