How to Tell If You Have a Bad Wheel or Tire
Tire problems usually arise from wear, but they also may stem from manufacturing mishaps. Tire issues can cause the vehicle to pull to one side, vibrate and use more fuel since the vehicle has to work harder to move on worn and deflated tires. Bad tires can also result in car accidents, since a worn tire can explode and cause you to lose control of the vehicle. It is important to inspect your tires for wear and pay close attention to how your vehicle is driving at all times.
Other People Are Reading
Instructions
-
-
1
Inspect the tire and sidewall for defects, such as ripples, bruises, missing chunks of tread, any separations in the tread, cracks, scrapes, and cuts. These tire issues can occur from running over something incredibly sharp or a manufacturing mistake.
-
2
Look for debris, such as mud packed into the back of the rim or embedded in the actual trim of the tire. This could cause the tire to be off-balance and cause vibration while driving. Vibration can also be caused from unevenly spaced radial cords in the tire sidewall, and uneven tread wear. Radial cord issues will need to be diagnosed by a professional. You can run your hands across the tread in both directions to feel if one portion of the tire feels rougher than the other; this could indicate uneven tread wear.
-
-
3
Check the inflation pressure in both front tires using a tire pressure gauge. Insert the tip of the gauge to the tire valve, and allow the pressure to push the measurement stick out. Both front tires should have the same amount of pressure. The exact amount of pressure the tires should have is written on the tire sidewall (e.g., 30 psi). If the tires are under-inflated, or one has more pressure than the other, inflate both tires until they have an identical amount of pressure. A tire with low pressure can cause the car to pull to that side when driving. If you find yourself needing to re-inflate a tire often, like once a week, the tire will probably need to be patched.
-
4
Listen to the tire after you fill it with air. If you hear a "hissing" sound, the tire has an air leak. The leak will need to be patched, or the tire will need to be replaced.
-
5
Inspect the tire for tread wear. A worn tire will cause the car to pull to one side. Insert a penny into the groove of the tire. Make sure Abraham Lincoln's head goes in first. The groove should be deep enough to cover part of the head of Abraham Lincoln. If the tread is not high enough to cover any part of Lincoln's head, your tires will need to be replaced.
-
6
Diagnose an alignment problem. Switch the left-front tire with the right-front tire. Then drive the car, and see if you are continuing to have any problems when driving. If the vehicle continues to pull in one direction, the problem is not the tire but the alignment.
-
1
References
- Photo Credit tire image by timur1970 from Fotolia.com
