Tire feathering occurs when one side of your tire’s tread ribs wears out while the other remains sharp. This issue may arise due to uneven alignments, such as extreme caster and toe.
It can be both frustrating and potentially hazardous, highlighting the importance of promptly addressing car alignment and suspension problems. This article explains the tire feathering meaning, signs, causes, and how to prevent tire feathering.
What Is Tire Feathering?
Tire feathering, also called tire cupping or tire scuffing, occurs when a tire wears down unevenly from one angle or area. This causes one side to become smooth while the other side stays in good condition.
Poor alignment of the tires and suspension issues are the primary causes of tire feathering.
While tire feathering may initially cause concern, there is no need to panic as long as you take swift action. Feathering is common with tires, particularly when suspension components wear out. If you address the underlying issue causing the feathering, you may be able to extend the life of your tires.
Signs of Tire Feathering
- Excessive noise: When your vehicle tires start to wear down unevenly, they may produce excessive noise while driving. This sound is often labeled as a whirring or humming noise.
- Reduced traction: As the tire wears down, it may also lose traction, which may affect the vehicle’s performance and handling.
- Uneven tire wear: Uneven tire wear is one of the clear symptoms of tire feathering or cupping. Feathering may lead your tires to wear down unevenly, producing a scalloped or rough appearance on the tread.
- Extreme vibration: When your tire is feathered, you may feel a vibration in the steering wheel or the whole car.
Causes of Tire Feathering
Tire cupping occurs when the rubber bounces excessively as the vehicle travels on the road. This causes the tire to lose proper contact with the road surface.
Your car may start to bounce due to various factors, such as poor tire quality, low tire pressure, unbalanced tires, worn suspension components, faulty bearings, or poor wheel alignment.
The following are the major causes of tire feathering or cupping:
- Poor wheel alignment
- Harsh driving
- Tires out of balance
- Poor quality tires
- Worn parts of the suspension system
- Improper tire inflation
- Faulty wheel bearings
1) Poor Wheel Alignment
Misaligned wheels are the major cause of tire feathering. The misaligned wheels may cause the bouncing of tires.
Proper alignment of the wheels requires various measurements to be taken into account. Camber, toe in/out, and caster are all crucial factors in wheel alignment. These measurements show a certain angle with the road.
- Caster: It is a measurement of the distance of the steering axis relative to the vertical axis when viewed from the side.
- Toe in/out: It determines the degree to which the tires steer outward or inward when viewed from above.
- Camber: When you view from the car’s front, camber is a measurement of the tire’s outward or inward angle.
2) Harsh Driving
People have different ways of driving. Some drive carefully, while others drive fast and aggressively. When it comes to turning the steering wheel, some people turn it while the car is stopped, while others wait until the car is moving.
Turning the wheel while the car is stopped creates more friction and pressure on the tires, causing more wear and tear in one spot.
On the other hand, waiting until the car is moving distributes the friction more evenly, reducing the amount of wear on the tires.
3) Tires Out of Balance
The weight must be distributed uniformly across the circumference for tires to wear evenly. If there is an imbalance, it can result in bouncing and vibrations, leading to a rough ride.
The uneven handling can cause irregular wear but can be fixed quickly. Balancing the tires can prevent tire feathering and extend the lifespan of your tire.
When balancing the tires, a technician will mount the tires and wheels on a specialized machine that spins the wheel assembly to identify any imbalances. The technician then adds tire weights to the appropriate sides to ensure that everything remains balanced. This service can be performed simultaneously with wheel alignment.
4) Poor Quality Tires
When selecting tires for your car, you are presented with a variety of choices, ranging from economical options to high-end brands with a higher price point. It is important to note that these tires differ in quality, and the cost of the tire correlates with its overall performance.
Opting for lower-cost tires may result in decreased durability due to the usage of thinner rubber material. This type of material may wear down unevenly, particularly when exposed to rougher terrain or extreme temperatures.
Choosing cheap tires may lead to an increased likelihood of experiencing feathering or cupping issues.
In contrast, investing in higher-quality tires may be a worthwhile expense to prevent tire feathering from occurring. Additionally, the overall driving experience may be more pleasurable with superior tires.
5) Worn Parts of Suspension System
The suspension system of your vehicle contains different components that work together to provide a comfortable ride.
The shocks and struts are the primary components of your suspension that need to be replaced at regular intervals. If they become worn out, the ride can become bumpy, causing the tires to lose contact with the road. You may also experience unusual noises or vibrations, particularly when driving over bumps.
To remedy this issue, replacing any defective suspension parts is necessary. It’s also recommended to inspect the suspension system every 50,000 miles for signs of wear and tear. In case you notice any strange sounds or vibrations, you should investigate the suspension system.
6) Improper Tire Inflation
Failure to inflate your vehicle tires to the recommended PSI can result in abnormal wear patterns on the tire rubber, potentially causing the tire tread to wear out prematurely and necessitating the replacement of the tire sooner than expected.
You can check the manufacturer’s manual to determine the appropriate tire pressure for your car’s front and rear tires.
Underinflating your tires may also reduce the area of tire rubber that makes contact with the road. This can lead to accelerated wear and tear on the tire and decreased handling capabilities. It may also increase the risk of tire blowouts due to excessive strain on the tire rubber.
7) Faulty Wheel Bearings
Wheel bearings play a crucial role in reducing friction when the wheels rotate. A damaged or broken wheel bearing is one of the major reasons for tire feathering or tire cupping.
If you hear unusual sounds when turning, the wheel bearings may be the culprit.
Ideally, wheel bearings should last a long time, sometimes over 100,000 miles. However, their lifespan can be shortened by dirt and grime buildup. If you frequently drive on uneven terrain, the bearings may fail earlier than expected.
Read More: How Long can you drive on a Spare Tire
How to Prevent Tire Feathering?
Tire feathering can be prevented with proper tire maintenance and driving habits. Here are some tips to prevent tire feathering:
- Rotate your tires regularly: Regular tire rotation helps to ensure even tire wear and prevent feathering. Most tire manufacturers recommend rotating your tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles.
- Choose the right tires: Different tires have different tread patterns and wear characteristics. Choose tires that are appropriate for your driving style and the conditions you’ll be driving in.
- Get a wheel alignment: A wheel alignment ensures that your tires are properly aligned and angled, which helps to prevent uneven tire wear.
- Maintain proper tire inflation: Check your tire pressure regularly to make sure your tires are inflated to the recommended PSI (pounds per square inch). Underinflated tires can cause uneven tire wear, including feathering.
- Drive smoothly: Avoid sudden turns, starts, and stops, which may cause excessive wear and tear on your tires.
Is Tire Feathering Dangerous?
Tire feathering is a condition where the tread on a tire wears unevenly, creating a pattern of raised and lowered ridges on the tire’s surface. While it’s not an immediate safety concern, tire feathering can be dangerous if left unchecked.
Your car’s tires are crucial as they are the only part of your vehicle that make contact with the road. Therefore, it’s essential to take good care of them. If you notice feathering or cupping on the tires, it means that the contact patch isn’t working correctly.
Feathered tires can affect the handling, causing the vehicle to pull to one side, especially during braking or steering. It may also produce excessive road noise and vibrations, making the ride uncomfortable for passengers.
To avoid any problems, correcting the issue or replacing the damaged tires immediately is recommended. Sometimes, rotating the tires can create a new wear pattern, but if the tires are too worn out, replacement is necessary.
If you’re not sure what to do, seek advice from a professional tire shop. They can provide you with the right information and solutions to keep your tires in good shape.
Can Tire Feathering be fixed?
Yes, tire feathering can sometimes be fixed, but it depends on the severity of the wear and the condition of the tire. If the feathering is relatively minor, tire rotation may help to even out the wear and reduce the noise and vibration caused by feathering. However, if the feathering is severe, the tire is likely damaged beyond repair and will need to be replaced immediately.
It is important to identify and address the underlying issue causing the feathering, such as improper tire inflation, worn suspension components, or misalignment, to prevent further damage to the tires.
Regular tire maintenance, including regular inspections, maintaining proper tire pressure, and rotating the tires, can help prevent feathering and extend the life of your tires.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is tire cupping?
Tire cupping is a type of tire wear pattern that appears as a series of smooth, rounded depressions or cups on the tire tread surface. These cups are usually evenly spaced and can be felt by running a hand over the tire. Tire cupping can occur on the inner or outer edge of the tire, or in the middle of the tread.
Will feathered tires smooth out?
In some cases, feathered tires may smooth out on their own as the tire wears further and the tread wears down more evenly. However, this is not always the case, and the extent to which feathered tires can smooth out will depend on the severity of the feathering and the quality of the tires.
Can I fixed tire cupping?
Although you cannot undo the damage already done, you might be able to rectify the uneven wear caused by feathering or cupping through tire rotation. It is essential to address the root cause of the tire cupping and repair it. After fixing the underlying issue, rotating the tires can promote more uniform tread wear. However, if the feathering is excessive, replacing the tires is necessary.
How do I stop my tires from feathering?
To prevent feathering of your tires, you should take good care of them by regularly inspecting them, keeping them at the recommended pressure, and getting all necessary services done. If feathering does happen, you should fix the problem causing it and rotate the tires to stop it from getting worse.
Can I drive on feathered tires?
While you can technically drive on feathered tires, it is not recommended as it can be unsafe and cause further damage to your vehicle. Feathering can cause the tire to wear unevenly, resulting in reduced traction, handling, and stability, which can affect your ability to control your vehicle on the road.
Does tire feathering cause noise?
Feathered tires can cause a loud noise because they may not make proper contact with the road and start bouncing, which can result in a strange sound while driving. In addition, the root cause of the feathering, such as a bad wheel bearing or worn suspension components, can also produce noises.
Is tire feathering occur on the inside or outside of the tire?
Feathering of tires can occur on the inside, outside, or both sides of the tire. The location of the feathering can often provide insight into the underlying cause of the wear. Feathering on the inside of the tire is typically caused by misalignment, worn suspension components, or improper tire inflation. Feathering on the outside of the tire is often caused by overinflation or a lack of rotation.
What causes Tire Cupping?
- Improper Tire Inflation
- Poor Wheel Alignment
- Harsh Driving
- Faulty Wheel Bearings
- Tires Out of Balance
- Poor Quality Tires
- Worn Parts of the Suspension System