Uneven tyre wear is a diagnosis, the pattern tells you what's wrong. Fixing the underlying cause protects your new tyres; ignoring it just wears the next set out too. Here's how to read the main patterns.
Both edges (shoulders) worn
Worn outer edges with a healthier centre usually means under-inflation. The tyre flexes too much and the shoulders take the load. Check pressures first.
Centre worn, edges fine
A worn centre strip points to over-inflation, the tyre bulges in the middle and only the centre touches down. Set the correct pressure.
One edge only
Wear on a single inner or outer edge is the classic sign of misalignment (camber or toe), often after a pothole or kerb.
Patchy or "cupped" wear
Scalloped, patchy wear usually means a balancing problem or worn suspension components like shock absorbers.
Feathered tread
Tread blocks worn sharp on one side ("feathering") that you can feel by running a hand across the tyre points to toe misalignment.
Fix the cause, then the tyres
Replacing a tyre without fixing the cause just wastes money. We'll inspect the wear, advise on the likely cause, and replace tyres at your location across London and Birmingham. Book an inspection.
