What causes just one tire to go bald?

Like most mechanics and auto mechanics, Chapel Hill Tire recommends inspecting your tires once a month to make sure they look healthy. Sometimes drivers find that the tread of one of their tires has suddenly gone bald. What causes this strange tire phenomenon? Here's a look at 7 possible problems you might run into. 

Problem 1: Wheel Alignment Problems

Ideally, all of your tires should be set at the correct angle to meet the road evenly. Over time, bumps in the road can cause one or more wheels to become out of alignment. Naturally, this will lead to disproportionate wear of misaligned tires. Your wheel will encounter rolling resistance and extra friction on the road, causing it to wear quickly.

Although all tires are prone to toe problems, the front right wheel and front left wheel are most commonly affected. Wheel alignment problems are the most common problem for drivers who find that only one of their tires is worn out. Fortunately, the solution here is simple: a wheel alignment service. 

Problem 2: Missed Tire Rotation

If you find that one (or both) front tires are worn out, you can remember when the tires were last changed. Typically, front tires wear faster than rear tires. Why?

• The weight: Your front tires often carry more weight than your rear tires due to the location of the engine. 
• Steering and turning: Most cars are front wheel drive (FWD), meaning only the front wheels turn to steer the car. Turning leads to additional friction on the road. 
• Road hazards: Drivers have a little more time to adjust rear-wheel steering when hitting potholes and other road obstacles. 

This is why tire manufacturers recommend regular tire rotation. Tire rotation helps your tires wear evenly, ensuring they balance the impact of road and road hazards. 

Problem 3: Wrong Tires

Each tire brand works to create unique tires. Unfortunately, some tire brands are known to last longer than others. Tread pattern, rubber compound, carving, age and many other factors affect tire life. In some cases, tire mismatch will not create any problems. In other cases, this can contribute to tire wear at different rates.

Problem 4: Differences in inflation

Proper tire inflation is vital to the health of your tires. If one of your tires is running at low tire pressure, structural damage can quickly result. We usually see this problem when there is an undetected nail in the tire. Excessive pressure can also cause uneven tire tread wear. You can check the tire information panel on your car's frame next to the driver's seat to make sure your tires stay inflated to perfect PSI. Plus, there are easy ways to get free tire refills at your local mechanic shop.

Issue 5: Tire mismatch

If you buy used tires, you never know exactly what you are buying or the exact history of each tire. One of them may have old rubber, previous damage, or a broken structure. Thus, buying used tires may be the reason why one of your tires wears out faster than the others.

Issue 6: Drivers

Sometimes a tire problem has nothing to do with the tire. Are the roads in your area uneven and bumpy? Perhaps you hit the same inevitable potholes every day? Your driving habit, road conditions and other factors specific to your situation can affect the condition of your tires. These conditions can also cause one tire to wear faster than others, especially without proper rotation. 

Problem 7: Tire age difference

The age of a tire's rubber greatly affects how it handles, how it wears, and how safe it is on the road. If one of your tires is older than the others, it will most likely wear out sooner. You can find our complete guide to tire age here. 

Should I change all tires or just one?

If you notice tire wear sooner, you may be able to avoid replacements. However, if one of your tires is disproportionately worn, it will need to be replaced during a service visit. In these cases, some drivers choose to replace all four tires if they are aging or close to being replaced. This will help keep all tires working in the same way. It also avoids problems with the grip of the new tire's tread being stronger than the others. 

Conversely, you can often save money by replacing just one worn tire. This is especially true if your three remaining tires are in good condition. However, it is important to find a tire with a similar compound and tread pattern. If possible, match the new tire with the make of the remaining tires to avoid any problems. Luckily, this is easy to do when you buy new tires online.

Chapel Hill tire service and tire service

If you find one of your tires has gone bald, Chapel Hill Tire professionals are here to help. We offer tire fitting, balancing, inflation, replacement and other mechanic services. If you don't have time to visit one of your 9 offices in the Triangle area, we'll come to you with our suite of convenient car care services. Best of all, you can get the lowest prices on your new tires with our Best Price Guarantee. Our local auto mechanics invite you to make an appointment here online, view our coupon page, or call us to get started today!

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