How and Why to Check Your Tire Tread

Check your vehicle’s tire tread to steer your way to safety.

Are you one of those motorists that only gets the tires checked when the car is in for a tune up? If so, it’s time to start checking tire tread more regularly. Tire tread ensures that we stay safe on the road by gripping the surface. In short, tires allow us to steer accurately, prevent hydroplaning on wet roads, and brake effectively. Without safe tire tread, the chances of accidents, incidents, and vehicle damage skyrockets.

In the United States, tire tread depth is measured in 32nds of an inch. When your tires reach 2/32”, the U.S. Department of Transportation recommends replacing them. Before you get out the tape measure, the simplest trick in the book is to perform the penny test that allows you to check whether you’ve hit the 2/32” threshold.

• Place a penny between the tread ribs on your tire. (The rib is the raised portion of tread that spans the circumference of your tire.)
• Turn the penny so that Lincoln’s head points down into the tread.
• Look at eye level to see if the top of his head disappears between the ribs. If it does, your tread is still above 2/32”. If you can see his entire head, it may be time to replace your tires as the tread is no longer deep enough.
• Check each tire and various places around each tire. Pay special attention to areas that look the most worn.

Another indicator of a worn-out tread already lives in your tire themselves. Every commercial tire comes with an indication bar embedded between the tread ribs at 2/32”. If the tread is flush with the indicator bars, it’s time to get a new set of wheels.

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