Updated on March 20, 2023
Seeing one of your tires smoking every time you get out after a short trip is unnerving, to say the least, and rightfully so. Regardless of what’s causing the issue, driving a car that burns tires during normal driving is extremely dangerous, and you should not postpone a trip to a repair shop. That said, the cause could be just an innocent driver error.
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If your tires are smoking and you can smell burning rubber while driving, the main causes include stuck brake calipers, worn-out wheel bearings, or something grinding against the tire. But on a lighter note, maybe you didn’t put the hand brake all the way down, or the car just needs a wheel alignment.
What Can Cause Tire Smoke & How to Fix It
Stuck Brakes
The most likely reason why your tires are smoking is that one of your brakes is stuck. Because of that, it could be that one tire is spinning slower than the speed you are moving, thus sliding on the ground, or that the wheel is overheated together with the brakes and is cooking the tire.
But why the brakes are seized is a more complicated question. One of the reasons is a seized brake caliper that’s not returning when you release the brake. And that’s either caused by a rusty brake caliper slider or a seized brake caliper piston.
In the first case, you are looking at about $50 to fix it since all it needs is a bit of cleaning. However, if the piston is seized, you will most likely need a new caliper which will result in a $100 to $250 repair bill.
Other causes include a sticking master cylinder or a faulty ABS control module. A master cylinder replacement with labor and parts included is $300 on average. A new ABS control module is anywhere between $300 and $800, but you are better off getting a used one for much less from a trusted seller. Add that labor costs of about $150, and we get to a total of $300 to $950.
Seizing Wheel Bearing
A worn-out wheel bearing can be extremely dangerous because if it fails, the affected wheel will break off from the car. And if a wheel bearing is causing the tires to smoke, it means it’s hanging on by a thread since it’s making the wheel seize and brake or making the wheel sit sideways.
Luckily, replacing a wheel bearing isn’t that expensive, considering how much damage it can cause. According to repairsmith.com, the replacement cost is between $150 and $800 for parts and labor, but unless you are driving the latest Mercedes-Benz, the cost likely won’t cross $250, if that.
Something Is Grinding Against the Tire
Although the previous causes are pretty scary, maybe it’s something as simple as a loose wheel well lining. The wheel well lining is more often than not made of hard plastic, which can cause a lot of damage to a fast-spinning tire.
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But the first step in the inspection is to check the tire and notice if there are any scratching marks. And if you find any, it will be pretty easy to figure out what’s causing it just by lining up the scratch with all the protruding parts around it. You may even find tire marks on certain components, making it even easier.
Still, the best course of action is to take the car to a repair shop for inspection, where they can put the vehicle on a two-post lift and have a much better chance of finding the culprit. As for the cost of fixing this issue, it’s hard to say because a lot of things can come loose but let’s say that $50 to $100 shouldn’t be too far off.
The Hand Brake Is On
Even though every car has a hand brake warning light, and most newer cars have loud alarms if you start driving while it’s on, both systems rely on a simple on-off switch that can fail. Combine a faulty safety switch with a hand brake that’s not all the way down and is just barely making friction, and we get overheating wheels and a cooked tire.
While this is a little far-fetched, it’s worth double-checking in case you have only just noticed that the tire is smoking. And if it turns out that was the case, it’s not a bad idea to have your tires inspected just in case.
Bad Wheel Alignment
A bad wheel alignment is another unlikely cause, but still possible. However, in order for the tires to be so out of alignment to result in smoking tires, you will have likely noticed other symptoms as well. Some of those include squealing tires, rattling and shaking, the car pulling to one side, and a crooked steering wheel.
But if you check some of those boxes, you should take your car in for an alignment even if it’s not the cause, and while you are there, have the suspension inspected. A wheel alignment costs between $50 and $150, and the quick inspection will probably be free since it only takes a couple of minutes. In the end, if the alignment doesn’t fix it and the suspension is in order, it’s more than likely something to do with the brake system.
What Happens When Your Brakes Stick?
When the brakes stick, the brake pads will grind against the brake disc even when you release the brake pedal. When that happens, you may notice the car pull to one side, shaking or humming. A sticking brake can also cause the affected wheel to lock up, which will end in a potentially life-threatening accident.
Is It Ok to Drive With Grinding Brakes?
No, it’s not ok to drive with grinding brakes. Grinding brakes mean the brake pads are worn out, and that will increase the stopping distance significantly. Moreover, you will cause even more damage to the car if you keep driving, and it’s not worth it, considering that a brake pad replacement costs $80 to $100.
Can You Drive a Car With a Bad Wheel Bearing?
Technically yes, you can drive with a bad wheel bearing. However, the wheel bearing is the only component holding the wheel attached to the vehicle, and if it fails, the wheel will break off while you are driving. So, avoid driving with a bad wheel bearing and get it fixed as soon as you can.
How Do You Know If Your Wheel Bearings Are Bad?
A bad wheel bearing will produce very distinctive sounds like humming, grinding, or growling. Plus, the noise will increase with speed or when you turn in a specific direction.
How Often Should Wheel Bearings Be Replaced?
Although wheel bearings don’t have a set service schedule, ideally, you should replace them every 100,000 miles. But if you don’t like the sound of that, replace them only when they start making noises or have your vehicle inspected periodically.
How Often Should I Get an Alignment?
Ideally, you should get an alignment every 10,000 miles or so. However, keep in mind that hitting a big pothole or a curb can throw the front wheels out of alignment, in which case you will have to get it sooner.
What Does an ABS Module Do?
An ABS module determines and controls how much braking pressure should go to each individual wheel. The module takes inputs from wheel speed sensors, the brake pedal, and in modern cars, the steering wheel angle. It also runs diagnostic checks of the ABS system independently from the ECU (engine control unit).
How Does a Handbrake Switch Work?
The hand brake switch is a simple on-and-off switch that sits under the hand brake. The switch has a plastic arm coming out of it, and when the hand brake is down, it pushes the arm in and turns the switch off. Then when you pull the hand brake, the switch arm comes out and lights up the warning light.
Conclusion
In the end, the main takeaway of this article is to avoid driving your car and have it inspected as soon as you can because the dangers of driving a car in which something is causing the tires to smoke are too serious. But even so, the causes may be something as simple as a hand brake that you forgot to put down or a loose plastic cover grinding against the tires.
The more dangerous and more likely causes include sticking brakes (seized brake calipers or a faulty ABS module), worn-out wheel bearings, or the wheels being out of alignment.
Here are some articles that might interest you:
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What Is the Recommended Tire Pressure for 51 PSI Max?
Source: https://t-tees.com
Category: WHY
