It is, to be honest, unpleasant to see one of your tires burning every time you step out of the car after a little ride. Regardless of what is causing the problem, it is exceedingly risky to drive a vehicle that burns tires under regular driving conditions. Therefore you should not put off visiting a repair shop. Yet, the problem can just be a driver’s mistake.
The most common sources of tire smoke and burnt rubber odor while driving include worn-out wheel bearings, blocked calipers, and objects grinding on the tire. On the lighter side, the car may just need a tire alignment, or you may not have fully depressed the hand brake.
How to Fix Tire Smoke and What Causes It
Stuck Brakes
Your brakes are likely stuck, which is the most probable cause of your tires burning. Because of this, one tire may spin more slowly than the other, causing you to slide on the ground. It is also possible that the wheel and brakes are overheating, which would fry the tire.
However, the subject of why the brakes are seized is more challenging. A seized brake caliper that does not return when you remove the brake is one of the causes. And either a seized brake caliper piston or a rusted brake caliper slider is to fault for it.
In the first example, a simple cleaning will only cost you roughly $50 to repair it. But if the piston is stuck, you will probably require new calipers, costing between $100 and $250 in repairs.
A blocked master cylinder or a defective ABS control module are examples of further reasons. On average, $300 is spent on labor and materials for a master cylinder replacement. A new ABS control module may cost between $300 and $800. However, buying a secondhand one from a reputable source is best for considerably less. The labor expenditures alone come to roughly $150, bringing the total to $300 to $950.
Wheel Bearing Seizing
A faulty wheel bearing may be risky because the wheel will separate from the vehicle if it fails. Also, if a wheel bearing is smoking the tires, it is hanging on by a thread because it is causing the wheel to seize and stop or to sit sideways.
Fortunately, given how much harm a worn-out wheel bearing can do, repairing it is not costly. Repairsmith.com estimates that the cost of replacement is between $150 and $800 for materials and labor, but unless you drive a brand-new Mercedes-Benz, the cost is unlikely to exceed $250 at most.
Something is rubbing against the tire.
Even though the above reasons are somewhat terrifying, it might be as simple as a loose wheel well liner. The lining of the wheel wells is often composed of hard plastic, which may seriously harm a fast-spinning tire.
But the check starts with looking at the tire to see whether there are any scratches. If you do discover any, it will be quite simple to identify the source by aligning the scratch with all the projecting pieces surrounding it. You could even discover tire prints in some parts, which would simplify it.
However, the best course of action is to have the automobile inspected at a repair facility where they can place it on a two-post lift and have a far greater chance of identifying the problem. It is difficult to estimate the cost to correct this problem since several components might fail, but let us suppose that $50 to $100 should not be too far off.
The Hand Brake Is On
While every vehicle has a hand brake warning light, and most modern cars have loud sirens if you start the engine while it is on, both systems depend on a basic on-off switch prone to malfunction. We get overheated wheels and a cooked tire when we combine a bad safety switch with a hand brake that is not down and produces friction.
Even if it seems a bit unlikely, it is important to inspect if you just realized that the tire is burning. It would not be a terrible idea to get your tires checked out just in case, and if it turns out, such was the case, that is.
Bad Wheel Alignment
An additional improbable but potentially conceivable reason is a faulty wheel alignment. But, you would have probably seen other signs if the tires were out of alignment to cause smoldering tires. Tire noises, rattling, shaking, the vehicle tugging to one side, and a misaligned steering wheel are a few of these.
Even if it is not the reason, you should still get your vehicle aligned and have the suspension looked at if any of those boxes are present. The price of a wheel alignment ranges from $50 to $150, but because the short check only takes a few minutes, it generally will not cost anything. The braking system is most likely to blame if alignment does not resolve the issue and the suspension is in good condition.
What Takes Place When Brakes Stick?
Even after you let off the brake pedal, the brake pads will continue to rub on the brake disc when the brakes are stuck. You can sense the automobile trembling, buzzing, or pulling to one side when it occurs. A stuck brake may also result in a wheel lockup that will result in a possibly fatal collision.
Are Grinding Brakes Safe to Use While Driving?
Driving while your brakes are grinding is not acceptable. Grinding brakes indicate worn brake pads, which will dramatically lengthen the stopping distance. Also, continuing to drive would further harm the vehicle, and it is not worth it, given that a brake pad replacement costs between $80 and $100.
Can a Vehicle Be Driven with a Bad Wheel Bearing?
Technically, driving with a bad wheel bearing is possible. Nevertheless, the only part keeping the wheel affixed to the car is the wheel bearing, and if it breaks, the wheel will come off while you are driving. Therefore, do not drive if your wheel bearing is damaged; repair it as soon as possible.
How can you tell if your wheel bearings need replacement?
Audible signs of a faulty wheel bearing include humming, grinding, and growling. Also, the noise will become louder as you go faster or move a certain way.
How often should wheel bearings be changed?
While there is no fixed maintenance plan for wheel bearings, ideally, you should replace them every 100,000 miles. If you do not like the sound of that, however, just replace them when they begin to make noise or have your car examined regularly.
How Often Should I Have My Alignment Done?
An alignment should be performed about every 10,000 miles. But bear in mind that running into a large pothole or a curb might cause the front wheels to get out of alignment, necessitating an earlier repair.
What Roles Do an ABS Module?
How much braking force should be applied to each wheel is decided and controlled by an ABS module. The brake pedal, steering wheel angle, and wheel speed sensors are all inputs used by the module. Moreover, it independently performs diagnostic tests on the ABS from the ECU (engine control unit).
How does a switch for a hand brake work?
Under the hand brake, there is a straightforward on/off switch called the hand brake switch. When the hand brake is applied, a plastic arm that protrudes from the switch is pushed in, and the switch is turned off. The switch arm then emerges and activates the warning light when you use the hand brake.
Conclusion
The key lesson to be learned from this article is to avoid driving your car and get it examined as soon as possible since there are too many risks involved in operating a vehicle with smoking tires. Nonetheless, the reasons might be as simple as a hand brake left up or a piece of loose plastic rubbing against the tires.
Sticking brakes (caused by seized brake calipers or a defective ABS module), worn-out wheel bearings, and misaligned wheels are the riskier and more common reasons.