How Does Worn Tire Tread Affect a Tire?

Tread and Tire Types

Tires are made of metal, rubber and plastic composites. The tread of a tire is made of grooved ridges and voids that connect to the ground or road. The tread is used to push water away, minimize noise and create traction. Tire types range from high-performance, which have more traction in mud and snow, to the regular types, which are adequate for normal weather conditions.

Treadwear

All tires have a treadwear rating which helps users determine how long a tire will last. A standard testing tire has a rating of 100. This means that if a tire has a tread rating of 300, the manufacturer expects the tire to have a lifespan 300 percent of the test tire. Usually the lifespan is slightly exaggerated by the manufacturer. Tire ratings should only be compared between each manufacturer's line of tires, as each manufacturer uses a different rating system.

Worn Tire Problems

Tread wears away due to the friction between the road and the tire. Over time the tread can wear down to a point that makes the vehicle unsafe to drive. Worn tread can cause wheel alignment to be off, just as misconfigured wheel alignment can cause tread to wear faster. Worn tread can also slow the braking time and cause steering problems. If the tread becomes too low the tires may also burst. Tire tread should be checked on a regular basis to ensure safety while driving. Check with the tire's manufacturer to determine how often this should be done.

Resources

• Tire safety