Why are my BMW 4 Series tires wearing unevenly, or the steering wheel off center?

Short answer: Early rear tire wear on a 4 Series usually comes from alignment and no rotation. A slightly off-center steering wheel can be road crown or alignment.

Symptom: Rear tires are worn on the inside, or the steering wheel sits slightly off center.

What to check first

1. Check tire wear patterns.
2. Get a four-wheel alignment.
3. Rotate tires if the tire type allows.
4. Test on a flat road.

Likely causes

1. Alignment out of spec. BMWs use aggressive alignment angles. When off, inner tire edges wear fast.
2. No tire rotation. Not rotating lets rear tires wear faster.
3. Road crown or caster. Roads slope for drainage; a slight steering wheel angle can come from that or from caster settings.

What it usually costs

Owners didn't post prices.

Is it safe to keep driving?

Bald tires are dangerous, especially in rain. Replace them.

DIY or shop?

Pressure and rotation are DIY; alignment needs a shop.

Recalls, bulletins and complaints in plain words

• Recalls: NHTSA lists 13 recall(s) for the BMW 4 Series in these years, and none match this problem. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. If your car is part of a recall, the dealer fixes it for free.
• Plain words: The complaint count below shows how often owners reported problems that mention these words to NHTSA. A count is not proof of a defect.
• NHTSA complaints: 57 keyword-matched complaints for BMW 4 Series 2014–2020 (of 277 unique complaints queried, NHTSA complaints API by model year, queried 2026-10-28; keywords: tire, wear, alignment, steering, pull, off center). This counts complaints that mention these words. It is not a defect finding.

What owners report

• In 2016 BMW 428i uneven tire wear on Car Talk, a 2016 428i xDrive's rear tires were bald at 31,000 miles. Members pointed to rotation and alignment.
• In BMW 440i GC steering wheel slightly to the left on Car Talk, a 440i Gran Coupe owner noticed the steering wheel slightly left. Members mentioned road crown and caster settings.

Quick tip

Alignment checks pay for themselves on BMWs.

Vehicle focus: BMW 4 Series (428i, 440i), 2014-2020.

Safety / mechanic note

Bald tires are a crash risk. Verify with a mechanic.