Well, well, well, you’re ready to hit the road. Bags are packed, cooler is in the back seat, and everyone’s piling into your vehicle when all of a sudden you noticed how bald your tires. Oh man! I get it, I have been there and it’s a big damper on the trip. But, you should always be checking on the health of your tires – after all, it is part of being a vehicle owner. So, how do you know that your tire tread is roadway acceptable or not? Relax, we got you covered! This week we have your guide to check your tire’s tread and all you need is a penny or quarter or actually nothing at all if you don’t have those! Check it out below and head over to our page to snag a new set of tires so you’re not making a pit stop before hitting the road for your summer trips!
Here’s How To Check The Tread –
The penny test: Insert a penny right into the tread groove with Lincoln’s head facing upside down in the tread facing toward you. Once the penny is inserted, if you can see the entire head, your tread depth is less than 2/32” and that means you need to replace your tires ASAP.
The quarter test: As we did before, place the quarter upside down into the tread groove with Washington’s head facing toward you. If the tread reaches Washington’s head, you have at least 4/32” of tread remaining, AKA you’re tires are still in good shape and there’s nothing to worry about!
No change? No problem! Take a look at your tread wear indicator bar that is molded onto the tread of your tires. These bars are found at the bottom of the tread grooves in multiple spots. When these bars are visibly flush with the adjacent ribs, your tire has no more than 2/32” of tread left. This is a visible indication that you need new tires for your vehicle!
Monitor your tread depth closely once it reaches 4/32 inch deep.
- 4/32” or deeper = good tread
- 3/32” = replace tires soon
- 2/32” = replace tires now
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