“Why do new car tires wear out so fast?” is a question that may have crossed your mind when you noticed this. Well, you’re not the only one, as this phenomenon baffles many drivers. 
Fortunately, we’ve done some digging and discovered what causes new tires to grind away faster than expected. Read to the end to discover ways to fix this issue and lengthen tire life.
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Why Do New Car Tires Wear Out Faster?
New car tires wear out faster because they are made from softer rubber materials than the ones bought from the store. The new tires can grip the road better, but this also causes them to wear out faster as they can’t withstand the harsher road conditions during regular driving.
Other reasons new car tires grind away faster is due to bad driving habits, tire misalignments, tire rotations and tire pressure.
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New Tires Made From Softer Rubber Materials
These are tires made by car companies and differ from those produced by tire shops. These tires are manufactured from softer rubber compounds, just like winter tires, and are sold in dealerships. This beats the price of the car and enables the dealership to sell them.
If the dealerships buy the tires from a tire shop, it will spike the price of the car. Thus, the dealerships will have a hard time selling the cars. Also, the new tires grip better than the ones from the shop, which is used as a marketing ploy to get you to buy the car.
During the test drive, you’ll discover that the car has a better grip and responds quickly to your inputs. If it’s a sporty coupe, it’ll go around the bends pretty smoothly, and if it is a sedan, it won’t skid easily.
However, the downside of these tires is that they will wear quicker than the store tires, as explained earlier. The soft nature of the rubber means that it can’t withstand the rigors and stress tires go through during regular driving. Before long, the tires erode, forcing you to get the “stronger” ones from the tire shop. The only way to fix this problem is by replacing the tires, which we’ll soon describe in detail.
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Driving Habits That Cause the Tires to Wear
Driving a car more aggressively can make the tire wear out faster. Though this might sound weird, it happens, and you might do it unconsciously. Whenever you purchase a new car, you feel tempted to test the vehicle to its limits, which includes aggressive driving. You test the brakes, steering wheel, and speed, which involves the wheels. 
You even drive on different terrain and weather conditions to test how the car will perform. “Normal” driving only resumes when you’re conversant with the car’s limits, but your new tires will be worn out by then. There’s no way around this issue because you have to know what the car can handle and its limits. This can be the difference in a life and death situation.
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Wrong Wheel Alignment
A bad wheel alignment isn’t common in a new car, but it does happen. This doesn’t mean the dealership sold you a bad car, but they may have made a mistake when fixing the wheels.
After all, the most perfect systems have days when everything goes south. When you align the wheels wrongly, one or two tires will be moving at a slightly different angle than the other. This causes the tires to wear unevenly because the car’s weight goes to one side of the tire instead of being evenly spread. You’ll notice that your tire has a slightly torn and rough appearance.
Also, when wheels are wrongly aligned, it increases the frictional force exerted on car tires, making them less fuel efficient. The driving wheel becomes more difficult to turn as the tire wears out.
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Driving With a Wrong Tire Pressure
Driving with incorrect tire pressures leads to premature wear. Tires are made to fit several models of a particular vehicle; thus, you can deflate or inflate to suit driving conditions. The tire pressure rate for your vehicle is usually indicated on the door’s sticker.
Tire inflation done below the normal range will put excess pressure on the rubber and the tire treads. The heat generated by the frictional force between the tire and the road causes heat to build up in the tire. When the tire overheats, it can blow out.
That is why you should ensure that all tires are inflated to the right pressures before driving them. You can also fit a tire pressure monitoring system to warn you when your tire pressure exceeds the normal range.
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Failure to Rotate Your Tires
This might sound silly, but failing to rotate all four tires can cause premature wearing. Many people think tires wear out evenly, but that might not be the case. They wear out based on their functions and the pressure they bear individually.
For instance, in front-wheel drive, more pressure is exerted on the wheels in front as they pull along the ones behind. The front wheels are the first to move, negotiate a curve, and accelerate. Enduring all these forces will definitely take a toll on the front tires. Thus, constantly rotating the tires will ensure they wear out evenly, lengthening their lifespan.
How To Fix New Car Tires That Wear Out So Fast
There’s no way to fix new tires that wear out fast except by replacing them.
Fortunately, replacing them is not too difficult and can be done in a few hours. However, you can take steps to slow down the wearing process in your new car, which we’ll talk about later.
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Fixing New Car Tires
First, pull up the hand brake and place wheel chocks under each wheel to prevent the vehicle from rolling away. If your wheels have plastic trims, remove them to access the bolts holding the tire in place. Loosen the nuts without removing them completely until the car is off the ground. Now, place jacks near each wheel and raise them till the tires are 10 – 15 cm off the ground.
Place some planks under each jack to stabilize them and completely remove the nuts. Once the nuts are off, pull the car tire gently till it comes off the wheel and place it on the ground. Repeat the same process for all the other tires and place them on the ground.
The next is to slide the tires onto the wheels and place each fastener in its place. Lower the vehicle slowly till each wheel touches the ground, then fasten the bolts to hold the tires firmly in place.
Lower your car further till it is firmly on the ground, and then remove the jack and planks. Check the new car tire’s pressure to ensure it falls in line with the prescribed pressure for your vehicle. Properly dispose of the worn-out tires according to local laws to avoid polluting the environment.
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How to Align Your Car Wheels
To realign your car wheels means that you’re adjusting the wheels’ angles so that they’re parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. Aligning your wheels ensures tire longevity and prevents the vehicle from swaying side-to-side. It also prevents them from wearing out faster. 
The procedure involves adjusting the caster, toes and camber located underneath the vehicle. The first step is to raise the vehicle with jack stands so that you can get under the car. Turn on the car without switching the engine on to enable you to move the steering wheel freely.
Examine each car wheel critically to see which one shifts slightly to the left or the right. If one is leaning towards the other, the outer rod is loose. If one tire is leaning away from the car’s center, the outer rod is too tight. Locate the screw that joins the outer to the inner rod and loosen it, enabling you to either loosen or tighten the tire rod. If a wheel faces the car’s center, tighten the tire rod by turning it clockwise.
However, if the wheel faces outward, turn the outer tire rod anti-clockwise to loosen it. Finally, turn the wheel straight, check if it is tilting left or right, and repeat the process on the rear tires.
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How To Inflate Your Car Tires at Home
To inflate your car tires at home, first park your vehicle on a level surface and remove each valve stem cap from the tires. Check each tire’s pressure with a tire gauge to ensure the right level.
Connect your air compressor and let out some air into the tire. If you don’t hear the air pressure entering the tire, the compressor may not be firmly connected to the tire valve stem.
Adjust the connection and try again until you can hear the sound. If you have overinflated tires, gradually release some of the air until you get the right pressure. Remember to replace the caps after you’re done.
Frequently Asked Questions
– Do Michelin Tires Grind Away Faster Than Other Tires?
No, Michelin tires don’t grind away faster than other tires. They usually last between 5 and 10 years, depending on how you drive.
The tires grip the road better, make less noise and provide better driving conditions. However, they are costly compared to other brands.
– How Long Do Tires Last on a New Car?
New car tires should last around 50,000 miles, but many factors could affect this figure. Factors such as the weight of the vehicle, the terrain, the climate, etc, could significantly shorten its lifespan. Regularly checking your tire pressure and topping up could also lengthen its lifespan. 
How Can I Prevent New Car Tires from Wearing Out Too Fast?
The causes and fixes for stubborn tire wear can help you prevent new car tires from wearing out too fast. Proper tire inflation, regular rotations, and alignment checks can significantly increase the lifespan of your tires.
Additionally, avoiding aggressive driving habits and maintaining the recommended tire pressure will greatly minimize premature wear and tear. Stay proactive in implementing these measures to ensure your vehicle’s tires last as long as possible.
Conclusion
So far, we’ve answered the question, “Why are OEM tires so bad?” and have discovered various ways to fix them. Here are the major takeaways from the article:
- New car tires grind away faster because they are made of soft rubber that can’t withstand the stress of regular driving.
- Car dealerships fit this type of tires as a marketing ploy because the tires have deeper tread depth; thus they grip better, and are cheaper.
- Aside from soft rubber compounds, other factors of premature wear in new tires include rough driving, wrongly aligning wheels, failure to rotate tires and incorrect tire pressure.
- The best way to fix the premature tread wear of new car tires is by replacing them with ones from tire stores, which are costly but durable.
- Also, you take measures to lengthen the new tires’ lifespan by driving carefully, aligning your wheels, regularly rotating all four wheels and driving with the right tire pressure.
You can replace the new tires or align your wheels by following the steps we indicated in the article, but contact a professional if you’re unsure what you’re doing. New tires should last about 50,000 miles, depending on how you drive, after which you should change them.
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