A tie rod is a device used in an automobile's steering system, transferring force from the center steering link to the wheel. Tie rods that have become worn or damaged will often cause a tire to wear prematurely.
Through years of use, the tie rods will develop play or slack from wear. This slack allows the wheels to move from side to side, which will result in added stress to the tires and cause the tires to wear quickly. When a car is sitting level, wheels rocked from side to side should show no play,; any play in the wheels may indicate worn tie rods.
Tie rods may become bent or otherwise damaged from trauma such as an auto accident or driving over an object in the roadway. When the tie rod bends, its length changes, which will misalign one of the wheels (cause it to pull to one side).
Two types of tire wear patterns typically indicate a tie rod problem, one of which is tire feathering. Check for tire feathering by rubbing a hand from side to side over the tire; a feathered tread will feel smooth in one direction and rough in the other.
Tires that have become worn on one side and not the other may also indicate a tie rod problem.
