Why Tire Alignment Matters

Improper wheel or tire alignment can cause your tires to wear unevenly or prematurely. Some specific examples of tread wear attributable to misalignment include:

Feathering

Tires are ""feathered"" when the tread is smooth on one side and sharp on the other.

Camber Wear

This tread wear means the inside or outside of the tread is worn significantly more than the center of the tread. Positive or negative camber causes this type of wear.

Heel/Toe Wear

This happens when one side of your treat blocks wears down more quickly than the other in a circumferential direction. This could be an indication of under inflation and/or lack of rotation.

If you're experiencing any of these unusual wear patterns, you should have a technician check your wheel alignment. This can prevent excessive tread wear as well as overall vehicle performance. An improperly aligned vehicle can pull to the left or right while driving or steer erratically.