Don't Grind My Gears

Tires are one of the only parts of a car that touch the road, which makes them honest. They do not hide problems for long. They just wear in a way that tells a story.

Most people only look at tires when they look low. A better time to look is when they still look fine, because that is when the wear pattern is loudest.

What “normal” wear looks like

Normal wear looks boring. The tread wears down evenly across the tire, and the car feels predictable in a straight line and through gentle corners. When wear stops being boring, you usually get a clue about alignment, inflation, or suspension slop.

When the edges go first

Edge wear is usually the tire begging for help. Underinflation can do it because the tire rolls on its shoulders. Alignment can do it too if the angles are off. The important part is that edge wear tends to show up slowly, which makes it easy to ignore.

If you fix it early, you save the tire. If you fix it late, you buy a new set and promise yourself you will pay attention next time.

Tires are feedback you can trust

If the car pulls, if the steering wheel is off center, or if the tire wear looks uneven, do not treat it like a personality trait. Treat it like data. Tires are expensive, but they are also a diagnostic tool that you already paid for.