How To Fix Inner Tire Wear? Quick Fixes

Inner tire wear can be caused by several factors, including improper wheel alignment, worn-out ball joints, worn-out inner tie-rods, faulty shock absorbers or struts, damaged control arm bushings, and worn-out shock springs. To fix inner tire wear, you need to address the root cause. Repairing alignment, replacing the ball joint, replacing tie-rods, shock absorbers, shock springs, or control arm bushings can help fix inner tire wear. 

We have discussed in this article all the possible causes, their fixes, and cost estimates of repairs for you to go through. Give it a read to find out how to fix the inner tire wear. 

How to Diagnose & Fix Inner Tire Wear?

The table below shows all the possible issues that might lead to inner tire wear, including the cost estimate for their fixes.

Cause	Solution	Cost
Improper wheel alignment	Repairing alignment	$75-100
Worn Out Ball Joints	Replace the Ball Joint	$20-500
Worn out Inner Tie-rods	Replacing Tire-rods	$200-500
Worn out shock absorber or struts	Replacing shock absorbers	$300-1200
Faulty shock springs	Replacing shock springs	$1400-4100
Damaged control arm bushings	Replace control arm bushings	$242-299

Reason 1: Improper Wheel  alignment

Wheel misalignment is the most common reason for inner tire wear. The two types of wheel misalignment responsible for inner tire wear are listed below.

1. Camber Misalignment

Negative camber causes a tire to lean inwards at the top, and its inside edge  is subjected to more stress, more wear and can produce burning rubber smell from car tires. As a result, the inside edge of the tire wears faster than the outside edge, causing inner tire wear.

Also, excessive negative camber can cause the inner edge of the tire to rub against other components such as suspension or steering parts, which can cause inner tire wear. The symptoms of negative camber are:

Symptoms

1. Steering wheel becomes crooked during straight driving.
2. Noisy steering
3. Tires squealing while driving
4. Car pulls to the left or right while driving

2. Toe Misalignment

If your tire is pointing inwards towards one another due to misalignment, it is known to be a “toe-in” situation. When this happens, the forces pulling on the inside of the tires become significantly large. This will increase inner tire wear as the inner sides are being subjected to more friction from the road. This can be even more concerning in old tire and as old tires can be unsafe in such situation.

The symptoms of toe-in misalignment are given below.

Symptoms

1. Vehicle pulls to the right or left when letting go of steering. 
2. Vibrations at higher speeds.
3. Squealing tires at high speeds.

Solution: Fix The Wheel Alignment 

We recommend you get your wheels aligned at the most common and reliable place to get it done- auto shops. Trying to fix your wheel alignment by yourself might not be the best idea because of how complicated and time-consuming it is.  

However, if you still want to give it a shot, we have a video for you to follow.

To get a wheel alignment from a professional, you will have to spend from $50 to 168$. This cost varies depending on the service provider and the nature of the alignment.

Reason 2: Worn Out Ball Joints

Worn out ball joints alter camber angle in the long run and hence in turn, indirectly cause inner tire wear. You can find the symptoms of worn out ball joints below.

Symptoms

1. Intermittent clunking noise coming from the corner of your car. 
2. Sloppy or stiff steering

Solution: Replace Worn Out Ball Joints

You can choose to replace your ball joints at your nearest auto shop. This will cost you $20-80 for parts and $100 to $150 for labor. However, if you have a luxury car, this charge will be $500 or more. 

If you want to skip paying labor charges, we have a guide to help you replace worn out ball joints by yourself.

The following tools will be required to replace the ball joints:

1. Jack stands
2. Lug Wrench
3. Hammer
4. Torque Wrench
5. Screwdriver

Step by Step Guide for Replacing Worn Out Ball Joints

Step 1: Prepare your car by jacking the two front wheels above the ground and using jack stands to support it. Chock in the back tires to prevent the vehicle from moving.

Step 2: Take off the wheel and access the ball joint.

Step 3: Clean the bolts by spraying metal cleaner.

Step 4: Remove the old ball joint by pulling the cotter pin and large castellated nut. 

Step 5:Use a wrench to unlatch the largest nut from the joint and replace it with a new nut.

Step 6: Drive the pickle fork between the control arm and the steering knuckle.

Step 7: Put on the castellated nut and hammer the joint in. 

Step 8: Remove the allen bolts by loosening and slide free the control arm.

Step 9: Slide in the new joint through the knuckle hole. 

Step 10: Slide the new rubber boot over the stud of the ball joint and guide the ball joint back into the steering knuckle hole.

Step 11: Bolt the new ball joint into its place.

Step 12: Use a torque wrench to tighten the bolts and castellated nuts to levels stated in your manufacturer’s manual. 

Step 13: Screw in the grease fitting and pump in grease to the assembly. 

Pro tip: Replacing a ball joint will cause changes to alignment. If a ball joint is worn out fully and the vehicle was previously aligned, it is advisable to have the vehicle realigned.

Reason 3: Worn Out Tie-Rods

When the tie rods are worn out, the weight distribution of the car becomes uneven. This means the load distribution is not uniform, causing cases like inner tire wear. 

Symptoms

1. Popping or clunking noise while steering.
2. Vibrations while steering.
3. Lack of steering responsiveness.

Solution: Replace  Worn Out Tie-Rods

Worn out tie rods can only be sorted by replacing. You can either do this yourself or get this done by a mechanic.

At a mechanic shop, this will cost you around $200-500.

To replace the tie rod yourself, you will need the following tools: 

1. Jack Stands
2. Jacks
3. Lug wrench
4. Torque wrench
5. Ball joint separator
6. Cleaning cloth
7. Rust Remover Spray
8. Screwdriver

Steps to Replace Worn Out Tie Rods

Step 1: Jack up the car and remove the front wheels.

Step 2: Spray rust remover on the fastening nut of the tie rod end and leave it on for a few minutes.

Step 3: Dismount the front underride guard.

Step 4: Make the fastening nut come loose to remove it altogether. 

Step 5:  Use an appropriate ball joint separator to Remove the tie rod end from the steering knuckle.

Step 6:  Remove the bellow clamp on the steering gear

Step 7: Use a screwdriver to separate the inner tie rod from the rack

Step 8: Clean the sealing face of the bellow at the steering gear. Next clean the lug of the rubber contact surface of the ball joint in the steering knuckle.

Step 9: Screw the new inner tie rod into the rack. 

Step 10: Tighten the new inner tie rod as per the tightening torque specified by the vehicle manufacturer. 

Step 11: Mount the bellow, followed by closing the clamps with a screwdriver or other adequate tool.

Step 12: Make the ball joint in the steering knuckle secure and mount the nut.

Step 13:Mount the front underride guard.

Step 14: Mount the front wheels and tighten them.

Step 15: Align and adjust the wheels to normal.

Reason 4 : Worn-Out Shock Absorber Or Struts

Worn out shock absorbers make your car bounce excessively, especially on rough terrains. Excessive movement can result in to tire being rubbed against shocks that can creat crack on tire tread and this can result in inner tire wear.  Any excessive rubbing can make your tire blast that look like someone has slash your tire from inner side.

Solution: Replace Worn Out Shock Absorbers

Worn out shocks may be one reason for inner tire wire and to know if they have worn out,  push down on the trunk or the hood directly above the wheel well. If the body of the shock does not settle after bouncing up once,there is wear on the shocks. 

If you decide to replace shock absorbers yourself, parts can cost from $300 to $600. If you decide to take them to a mechanic,  labor costs of $150-$300 will be added to this. 

However, if they are not completely worn out, you can get them repaired at a shop. This will take 30-50% less charge than replacement. There are a number of different parts that may need fixing and we recommend you let an expert diagnose it to avoid blunders.  

Replacing Your Shock Absorbers At Home

The tools needed for replacing shock absorbers are

1. New shock absorbers
2. Floor jack
3. Jack stands
4. Nut splitter
5. Ratchet and socket

You can follow this step-by-step guide below for replacing worn out shock absorbers.

Step 1: Park your car on a level surface and loosen the lug nuts of the respective wheels. Secure the vehicle using ramps and/or jack stands. 

Step 2: Remove the wheels and locate the faulty shock absorber.

Step 3: Spray the shock mountings with metal cleaner. This will help you remove the bushings easily.

Step 4: Use a ratchet and socket to remove the shock bolts. Then turn the socket and ratchet counterclockwise to unfasten the bolts. Use penetrating fluid to grease the bolts if you face any difficulty. 

Step 5: Use a nut splitter or a socket set to disengage the nut connecting the shock to the suspension, and remove it from the bolt. Follow the same process to remove the nut at the top.

Step 6: Remove the shock absorber from the top and bottom bolts by wiggling it around. 

Step 7: Screw in the new shock back onto the suspension control arm.

Step 8: Screw the bolts back tightly. Follow the service manual for specified torque before you tighten anything.

Step 9: Repeat steps 1 to 8 for the other faulty shock absorbers.

Reason 4: Faulty Shock Springs

When there is a problem with the shock springs, the vehicle’s suspension system is weakened. Consequently, the impact of weight falls upon the rear tires. The weight distribution and balance is thus disrupted, causing the tires to wear unevenly, like only on the inner side.

You can identify bad shock springs from the following symptoms

1. Sharp vehicle sagging
2. Excessive noise from under your vehicle
3. Abrupt and uncontrollable bouncing of vehicle upon hitting bumps

Solution: Replace Faulty Shock Springs

You can get your shock springs replaced at any auto repair shop or from a mobile mechanic. Depending on the make and model of your car, the cost may vary. Nonetheless, on average, it can be quite expensive, ranging from $1,340 to $3,750 for parts and $95 to $285 for labor. 

Replacing Faulty Shock Springs By Yourself

Here are steps for you to follow if you decide to replace your faulty shock springs by yourself. 

Step 1: Make sure the battery is disconnected from power.

Step 2: Locate the spring attached to the lower control arm and a top bushing mount on the body.

Step 3: Raise the rear end of the vehicle and place it on jack stands. 

Step 4: Use an impact wrench and socket or star wrench and remove the tire with faulty shock springs.

Step 5: Place your jack stand underneath the lower control arm and crank it up. Do this until you see the spring beginning to compress slowly.

Step 6: Remove the lower control arm bolt.

Step 7: Lower the control arm and remove the spring.

Step 8: Place the new spring inside the lower control arm. Insert the lower spring into the same bracket on the lower control arm. 

Step 9: Position a jack under the lower control arm and start to jack upwards slowly. 

Step 10: Raise the jack til the lower control arm is at level with the lower control arm bushing.

Step 11: Insert the lower control arm bolt and tighten the nut on the back side. 

Step 12: Tighten the lower control arm bolt as per the recommended torque.

Step 13: Finish by reinstalling the tire. 

Reason 5: Damaged Control Arm Bushings

Control arm bushings are the rubberized sleeves or linings in your car that help reduce friction and vibration at mechanical joints. When these are damaged, the car experiences more vibration and shaking, thus incurring uneven tire wear. 

Solution: Replace Control Arm Bushings

You can choose to get this issue fixed at a mechanic for $242 to $299 for replacement. You can also opt for the more cost-effective solution, replacing the control arm bushings yourself. 

Replacing Control Arm Bushings By Yourself

Despite being the cost saving option, replacing control arm bushings by yourself is a cumbersome job. It is best to take your car to a mechanic for this. If you still want to give it a go by yourself, you can watch the video below for guidance.

Useful Tips for Preventing Inner Tire Wear

If you have read so far, you already know the underlying causes of inner tire wear. 

Evidently, fixing these causating problems can be difficult in terms of money and time. 

Therefore, it is important you take proper care of your car to prevent such issues from happening. Here are some steps you can take to ensure that.

1. Replacing or repairing damaged suspension components when needed
2. Ensuring proper wheel alignment
3. Maintaining appropriate wheel balancing
4. Ensuring proper tire inflation
5. Regular checking of tire tread depth and wear

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

That sums up all the possible answers to your query: How to fix inner tire wear. Finding out the underlying reasons behind inner tire wear and their fixes can be both tiresome and tricky. 

We hope the tips and fixes we put up for your article will help you keep your vehicle in check. All the best!