Which Tires Wear Faster? [Front or Back]

The automotive world is not perfect. Whether you like it or not, your tires will wear.

You have to visit your tire shop and get a replacement. But how do you know the life of your tires?

How fast do they wear? Or to be more exact, which of your tires wears faster?

Your tires are important components of your vehicle. You have to ensure that they can perform to the maximum safety.

To do this, you must know when the treads will wear. You can avoid possible accidents if you are careful.

So, which of them wears faster?

If you want an exact answer, you should know that it is the right front tire that wears faster. It is always the first to wear.

There can be two reasons for this:

  • Left turns
  • Road camber

Usually, front tires wear faster than rear tires. The reason is that they are utilized for braking and steering.

The other factors that can contribute are the weight of the vehicle, the power system, and vehicle usage. The wear can also depend on the drivetrain layout, whether the vehicle is an AWD, FWD, or RWD.

If you want to know why your tire wears faster than the others, you can watch the following video:

YouTube video

The Reasons Why the Right Front Tire Wears Faster

1. Left Turns

Front tires wear two times faster on some cars. The right front tire can experience the most damage.

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The reason is that the car is heavily loaded. It transmits the move when the left-hand turns.

The left turnings give a lot of pressure on the tire. It works hard whenever you turn left.

The weight of the car is transferred to the right front tire. Especially when the environment is urban where you have to do many roundabouts.

For this reason, the right front tire is called the “working tire”.

2. Road Camber

After it rains, the water needs to be drained on the road. This will prevent hazardous flooding.

So, roads have peaks in the middle. They are tapered to the gutter.

The drop makes a slope or a road camber. This denotes that when you drive, the car will lean to the right.

There will be too much load for the right tire. Because the right tire shares more weight, it can wear faster.

The Reasons Why Front Tires Wear Faster

The Front Tires Steer the Vehicle

The steering gives wear to the shoulder of the tires. When the front tires steer, the work will not be experienced by the rear tires.

Thus, the front tires wear faster.

The Car Weights When Braking

The weight of the vehicle is given to the front tires when braking. This is because the car moves toward the front.

This makes the front tires wear faster. So, you should leave a gap when you are braking.

Avoid harsh stops to prevent wearing.

Cars are Not Balanced

The front end is heavier because the engine is located there. It can give an imbalance which can make the front tires wear faster.

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The Reasons Why Rear Tires Wear Faster

The Vehicle is a Rear-Wheel Drive

Rear-wheel drive is more expensive to manufacture. But when you buy a rear-wheel drive, you can expect the rear tires to wear faster.

A rear-wheel drive has a high-end performance that can cause the rear tires to lose traction. While spinning more, they can wear down faster.

The engine layout also has a great impact on wearing. Especially if it is located in the middle of the back of the car.

When your car is Ferrari, Lamborghini, or Porsche, you can expect the rear tires to wear faster.

Harsh Acceleration

The inertia puts the weight of the vehicle on the rear tires. As the weight rests on the back tires, they can wear faster.

YouTube video

Types of Drivetrain Layout

There are three possible drivetrain layouts. The power of the engine may depend on the wheels of your vehicle.

The types of drivetrain layouts are the following:

All-Wheel Drive

The power of the engine is from all four wheels. Front and rear tires have the same work.

Thus, they can wear evenly.

Front-Wheel Drive

The power of the engine is on the front wheel only. Front tires work the hardest.

This is the reason why front tires can wear faster.

Rear-Wheel Drive

The power of the engine is on the rear wheels. Rear tires work the hardest.

Thus, rear tires will wear faster.

How Can You Avoid Tread Wear

Replacement of tires may be costly. Of course, you may want to maximize the life of your tires.

But how can you extend the life of your tires? These are the things that you can do to avoid tread wear:

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1. Proper Inflation

You should ascertain that your tires are properly inflated. If they are overinflated, they will wear down in the middle.

If they are underinflated, the sides of the tires will wear. Check the air pressure of your tire to ensure that it is properly inflated.

You must do this once a month. The air from your tires can lose over time.

You need to maintain the right air pressure to ascertain that the force of the vehicle is evenly distributed to your tires.

If your tires are overinflated or underinflated, they cannot have the right contact on the road. Thus, they will wear them faster.

So, before having a long trip or a heavy load, you should check your tire pressure. This way, you can save your tires from wearing out.

2. Regular Wheel Alignment

Wheels that are not aligned can wear unevenly. The tread will not have straight contact with the ground.

It can touch the ground at an angle that can make them wear faster. To avoid this to happen, get your tires fixed at an auto shop.

It will be good to have a wheel alignment once a year. You can also do this when you notice that your tires are wearing unevenly.

You can also have wheel alignment every time you rotate your tires. Through wheel alignment, you can have optimal drivability.

Your tires can last longer. You can always have a smoother drive.

So, when you notice a vibration in your steering wheel, it may be time for you to have your wheels aligned. Do not wait for the situation to get worse.

You should remember that you should prevent wear from your tires. You can save yourself from a lot of hazards if you do this.

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3. Good Driving Habits

You should learn how to drive smoothly to avoid wear on your tires. You can help your tires to last longer.

So, avoid harsh acceleration and sudden braking. Do not drive over speed bumps and potholes.

Avoid putting stress on your tires because stress can wear them faster. Have good driving behaviors.

You can avoid damage if you slow down. Be alert on the road to avoid hitting things that can damage your tires.

4. Rotate Your Tires

To even out the wear of your tires, you need to rotate your tires regularly. This is recommended for every five thousand miles that you have driven.

You must remember that tire rotation is vital to add life to your tire. Your tires can wear evenly because of it.

5. Avoid Harsh Surfaces

As much as possible, do not drive on harsh surfaces. Avoid winter roads, off-road trails, and gravel roads.

These roads are tough for your tires. They can make your tires wear faster.

If you want to know more about how you can prevent tread wear, you can watch the following video:

YouTube video

Which Tires Wear Faster on a Truck?

Depending on the axle for acceleration will be the wearing of the tires. Most trucks are front-wheel drive.

So, you can expect the front tires to wear faster. The wear will truly depend on which axle supports weight.

But if you use the truck for towing or as a trailer, the rear tires will wear faster.

Which Tires Wear Faster? Left or Right?

The answer depends on what country you are in. U.S. and Canada drive on the right side of the road.

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Because of this, when drivers make left turns, the weight of the vehicle will be on the right tires. This can make the right tires wear faster.

Inertia gives pressure on the right side of the vehicle. It can end up lower than the left.

This can give more contact on the road on the right tires. Thus, the right tires can wear faster.

But in other countries like India, U.K., and Australia, people drive on the left side of the road. So, the case will be the opposite way.

Which Tires Wear Faster? Front or Back?

Even when not used for acceleration, the front tires wear faster than the rear tires. This is because they handle steering and braking.

The weight of the vehicle is usually situated in the front. So, more strain is given to the front wheels.

This can make them wear faster than rear tires.

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