Routine vehicle inspections and observations of handling can reveal specific maintenance faults and safety hazards. Match each tyre wear pattern or vehicle handling symptom to its most probable mechanical cause.
- Accelerated wear concentrated along both outer edges (shoulders) of the tyre treadTyres being operated below the recommended pressure (under-inflation)
- Accelerated wear concentrated primarily along the central strip of the tyre treadTyres being operated above the recommended pressure (over-inflation)
- Rhythmic vibration or wobble felt through the steering wheel at motorway cruising speedsUnbalanced road wheels causing rotational oscillation
- Uneven scrub or feathered wear concentrated across only one side of a front tyre treadIncorrect front wheel alignment (tracking)
Answer
Wear on both outer shoulders pairs with under-inflation; wear along the central strip pairs with over-inflation; steering wheel wobble at speed pairs with unbalanced road wheels; and single-edge tread scrub pairs with incorrect wheel alignment (tracking).
Each tyre wear pattern directly reflects its mechanical cause: under-inflation places excessive load on the outer shoulders; over-inflation bows the centre tread outwards causing accelerated central wear; wheel imbalance causes dynamic vibration transmitted through the steering wheel at speed; and misaligned tracking causes the tyre to drag slightly at an angle, wearing one side or edge rapidly.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Diagnosing tyre wear patterns, inflation faults, wheel balance, and wheel tracking
Estimated Time:1m 0s