Why Rear Tyres Wear on the Inside

Noticing your rear tyres wearing faster on the inside edge? This uneven tread pattern often points to poor wheel alignment, incorrect tyre pressure, or suspension problems. In this guide, we explain what causes inside-edge wear, why it’s dangerous, and how to fix it before it leads to costly damage.

Tyre tread wear and tear is one of the most important things to regular check on your vehicle. Not only should the tread on your tyres be above the legal minimum of 1.6mm, but it needs to be consistent around the full circumference of the tyre. 

That is, the tread depth should be maintained at a consistent and balanced depth around the entire outside of the tyre.

When this isn’t the case, it usually means that something is wrong. 

Why is Inconsistent Tread Wear Bad?

If the tyres are not wearing down at a consistent rate - for example if there is one patch of tyre which is balder and more worn than the rest – then the traction and grip between the tyre and road surface is affected. 

This becomes especially problematic when faced with a wet road surface or adverse weather conditions and can lead to a loss of control behind the wheel.

Inconsistent tyre tread wear also brings financial implications. For a tyre to be deemed legal and safe to drive, it needs to have the 1.6mm minimum tread depth all the way around its surface. If the tyre has become excessively worn in one of more sections, however, it can render the whole tyre unsafe to drive.

What Causes Inconsistent Tread Wear?

Inconsistent tread wear can be caused by both driving behaviour and the maintenance of the tyres.

If the pressure of tyres is too high, you lift too much of the rubber away from the road surface and cause excessive wear to the central rim of the tyre. If the pressure is too low, however, the pressure falls on the outer edges of the tyre. 

The other main cause of inconsistent tread wear is misalignment in the wheels, which puts undue pressure on one part of the tyre. This is what typically causes wear which can be seen on the inside of the rear tyres in particular.

Dealing With Worn Inner Rear Tyres

With misalignment and out of balance wheels the most common causes of excessive wear across the inside of the rear tyres, it’s important that you spot uneven wear before it becomes a major problem.

Wheels should be realigned at least once a year, as part of a vehicle service. This is because they are very easy to knock out of alignment when hitting an obstacle or pothole – but the damage to tyres and to the vehicle can be lasting. 

Tyres should also be balanced through regular checks: ensuring the tyre pressure remains consistent across all four tyres, and that the suspension is well cared for around the vehicle. 

If you’re worried about excessive or uneven wear on your tyres, and have noticed bald patches starting to become established, our advice is to take it to a mechanic or garage for a more thorough inspection. They will be able to establish the cause of the unbalanced tread wear, and will take the steps needed to realign wheels, rebalance the tyres, or recommend changing the tyre pressure according to vehicle load and road surfaces.

And if your tyres have become so worn and unbalanced that they ultimately need replacing, don’t hesitate to get in touch with the Tyres.co.uk team. Combining expert support with access to a leading collection of tyres for all vehicle types and budgets, replacing damaged or worn tyres couldn’t be easier.