John Linden: Hi! I'm John Linden, Master ASE Certified Technician and North America Training Manager for Midas International Corporation. Today I would like to talk to you about the danger of uneven tire wear.

There are number of reasons for uneven tire wear, but the three most common are not rotating the tire, wheels that are out of balance and wheels that are not properly aligned.

Manufacturers have slightly different recommendation on when their tire should be rotated, but the most common role of thumb is every 6000 miles or every oil change depending on your vehicle. The more often you rotate your tires the more evenly they will wear.

Normal wear and tear in a tire affects wheel balance. Over time the tire thread depth decreases. The tire has a natural tendency that go out a balance. While there is no way to prevent the tire from wearing down, you can't put a longer life with the tire thread by having it balanced or check for balance every time you have the tires rotated.

Improper wheel alignment can also cause uneven tire wear, all spring sag over time. As the spring sag the vehicle will go out of alignment. This usually results in the wear on the inner edges of the front tires. If the rear of the vehicle is out of alignment, it can cause abnormal tire wear depending on what alignment angle is not within manufacturer's specification.

Wheel alignment should be checked on a regular basis or according to your owner's manual and especially, when you're installing new tires. If you take note of each of these causes, you'll be sure to keep your tires lasting longer.