Have you noticed irregular wear on the inside edge of your trailer tire? Tread that is more worn on one side of the tire than the other can lead to several dangerous issues like blowouts, reduced maneuverability, and poor traction and braking. And because your safety comes first, it’s important to know what inner tire wear looks like, what causes it, and how to prevent it.
Inner tire wear refers to the deterioration of a tire’s inner side tread. While tire wear on the outside of your tires is quite noticeable, wear on the tire's inside edge may not be—but is just as problematic and dangerous.
Ideally, your trailer tires should be able to rest level on the road at the correct camber angle. However, that may not happen if your wheels are not perpendicular to the road, making the camber angle either “positive” or “negative.”
If the top of the tire tilts away from the vehicle, that is considered a positive camber angle. As a result, the trailer tire’s outer edge will begin to deteriorate. On the other hand, a negative camber angle means that the top of the tire tilts inward, causing inner tire wear as a result.
Two forces are always working against your tires, one pulling the tire inside and one pushing the tire outside. Toe settings balance these forces and ensure that your tires are always parallel to each other and perpendicular to the road.
Your trailer tires may pull inward or outward if the toe settings are out of line. If your tires are facing inward as a result of improper toe settings (toe in), wear on the inner edge of the tires is sure to come.
Suspension components are instrumental in not only absorbing road vibrations and shock but also ensuring that a vehicle’s stock ride height remains consistent. Faulty parts can directly affect the camber angles, which can increase inside tire wear.
Faulty Springs
Working alongside shock absorbers, springs dampen the vibrations that you experience driving over potholes and other road imperfections. A vibration-free ride requires that they function at their best.
However, like ball joints, springs deteriorate over time. As a result, their capacity to assist in maintaining continual contact with the road is diminished and deterioration begins to occur on the inner edge of your tires.
Faulty Shock Absorbers or Struts
Worn shock absorbers or struts could also be to blame for the wear on the inner edge of your trailer tires. Your trailer may bounce significantly if the shock absorber is broken or leaking, especially on an unpaved road.
If this isn’t fixed right away, serious harm to other suspension system parts could occur and your tires’ tread may develop an outside or inner pattern.
Worn Bushings on The Control Arm
Bushings are designed to get rid of the excessive free movement within your vehicle. But with frequent use, the control arm bushings gradually wear down, leading to increased movement and more inside tire wear.
Wheel misalignment can cause a range of problems including issues with the wheel hub bearings, uneven tire wear, and inner and outer tire wear. Unfortunately, a simple pothole impact could result in poor wheel alignment and force your trailer to pull in one direction.
Trailer tires wear differently when underloaded or overloaded. If there isn’t enough weight on the axle to push the tires into a straight up-and-down position, the tires can fall into a positive camber angle, causing the tires wear to be concentrated on the outside of the tire.
On the other hand, overloading your trailer can put too much pressure on the axle and force a negative camber angle, causing the tires to wear from the inside. And if the trailer load is excessively heavy, you’ll notice that all four tires are wearing more quickly inside. Excessive load is one of the most frequent causes of rapid inner tire wear on your trailer!
Your trailer’s axle should have a slight curve upward when it's partially loaded. However, if your axle curves downward or shows signs of impact, like dents or cracks, you may need to repair or replace your axle to remove the pressure from your tires.
Poor wheel alignment can affect camber angle, degrade ball joints, and harm springs if neglected—all of which lead to increased wear on the inner tire. With that in mind, it’s important to get your wheels aligned about once a year to prevent any irregular tire wear.
Alignment Services at Wonderland Tire
The danger of inner tire wear only increases with underinflation. The lack of air prevents the sidewall from connecting with the pavement leading to uneven wear. For this reason, we encourage periodic air pressure checks to ensure your safety on the road.
Looking for fleet services like air pressure checks, tread depth checks, and more? Wonderland Tire’s got you covered!
If you begin to notice uneven tire wear on the inner side of your tire, you’ll want to check your suspension system. A damaged suspension component might be to blame, also leading to increased fuel consumption.
It’s important to note that ignoring suspension problems for too long can lead to an expensive repair or leave you stranded on the road. So if a faulty suspension part is the cause of your inner tire wear, you should immediately look into a repair or replacement.
Contact us to schedule your mechanical services
Whenever your trailer’s load exceeds your tire’s load capability, uneven tire wear is sure to follow. That’s why it’s important to know your tires’ “rated load range” before loading your trailer.
Make sure your tires are up for the job — Wonderland Tire can help you find the right tires for your trailer!
At Wonderland Tire, the safety of you and those around you on the road is our priority. With over 75 years of experience, our team is equipped with the tools and knowledge needed to provide you with the care you and your fleet deserve.
Wonderland Tire is a family-owned and operated tire company, with commercial locations serving Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Kentucky, and Tennessee. We've been serving the transportation needs of fleet managers since 1945, ensuring our customers receive the best in tire service.
Find your nearest Wonderland Tire to set up an appointment today!
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