Tire wear patterns can reveal what's wrong with your car

Different tire wear patterns are linked to distinct mechanical issues: center wear often aligns with overinflation, edge wear with underinflation or alignment issues, and cupping, feathering, or one-sided wear point to balance, alignment, or suspension problems.

Tires are the car's contact with the road and can serve as a visible indicator of steering, suspension, and alignment condition. Observed tread patterns often correspond to underlying issues such as improper inflation, worn suspension parts, or misaligned wheels. The piece reports that distinct wear shapes — from center-first wear to cupping and feathering — are associated with different mechanical causes. The article also cites a 2025 study in Lubricants and an NHTSA report when describing how pressure and inflation affect contact area and pre-crash factors. Common wear patterns: - Center wear: Reported as often linked to overinflation, where increased pressure reduces the tire's contact area and causes the middle tread to wear faster; a 2025 Lubricants study is cited on pressure and contact area. - Shoulder (edge) wear: Described as associated with underinflation, which increases the contact patch, and also linked to aggressive cornering, wheel misalignment, or worn suspension components. - Cupped or scalloped wear: Noted as a sign of imbalance, worn shocks or struts, or alignment problems; Bridgestone is quoted describing the scooped appearance. - Feathered (toe) wear: Reported as a sawtooth pattern tied to incorrect toe alignment, with possible contributions from wheel bearings, ball joints, unbalanced tires, or pressure issues. - One-side (camber) wear: Reported as wear concentrated on a single shoulder and associated with camber misalignment, impact damage, installation issues, or related suspension and alignment faults. Summary: The article presents tire wear patterns as diagnostic clues linked to inflation, alignment, balance, and suspension condition, and notes that these issues can affect tire life and vehicle handling. Reported follow-up actions in the piece include vehicle inspection, wheel alignment, tire balancing, and tire replacement where warranted.