Major Causes of Premature Tire Wear in Your Infiniti

by techplusaadmin January 20, 2020

Each time your tire turns, miniscule parts of its surface are worn away by the road. This is why after a lot of driving, your tires become bald as their textured surface has been worn away. A new set of tires can be quite an investment, so all drivers should try to prevent premature tire wear to save the life of their tires and the expense of early replacement. Let’s look closer at some of the biggest causes for premature tire wear in your Infiniti.

The Importance of Tire Tread

Shallow tire tread can render your vehicle unsafe. Your tires need their treads to grip the road, and without the proper tread, losing control of your Infiniti or skidding becomes much more likely. Tire tread depth is particularly important when conditions are wet, snowy, or icy, as the tread is able to cut through the layer of precipitation and reach the road surface, giving you far more control over steering than if your tires are worn.

Tread Depth

In the US, tire tread is measured in 32nds of an inch. New tires will typically have a tread depth between 9/32-inch to 11/32-inch. Laws regarding tread depth vary from state to state, but over all, the majority of states have a minimum depth of 2/32-inch.

Knowing this is all well and good, but how can you tell when you’ve reached this marker? Most tires have tire tread depth indicators within the grooves. This will allow you to visually determine when your tires are becoming bald. If you are struggling to locate these marks on you tire, than you can also do the penny test. The penny test involves placing a penny with Lincoln’s head positioned upside down into the groove of the tread rubs. If the top of Abe’s head is obscured by the tire, then your tire is over 2/32-inch. If you can see Abe’s head then you’ll need replacements.

Causes of Premature Tires Wear

Below are the most common causes of tire wear in your Infiniti. Keep these in mind to help reduce your expenses and keep you safely connected to the road.

Improper Tire Pressure

A tire needs to be properly inflated to prevent excessive wear. All vehicles specify inflation pressures for the front and rear tires in their owner’s manual. The correct pressure is intended to reduce wear as well as improve performance and fuel economy. An over-inflated or under-inflated tire will affect the contact patch of the tire tread, resulting in uneven tire wear.

To help prevent this, you should check your tire pressure monthly. Don’t forget to check your spare tire as well. You should always adjust your tire pressure to optimal inflation before road trips and if you will be carrying heavy loads, as this is when a large amount of wear could take place.

Incorrect Tire Alignment

Poor tire or wheel alignment happens when the steering and suspension components are out of alignment with the wheels. Improper tire alignment causes irregular or uneven tire wear such as:

• Wear to the heel or toe: This occurs when wear is faster on one side of the tread blocks than the other. Running your hand over the tire treads will feel like the teeth on a saw.
• Feather-edge tire wear: Tires become feathered when the ribs are worn smooth on one side but sharp on the other. This is caused by the incorrect alignment of the toe and caster.
• One-sided shoulder tire wear: This type of tire wear indicates that there is excessive negative or positive camber wear.

Maintenance

Making the correct pressure and tire adjustments as part of your ongoing maintenance can prevent you shelling out money prematurely on a new set of tires for your Infiniti. Simple measures such as maintaining good tire pressure can extend the lifespan of your tires, meaning you can maximize every mile from one set of tires.

Tech Plus Automotive

Residents of Phoenix, Paradise Valley, McCormick Ranch, and Scottsdale, AZ, should make Tech Plus Automotive their number one stop when it comes to all their Infiniti’s tire needs. We are experts at making sure your Infinti’s suspension is in perfect balance and alignment with correctly pressured wheels. This will help ensure your tires have a long life, saving you money in the process. Alongside great tire services, Tech Plus Automotive can also help you with everything from your A/C to your oil changes. Call our friendly team today to find out how Tech Plus Automotive can help you.