Have you ever thought about all of the ways your car communicates with you? If you drive a vehicle like the 2017 Volkswagen Golf, your car probably tells you when it needs the attention of a professional technician by turning on a light. If you flip your blinker on, your automobile lets you know your blinker’s in use by making a tick-tock noise and illuminating an arrow that indicates the direction you’re going to go.
Believe it or not, your car’s tires also communicate information about your vehicle. They just do so differently than your “check engine” light and your blinker.
Instead of giving you audible or illuminated clues, your tires provide visual evidence about the well-being of your automobile with tread wear. The more you drive, the more your tires’ tread will wear down. If certain patterns become evident in your tread wear, you may have to bring your car into our Volkswagen service center near Ellicott City, MD for an appointment.
You should take a look at your tires’ tread at least once a week. Even better, consider examining the tread on your tires every time you stop for gas. You can fix some of the problems that cause certain kinds of wear on your own while others will require the attention of a professional technician. Two problems you can rectify on your own are over- and under-inflated tires.
If you notice center wear on your tires, they’re probably over-inflated. If you see shoulder wear instead, it normally means your tires are under-inflated. You can fix both of these problems by using a reliable air pressure gauge and adjusting the amount of air in your tires so that it’s equal to the level your car’s manufacturer recommends.
If your tires have suffered cupped wear, your shocks and/or struts are probably worn out and need to be replaced. Unbalanced tires or wheels are also often responsible for cupping. Flat spot wear is often referred to as “brake skid wear” because it usually occurs when your brakes lock up. If you see cupped or brake skid wear on your tires, bring your vehicle to our VW dealership to let our factory-trained technicians fix the underlying issues your tires are desperately trying to tell you about.
If you’ve noticed unusual wear patterns on your tires,
contact Heritage Volkswagen Catonsville to make a VW service
appointment today.