The content of the article:
- When to change tires. Causes and effects of wear
- Tire wear index
- How to visually identify tire wear
How to check tire wear? The answer to this question saved many drivers not only from getting into an accident, but also from having to pay a fine. The main thing is to put your knowledge into practice in time and change tires when the maximum allowable wear is reached.
When to change tires. Causes and effects of wear
The average life of a tire is 5 to 7 years. Most manufacturers define a service life of 10 years, but in reality, replacement is required for about 6 years of service.
Of course, a wheel can last 10 years if the tire is made of quality material, the car is used lightly and on a good road, and the owner carefully monitors the condition of the wheels and the car as a whole.
But in reality it is quite difficult to keep the car in perfect condition, and the times when the car was bought "to boast", and not for business, have long sunk into oblivion. Today, the car owner exploits his iron friend to the maximum, and does not shake, as over the greatest treasure. And tires in the process of work receive a load (and not small) in the first place.
Factors Affecting Tire Wear
Road surface quality
The road has the greatest impact on the condition of the tires. Unfortunately, perfect asphalt pavement remains something of a fantasy, especially in smaller towns. Bumps in the road, pits and potholes do not have the best effect on the condition of the tread.
Intensity and features of operation
A worn tire is an indicator not only of the condition of the road, but also of the driver's skills. The tires of a reckless motorist will fail much earlier than those of a calm and experienced car owner.
Caring for wheels and the machine as a whole
Regular checks of the condition of the machine, attentiveness to the needs of the "iron friend" and regular diagnostics can significantly increase the service life of tires.
Rubber quality
Savings in quality can not only affect safety, but also require a rubber change much earlier than is normally required.
Suspension condition
Suspension system malfunctions do not affect the condition of the wheels in the best way.
Wheel imbalance and other causes
A worn out tread can cause a lot of trouble and jeopardize the safety of the driver and passengers of the vehicle, as well as the car owner's wallet.
Why worn tires are dangerous:
- The adhesion of the wheel to the road surface is reduced. This can lead to skidding when cornering and braking, especially on wet / icy surfaces.
- The vehicle's cross-country ability decreases in off-road conditions.
- The risk of tire damage increases. A leaky rubber puncture is only a matter of time.
- High risk of aquaplaning.
The tire wear rate is determined by law and is spelled out in the traffic rules.
The maximum allowable abrasion rate of summer rubber is up to 1.6 mm over the entire tread surface. For winter - 4 mm. For trucks - 1 mm.
These indicators are the limit prescribed in the law, but from the point of view of safety, it is recommended to change the rubber earlier, when the level of abrasion is 1 - 3 mm less.
Tire wear index
Each manufacturer is obliged to mark the side of tire products in accordance with international requirements. Initially, this standard was used only in the United States, but gradually spread throughout the world. In addition to the country of manufacture, model, purpose, direction of rotation and other characteristics, the level of wear resistance is indicated on the side of the tires.
Treadwear - definition indicating the coefficient of wear resistance. Treadwear of 100 (average) assumes a range of 48,000 km on standard road surface typical of a test site.
Of course, in natural conditions, this indicator is not so accurate - the quality of the road, driving style, weather conditions and other factors significantly affect the tread wear and service life. But, paying attention to the index, you can still determine the level of tire wear resistance.
Methods for determining tire wear
The wear level should be checked regularly. This will avoid not only a fine from the traffic police, but also reduce the risk of trouble on the road.
There are several ways to determine the degree of tread wear.
Method 1. Check the tire wear indicator
An indicator is a tread block located inside the tread grooves. Its height is equal to the permissible wear rate (1.6 / 4 mm). If the tread has worn down to the level of the indicator, then the rubber must be urgently replaced.
To find where the indicator is located, examine the side of the tire. Opposite the tread block, a small stamp is usually applied in the form of a triangle, the logo of the manufacturer, a snowflake or the abbreviation TWI.
Recently, digital indicators have become widespread. On the surface of the tread there are numbers that show the level of the groove. As they wear out, they are erased, starting from the largest in value and ending with the smallest and most "deep". For example, if only the numbers 2 and 4 remain visible on summer tires, then this is a signal for an imminent tire change. After the number 2 disappears, the tire reaches the maximum allowable wear level and requires an immediate change.
Method 2. Use a special meter
The indicator is not always accurate, so it is advisable for the driver to purchase a tread depth gauge. With this small and inexpensive device, the car owner can independently check the level of abrasion in several places.
Method 3. Use a coin
If attrition is in doubt, and the meter was not at hand, you can resort to using a 10-kopeck coin. It is placed with the inscription "kopecks" in the tread groove.
The word "kopecks" should not be visible. If it reads well, then the tire should be changed or subjected to a more thorough check.
These methods are used to determine the allowable tire wear, which occurs evenly. But often, under the influence of a car malfunction or other factors, the tread wears out completely in the wrong way. To find out if there is any unnatural damage, you need to carefully inspect the wheels.
How to visually identify tire wear
The tread is worn in the middle
If the rubber wears off more intensively in the middle of the wheel, then the greatest load due to friction falls on this area.
Possible reasons:
- The tire adheres unevenly to the road surface. Most often this happens if the tire pressure does not meet the manufacturer's requirements.
- Another reason is the pressure drop due to temperature changes. For example, during frosts, the pressure in the chamber decreases, and after the temperature rises or the chamber warms up during movement, it rises and often exceeds the permissible norm.
- The wheels are too inflated. This can happen due to the driver's carelessness or for a specific purpose - some are trying to reduce fuel consumption in this way.
Rubber worn around the edges
If the wear on the edges is much stronger than in the center, watch out.
Possible cause is too low pressure. In this case, the tire is prone to permanent deformation and the tread adheres unevenly to the road surface.To avoid such a nuisance (and the operation and durability of the suspension depends on the under-pumped wheel), the pressure in the chamber should be measured regularly, especially in winter.
The leading edge of the tread pattern is intensively erased
If the corners of the pattern are erased unevenly (the front edges are smoother, and the rear edges are practically not worn out), this indicates insufficient rotation of the wheel.
Possible reasons: problems with the suspension, failure of ball joints or bearings.
This happens quite often; if such wear is found, the machine should be checked for proper suspension.
A tire is excessively worn on any one side
The culprit is the same loose adhesion to the road surface.
Possible causes: suspension malfunctions or misaligned camber.
Similar symptoms are also typical for trucks - the cause is excessive load on certain parts of the wheel.
Cracks on the sides of the tires
Possible reasons: off-road driving, low pressure, poor quality tires or long service life.
Such deformations usually occur when hitting pits and potholes with insufficiently inflated (or vice versa, inflated) tires. If the wheel pressure meets the requirements, then the bumps on the road are smoothed out due to a kind of shock absorption. But if these requirements are violated, the wheel is subjected to a load and takes the entire blow on itself, deforming under pressure from outside.
Cracks may indicate that the quality of the material of manufacture leaves much to be desired. They also signal about the old tires and the need to replace them with new ones.
Bulges on the sides of the tires
Possible causes: Damage to the rubber as a result of hitting a hard surface with the side of the wheel.
The bulges appear some time after the impact. A wheel with such damage becomes dangerous for operation; it is advisable to replace the tires as soon as possible.
Dents on the tread
Possible causes: insufficient amortization, unregulated camber.
The shock absorber is responsible for smoothing and evenly distributing the shock load during movement. If it breaks down, the wheel suffers first, receiving an increased impact on certain areas of the tire. As a result, dents and bumps are formed on the entire surface of the wheel.
At the first sign, you should drive the car for diagnostics and check the serviceability of the suspension.
Wear in the form of individual spots on the tread
Possible causes: heavy braking, a sharp turn or a skid with the wheels locked.
Also, the reason can be a long-term fixed load on the same section of the tire, for example, when the car is left without movement for a long time, leaving to rest or not using it in winter.
With regular inspections, it's hard to miss the moment when it's time to change tires or worry about the causes of unnatural wear. Careful attention to the machine will help you avoid many troubles and troubleshoot problems before it's too late.
