Tires: Tire wear, proper inflation pressure, alignment specs

Question
I own a 1987 mitsubishi van. My front tires are wearing on the inside treads on both front tires. Is this normal or is my front end out of alignment? Should the tire wear evenly?

Answer
Richard,

Provided the vehicle is properly aligned, the tires are properly inflated, the tires are rotated frquently, then tires should wear evenly.

1)  Alignment - Most vehicle manufacturers publish alignment tolerances that are IMHO too wide by half.  In some cases, the alignment specs do not cover unusual opertaing conditions, such as frequent turning, which is when most tire wear occurs.

2)  Inflation - Look for the placard on your vehicle.  The placard, among many things, tells the original tire size and the proper inflation pressure for that size.  The placard is usually located on a doorpost or in the glove box.

I like to use 3 to 5 psi above the placard.  I get better fuel economy, better tire wear, better wet traction, better snow traction, better steering response, better tire durability, and only give up a bit of ride harshness.

3)  Rotation - Every wheel position has its own unique wear characteristic.  Rotating the tires, which should be done every 5,000 to 8,000 miles, prevents this from become too pronounced to the point where it causes a problem, such as irregular wear.

Hope this helps.