How To Read Your Tire Wear

Wear on both outer edges

Usually under-inflation. Check your tire pressure against the number on the driver's door jamb, not the number printed on the tire itself.

Wear down the center

Usually over-inflation, too much pressure means less of the tire's surface is actually touching the road.

Wear on one side only

This one usually points to alignment, not tire pressure. Worth booking an alignment check before it wears through unevenly.

Cupping or scalloped wear

Often a suspension issue, worn shocks or struts not controlling the tire's contact with the road evenly.

When to just get it checked

If you're not sure which pattern you're looking at, bring it in, a quick visual check during a tire swap usually catches this before it gets expensive.