The different signs of tire wear tell an interesting story about the way you drive. Accelerating, braking, and cornering can all contribute to uneven friction on your wheels, causing them to wear down more quickly. Beyond making sure your tires are correctly inflated, help optimize your tire performance by breaking these bad habits.
Jumping Off the Line
You probably already know that fast acceleration and spinning your tires isn’t good for them. While it might feel essential to get the jump on that green light, is it worth replacing expensive tires and increasing the chance of an accident? If you hear your tires squealing, this is a clear sign of impending damage. Tires often spin in place before traction kicks in, launching you off the line. This spinning is unmerciful to your tread.When driving in the city, avoid slamming down on your Chrysler’s accelerator as you make your way through traffic. If you don’t, your tires will never last as long as the manufacturer intended.
Hard Cornering
The faster you take a corner, the harder your tires have to work to keep you on the road. This unnecessary force tears away at your tire’s tread, and you might start to notice rounding on the tire’s shoulders when you’re looking at it straight on. Proper inflation pressure helps optimize the distribution of vehicle load forces in the tread, but only if you’re taking those winding roads at the posted speeds. Aggressive handling may also cause warping, high and low spots, and an oblong shape to your wheels.
Braking at the Last Minute
Do your tires have flat spots? Then chances are you’re a heavy breaker. Applying too much force at the last minute may cause your brakes to lock up and your car to skid to a halt on its tires. This habit causes noticeable flat spots in your tread. If you consistently brake hard, it will reduce your tire’s remaining tread because of the increased friction. It will also cause abnormal wear patterns and may eventually knock your car out of alignment.
Hitting the Curb
One common cause of tire tread wear is bouncing off curbs. Yes, we’ve all done it, but it does affect the condition of your tires if you do it frequently. Hitting the curb or a pothole can knock your wheels out of alignment and can compromise the quality of your car’s handling. If you notice signs of wear, such as cracking and bulging or a feather edge on one side of the shoulder, get your tires and your car’s alignment checked right away.According to automotive experts, the key to proper alignment is to match the angle of your vehicle’s tires and their contact with the road. Chrysler provides precise specifications for all the alignment parameters including camber, toe, and caster.
The life of your tires is directly related to how you drive and how quickly your tread wears out. Your tires are there to grip the road, and without adequate hold, you’re treading on dangerous ground.
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