Irregular Tire Wear: Cupping

One problem that happens when tire rotation suggestions are not taken seriously is irregular tire wear. Irregular tire wear happens on the front tires of some cars, but usually happens on the back tires on vehicles with front-wheel-drive. If two tires remain on the rear of a car too long, they can develop humps and valleys in the tread pattern. This type of wears is usually called cupping. Cupping is also known as heal and toe or high low wear. This wear can cause a rough and noisy ride. The noise sounds like a roar from big mud tires. You can feel this issue with your hands when the problem is really severe. It isn't clear what causes this wear. The problem started appearing in auto shops during the eighties and some Denver auto repair shops say that the problem is caused by shocks, or car design. Although we do not know why this problem occurs, it is possible to know when it happens. Cupping occurs when the tires are run too long without being rotated How long is too long? This figure varies from car to car, but this wear usually shows up at 10,000 miles. The important thing to know is that proper tire rotation will almost always prevent this problem from ever occur.

Tires in Cold Pressure

Most people don't understand cold pressure doesn't necessarily mean the weather must be cold. It means your tires should be cold when they are checked before you drive.  When you drive, your tires heat up significantly when you drive and the increased temperature causes the pressure to increase.  It is a law of nature that if air is confined to a small area of space such as a tire and the temperature increases, the pressure will also rise.  If the temperature decreases, so will the pressure.  Knowing this, we understand you cannot accurately check the tire pressure of your tires once you have driven a few miles. 

Because tires tend to lose small amounts of air over a period of time, the pressure should be checked once every month.  If your tires only lose a pound or two between checks, this is normal.  Air can sometimes escape through the tiny pores in the rubber much in the same way that a rubber balloon loses air after a few days.  An older tire may be more susceptible  to bigger leaks because the rubber gets dry and can even develop small cracks.  If you check your tires two or three months in a row and you haven't lost any air, you wont need to check the pressure each month. 

When you add air to your tire, make sure you do not over fill it.  Many gas stations have compressed air or your can go to a Downing repair shop or tire shop to have your tires pressure checked and filled for you.  A week after you fill you tires, you will want to check the pressure again to make sure you didn't over fill or lose pressure.  Most tire gauges have a small nipple that is used to push in the valve to let excess air escape if you get too much pressure. If you purchased new tires from a tire dealer, they should be happy to add air for you at no charge. This will help assure them that you will get the most from your tires and purchased from them.

If you are looking for a place to check your tire pressure in Denver, check out Downing Street Garage at 401 Downing St  Denver, CO 80218 or call them at (303) 777-0142.