Wear on the sides of a tire indicates which condition?

• A. Overinflation
• B. Normal wear
• C. Under inflation
• D. Cupped wear

Answer: (C)

When tire wear appears on the outer edges or shoulders, it points to underinflation. When a tire isn’t inflated enough, the tread contact patch becomes wider and the sidewalls flex more, causing more friction and wear along the outer portions of the tread while the center wears less because it isn’t bearing as much load. Proper inflation yields even wear across the tread; overinflation would show center wear instead, and cupped wear typically indicates suspension or balance issues rather than inflation.