For every driver, maintaining a safe set of tires is an essential responsibility. Maybe you keep the perfect tire pressure at all times and avoid every pothole and nail on the road. But you still have to regularly make sure your tires have the proper amount of tread. Fortunately, there’s a fairly simple way for drivers to do that without having to buy special tools.
Tread Wear Indicators
Since 1968, all new tires sold in the United States have been required to have tread wear indicators. These features, also known as "wear bars," are located at the base of the tire’s main grooves and are spaced equally around the tire. They look like narrow strips of smooth rubber across the very base of the tread. When tread has worn so far down that it is flush with the indicators, excessive wear has been reached and tread depth has been reduced to two thirty-seconds of an inch (2/32").
The Coin Method
If you’re having trouble finding the tread wear indicators on your tire and the tread seems low, there’s another method available that employs a penny and a quarter. If you have these coins lying around take a look at them, head side up. The distance between the top of George Washington’s head and every edge of the quarter is 4/32”. Place the quarter head down into your tire tread. If the top of his head is flush with the tread your tread level is low and your tire will need to be replaced pretty soon, but it probably isn’t urgent. If you do the same thing with a penny and the tread is flush with the top of Abraham Lincoln’s head, your tread is down to 2/32 of an inch and your tire needs to be replaced as soon as possible.
Whichever method you employ, make sure to check all four tires often, and don’t delay replacing them. Worn thread greatly increases the likelihood that your tire will blow. Loss of traction can also cause skidding or hydroplaning.
If you need any help with the tires on your car or truck, contact us at Route 9 Nissan in Westborough, MA. If you need a car or truck you can stop by our dealership or check out our inventory online. For further assistance, get in touch with our team. You can also reach out to us for the maintenance and repair of your vehicle. Our friendly staff will be by your side throughout your vehicle buying process. Keep reading our blogs for all the updates. We look forward to hearing from you soon!