Several factors can indicate driving habits, but few are quite as useful as your tires’ tread wear. The tread on your tires will wear no matter what, and there’s no way to avoid it, but how it wears depends greatly on how you drive. Look at what your tire tread wear says about your driving habits.
Wear in the Center
If you see that your tires are worn down in the center more than anywhere else, they’re likely over-inflated. When tires have too much air in them, they tend to wear down faster overall, and it can compromise your traction on the road. Always ensure your tire pressure is within the recommended range for your specific make and model.
Feathered Wear
Feathered wear can be tough to spot with a simple visual exam, but it’s fairly easy to feel. This kind of wear is when the tire tread is worn on one side and sharp on the other. While improper wheel alignment can cause this, aggressive driving and high-speed cornering are common causes, too.
Worn Sidewall
When the sidewall of your tire is worn, it typically means that you parked too close to the curb. Scraping your tire along curbs can cause sidewall wear, eventually compromising the tire’s core. While parking close to the curb can be tough to avoid in the city, avoid parking too close for the sake of your tires’ longevity.
Wear is a natural part of a tire’s life span, but proper driving habits can help extend that life span as long as possible.