\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. D. the tires are overinflated, What is the purpose of tire rotation This can lead to dangerous driving conditions that can cause concerns when turning and cornering, potentially putting your safety at risk. From the bottom of a quarter to Washingtons head is actually 4/32. As much as The Drive loves to put the "you" in do-it-yourself, we know that not everyone has the proper tools, a safe workspace, the spare time, or the confidence to tackle major automotive repairs. Pay attention to how your brakes sound and feel. vehicle, write down the following highlighted numbers located on Research source, Tip: If you arent sure how old your tires are but they were made after 2000, look for a string of embossed letters and numbers printed directly on the tire. Take a penny and place it in multiple grooves around your tires. Checking a tires tread depth is so easy that you could literally do it every single time you get into your car without really altering your life or disturbing any of your plans. [15] Fast, free online quotes for your car repair. Thats twice the distance it takes brand-new tires to come to a complete stop, given the same starting conditions. Were committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Hey, were cautious, but not that cautious. If your tire has worn down until flush with any of the tread wear indicator bars, its time to replace it, even if the tread is still higher than the indicator bars elsewhere on the tire. Put the base of the tread depth gauge on top of two tread blocks. 4 June 2021. and see if the tire needs replacing. Would you like to see tires for this TRAILER or start a new search? Tire tread depth gauges are available at many gas stations, and some drivers like to keep one in the glove compartment for easy access. Start entering the first number as highlighted below. The correct size information is important for accurate results. What is the actual dimension for the tread? B. tires stop the car Step 2: Check the sidewall for cuts or protruding objects. Compare the tread depths to determine if they appear the same. Yes, your tires are perfectly good to drive on at this depth. If you can see the metal or fabric strands used to reinforce the inner part of your tire, you need to have your tires replaced immediately. The most common of several methods for taking this measurement are: checking tread wear indicator bars, using the penny test, or measuring with a tire tread depth gauge. Tire buying, simplified. If youre an aggressive driver, this can cause your treads to wear down even faster. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We're here to help. Tires are, without a doubt, one of the most important parts of a car. from each edge and the depth of the center tread. *Quotes may not be available in all states or for all products. A tread depth gauge is a useful tool to find out exactly how much tread you have left. Explore the world of Goodyear racing. D. the tire provides better traction on the road, If your tires show signs of uneven wear, this shows that Tire Guides and Advice that make the Grade. Canadians shouldnt have to worry about crossing the border for a penny or a quarter. Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 288,767 times. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. 800-667-8138 Hours: We recommend our users to update the browser. Having a sufficient tread depth is important to ensuring the safest possible driving experience. C. to place tires in different positions for even wear C. tires are the only contacts to the road You Should Check the Tire Tread Every: 9 Months, 12 Months. Wear bars eliminate the need to use a measuring device but offer even less precision and are really meant to let you know when youve reached the minimum amount of tread remaining. Another option is using an indicator bar that's molded into most tires. Send us your receipts, photos, invoices and more with just a push of a button. Read more. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Why Do I Keep Getting Flat Tires On My Car? Measure in multiple areas around the tire, as tires can wear unevenly. These wear bars are 2/32 in height which equals the legal minimum depth in most states. Step 2: Use the penny to check tread depth around the tire. Learn the numerous points of safety inspections with our. What does that mean? The use of pictures helped improve my understanding of the correct process. The distance from the edge of the coin to the top of Lincolns head is about 2/32, which is the minimum tread depth you can safely have on your tires. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. Checking your tire treads with U.S. currency is about as easy as you can get. Copyright 2023 Pirelli & C. S.p.A. - Pirelli Tyre S.p.A, The relationship between tire tread and stopping distance, How to best maintain tires to optimize tread depth, COOKIE POLICY (Do not sell my personal information). As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. According to Continental Tires, the average tread depth of a new tire is about 10/32 to 11/32 of an inch, or about 8 to 9 millimeters. Tire failure can result from operating on such a tire. Howard is often referred to as The Car Guy for local TV stations and is a regular on TVs Channel 3 Sunday, Good Morning Arizona monthly. Please see our. Flip it so that Lincolns head is still facing you, but the top of his head is at the bottom of the coin. Learn how to measure your car's tire tread depth with the tire tread penny test. Rapporto PMI Centro-Nord 2016. * How often should you check the tire pressure of all your tires? All you need to do is insert the pin (middle part of the gauge) into the tread. Step 6: Note any inconsistent measurements between all four of your tires. However, in many cases a tire with a tread depth of 2/32nds of an inch will take nearly twice as long to stop on a wet roadway as a new tire with full tread depth. owners, Over 25,000 topics, from beginner tips to technical If youre in need of a new set, buy your new tires online today. Howard specializes in full-service auto repair and tire replacement and care for domestic/imported vehicles and large trucks. It's what grips the road when you drive. Technology, performance and design delivered to your inbox. Let Goodyear tire professionals help you find out what your tire size is. Enjoy! In other words, your penny should be going into the tread headfirst! If you have a penny or a quarter, youre in luck. B. the driver turns corners too fast Let air out of the tire by pressing on the valve stem needle if the pressure is too high. Youll notice a common theme with most tires. Goodyear suggests checking your tire tread depth every 3,000 mi. Place your penny into a tread groove upside down. Depending on how much you drive, you likely only need to check tire tread once or twice a month. Then, inspect the last 4 numbers in this row. Items puncturing the tire may actually leak very slowly because the puncture is plugged with the object, though it still needs to be replaced very soon. Measure the tread depth about 1 in. If your tires tread is too shallow to be safe or you have other questions about your tires or tread, contact your nearest tire dealer. Match tires to my states public vehicle records. Goodyear.com. Show chat. D. tires steer the car, * Which tire condition is one of the main causes of using excess fuel? Step 2: Use the penny to check tread depth around the tire. What Conditions Are Bad for a Car Air Filter? Can You Add Air To Nitrogen-Filled Tires? If Lincoln's head fits between the tread patterns, that means you still have more than 1/16 of an inch of the tire tread remaining. Research source, Level up your tech skills and stay ahead of the curve. On a quarter, the distance between the top of George Washingtons hair and the tip of the quarter is 432in (0.32cm), which gives you an extra 232in (0.16cm) of breathing room. Its common to see fine cracks forming either between the tread blocks or on the sidewalls, but it should never expose the cords or leak air. Place the toonie in the tread with the bear facing you. When you have performed a tire safety check a few times, it will only take a few seconds per tire to check tread depth and make sure your tires are wearing evenly. A regular car maintenance routine can help protect the value and safety of your car. Last Updated: October 7, 2021 Check three or more spots around the tire with a penny to make sure the tread is wearing evenly. Holding the penny this way, insert the penny so that Lincolns head goes into the groove of your tire. Car symbols, or dashboard lights, are a car service reminder. when you can see the top of Lincoln's head. The first 2 digits are the week and the last 2 digits are the year that your tire was manufactured. For a few dollars, a dial tread depth gauge is a handy tool, very accurate, and extremely easy to read and use. Most tire experts suggest that you should change your tires well before the legally required minimum tread depth. You should be looking at an upside-down Lincoln. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. If Lincolns head is partially or fully covered by the tire tread, your tire has enough tread to drive safely. Enter the third number on your tire's sidewall as highlighted below. Check your local laws to make sure youre not violating any codes when using the street because we arent getting your ride out of the clink. Please dont have your kid hand you a blowtorchEd.). Step 2: Check the sidewall for cracking. Holding the tool, read the indicator gauge and see which number is visible. Do You Need To Rotate Tires Every 5000 Miles? Your tire tread is an essential component of that critical bond between your vehicle's tires and the road. As a best practice, you should check the tread on each tire every 3,000 miles or once it reaches 4/32 of an inch deep. If these are some of the concerns youve had, check out these questions that people also ask about how to check tire tread and general tire tread information. Hold it in the same way so that Washingtons face is facing you and hes upside-down. First, grab a penny and insert it into your tire's tread groove with Lincoln's head upside down and facing you. This indicates at least 2/32 of an inch of tread depth remains on your tire. A penny will tell you if your tread is approaching a dangerous thickness. Although the penny test was the gold standard for checking tire treads in the past, sentiment has somewhat shifted toward the quarter test. New tires come with tread depths of about 10/32 of an inch, you need to understand what 50 percent means. You'll now receive special savings and expert tire tips. Why Is My Tire Pressure Light Still On After Filling Tires? For uniformity reasons, its best to replace all of your tires at the same time if you can. - reduces excessive steering - helps protect the driver from airbag injuries - improves vehicle stability Driving with the hands in the 8 o'clock and 4 o'clock position D. the driver is constantly braking hard, * If a driver feels vibration of the car when the car is moving 2022Recurrent Ventures. Legally, the minimum tread depth is going to vary from state to state: When your treads get down to 2/32, your stopping distance increases by 100% when panic braking on wet roads. wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. This is roughly, When the penny is right-side up, Lincolns eyes are roughly, For the quarter test, so long as the rubber meets George Washingtons forehead, youre good. The graduated probe has a thin, retractable rod, a perpendicular foot, and a cylinder with measurements marked on it. Made with in Silicon Valley. For the sake of convenience, always keep a quarter or a penny in your cars cup holder, ashtray, or center console. If your tread depth reads 2/32 inches of less, it's time to replace your tires. Most experts and mechanics agree that 2/32 of an inch is the shallowest a tread can be while still maintaining reasonably safe traction. Go behind the speeds. Witness the hard work, determination and drive it takes to rise above the competition. If you can always see the top of his head, your tire is worn . Keep in mind, even if your tires pass . Determine the number of significant figures in each measurement. Step 1: Find the proper tire pressure for your vehicle. This rule has been questioned throughout time, however, and AAA now suggests a different standard. For example, if your tire has 2415, it was made on the 24th week of 2015. Thankfully, a U.S. quarter has a distance of roughly 4/32 of an inch from the edge to the top of Washingtons head. You are leaving Goodyear.com, and are being directed to a website run by a company other than Goodyear. The difference in wet braking distance between a tyre worn to .