A. to even out the suspension of the car Step 3: Look for obvious bulges or bumps on your tire. Step 2: Use the penny to check tread depth around the tire. A. This image is not<\/b> licensed under the Creative Commons license applied to text content and some other images posted to the wikiHow website. B. use a quality tire gauge Theres little attention given to your vehicle aside from making sure theres enough fuel in the tank to get you where you need to go. A worn tire can be just as dangerous, or even more so, than one that is simply old. All you need to do is insert the pin (middle part of the gauge) into the tread. Can You Add Air To Nitrogen-Filled Tires? Push the gauge. We couldn't find this location in the U.S. Doing it any sooner will be premature, and will cause you to spend more money than you need to on tires (since youll be replacing them more often than you need). According to the tire industry, the average tread depth of a new tire can range from 10/32 to 11/32. After checking your tire pressure a few times, youll recall the right pressure by memory. Maintaining traction on wet road surfaces requires a reasonableamount of tire tread. Likewise, the U.S. Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards require all tires to be manufactured with a visual indicator allowing drivers to know when the tread has worn down to 2/32nds of an inch or less. Doing so will ensure you get an accurate tread depth measurement. If you can always see the top of his head, your tire is worn . If youre ready to choose your next set of tires, check out our Tire Finder. 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. Ensuring you have the proper pressure in your tires not only ensures you have a smooth ride and handling and optimum fuel economy but also provides the best traction possible. But it has been so long I forgot how to read the penny upside down to test. Doing so will ensure you get an accurate tread depth measurement. But what if you live in Canada or you have other questions about tire treads related to upkeep or safety. This image may not be used by other entities without the express written consent of wikiHow, Inc.
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\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. Check different parts around tire, and if any point fails the test, get new tires. One of the main functions of the grooves in tires is to push water or slush out from under it, or to bite into snow-packed roads, and shallow grooves do not do this job nearly as well as deeper ones. Kelsey's law requires that a driver on a level _____ License may not use their cell phone while One learners and two intermediate 22. Use an air compressor or simply let air out. For uniformity reasons, its best to replace all of your tires at the same time if you can. The penny test (shown below) is the easy way to check a tire treads depth when you dont have a depth gauge. Discover information and recommendations for reducing the roadway hazards brought by snow and ice. This will avoid uneven wear and tear on your vehicle. The wired editors at The Drive have driven thousands of cars and disintegrated hundreds of pounds of rubber, so were pretty familiar with the stuff. Keep in mind, even if your tires pass . Step 4: Check all four tires in the same fashion. Goodyear.com. Insert a quarter into your tread groove. refer to sticker on the driver's side door jam, if the recommended PSI is above the number on the gauge, add air until it reaches the recommended number. If youre in need of a new set, buy your new tires online today. How Fast Will Tires Wear With Bad Alignment? Approved. Use the penny to gauge the tread depth and wear on the remaining tires. 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). wikiHow marks an article as reader-approved once it receives enough positive feedback. C. scalloped tires If there is hissing from the valve stem as air leaks out, adjust the tire pressure gauge more squarely on the valve stem to seal it off. Howard specializes in full-service auto repair and tire replacement and care for domestic/imported vehicles and large trucks. Saturday: 9:00 am 6:00 pm EST (Post Purchase Support Only). Then, press down on the handle. 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. Check three or more spots around the tire with a penny to make sure the tread is wearing evenly. Directional tires may not have deep grooves that run around the entire circumference of the tire tread, but they will still have deep grooves as well as some smaller grooves to help improve grip. Tread depth will tell you whether or not you need to replace your tires to avoid dangerous loss of traction. Do Tires Need To Be Balanced When Rotated? The Penny Test. In the United States, tire tread is typically measured in 32nds of an inch. Because of the role that tire treads play in traction and safety, theyre an integral part of the safety of your vehicle. Looking for tire related content? In addition, you should repeat this test on all four tires, and you can check different parts of each tire to get a complete picture of the tire wear around your tires. How Often Should You Check Your Tire Tread? Keep in mind, if youre at the wear bars, its already time to replace your tires. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. This is because a tread with a depth of 4/32 of an inch is still relatively safe in snow, mud, and rainy weather. But as you can see in the video, even 2/32 of an inch of tire tread isnt a great idea. Proper tread allows your vehicle to gain traction and wick water away the tires. If all of Washingtons head is visible, your tread depth is less than 4/32 of an inch, and you should consider replacing your tires within the next few thousand miles. Place your penny into a tread groove upside down. to walk you through the process. How To Check Tire Tread by Yourself | The Drive D. underinflated tires, Tread wear indicators D. when the car is parked, If a driver needs to adjust the PSI in a tire, which is an action that should NEVER be done? Travelers and The Travelers Umbrella are registered trademarks of The Travelers Indemnity Company in the U.S. and other countries. 2023 The Travelers Indemnity Company. Hydroplaningcan occur even with new tires, but worn tires make it much more likely to occur at speeds as low as 35 mph or even lower. 2/32 is the point at which you must replace tires in most states. If your tire has a slow leak, this is likely due to a small hole being in it. 4 June 2021. and see if the tire needs replacing. Some gauges are needle-shaped, and a part extends to measure the tread depth. Tread wear indicators or wear bars are located at the base of tire grooves. An ex-salesman of industrial equipment, Shawn used to drive nearly 60K miles a year just commuting to clients. Rapporto PMI Centro-Nord 2016. The Jeep Oil Change Indicator lets you know when and what service your car needs. These never belong. The penny test and quarter test are great to check tire tread depth when the tread wear is close to replacement. You can also use the tire tread wear indicator as another method for how to check your tire tread. Push the penny as far down as it goes, then inspect how much of Lincoln you can see. To conduct the penny test, just follow these steps: Because more tire repair shops and experts tend to err on the side of caution, they often recommend a tread depth of no less than 4/32 of an inch. Buy the right tire in a few simple steps. Crouch down so your eyes are level with the surface of the part of the tread you are measuring. He knows all about horrid road-noise, hydroplaning risks, and how much damage a bad alignment can do to your wallet. 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. Car symbols, or dashboard lights, are a car service reminder. Remove the valve stem cap from the valve stem by turning it counterclockwise. Most new tires come with a feature built into the design of the tread pattern called awear bar. How to Check Tire Tread Depth: The penny test | Pirelli However, if youve had your rear tires replaced or you had a single tire replaced after a blowout, the tread may be different. 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. Different gauges will use different measurement increments, but youll want to see what the nearest 1/32 measurement is. Get the latest news and updates on Goodyear. Let Goodyear tire professionals help you find out what your tire size is. Then, follow these instructions: One good practice that responsible car owners implement is to check the tire tread any time they check tire pressure. Measuring any other part of the tire will give an inaccurate measurement. Quite simply, your tires are made of rubber. Do You Need To Rotate Tires Every 5000 Miles? Looks like you previously searched for tires for a: Would you like to see tires for this VEHICLE or start a new search? How To Check Tire Tread - 2021 Guide - Drive55 If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. Visually check for anything that looks like it doesnt belong. Today, we want to share our experience and knowledge about monitoring your tires health with a few simple steps. Thats because the distance between the edge of the penny and the top of Lincolns head is approximately 2/32 of an inch the bare minimum tread depth to maintain safe control of your vehicle. Got a Minute? How to Check Tire Tread Depth with a Penny If you change your vehicle or tire size, the tire in your cart will be removed. Step 3: Measure two or three spots across the tread contact patch of your tire. [15] Learn more about how it works. With only a quarter, or the right device designed for the job, it takes mere seconds, though theres no reason to check tire tread every single day. Copyright 2023 TireGrades | All Rights Reserved. How To Check Tire Tread: Instantly Find Out How Much Tread Is Left