\u00a9 2023 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. If the top of his head is still buried, then youre good, for now. After checking your tire pressure a few times, youll recall the right pressure by memory. Let us guide you there. It grips the road surface so your car can move forward and stay on the road in slippery conditions. Step 1: Visually inspect your tire tread for anything that doesnt belong. This is why experts suggest using a specialized tire tread gauge, a penny, or a quarter.Where To Measure Tire Tread Depth. To check your tread, use a penny inserted into the tire's groove with Lincoln's head upside down and facing you. 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. Like the area between the tread blocks, minor cracking is normal due to weathering but cracks exposing inner tire layers are a serious condition requiring tire replacement. 1)partly engage the clutch before you take your right foot off the brake. This is when laws will force you to change your tires, and its well past the point when experts will suggest you replace your tires. A. While you cant get an exact measurement from your wear bars, you can get a good idea of how closely your tires are coming to reaching the minimum depth or whether they have already reached that point by a simple visual inspection. Saturday: 9:00 am 6:00 pm EST (Post Purchase Support Only). Content on TireGrades.com is copyrighted. If you can see a space between the top of Lincolns head and the tread, or if the tread is flush with the top of Lincolns head, this means your tires are worn to the point that they are no longer safe and need to be changed. A. eyeball the tire and see whether it's properly inflated B. look for the PSI number on the sidewall of a tire C. refer to sticker on the driver's side door jam D. use the number on your tire gauge refer to sticker on the driver's side door jam * When should you inflate a tire? Tire failure can result from operating on such a tire. Our certified mobile mechanics make house calls in over 2,000 U.S. cities. Keep in mind, even if your tires pass . Rapporto PMI Centro-Nord 2016. HOW TO MEASURE TIRE TREAD DEPTH - Goodyear.com He knows all about horrid road-noise, hydroplaning risks, and how much damage a bad alignment can do to your wallet. The penny test and quarter test are great to check tire tread depth when the tread wear is close to replacement. I'm very impressed with the information you gave. After you follow these steps and repeat the tire check a few times, it should become second nature and youll easily remember how to do the inspection. * Which of the following is recommended when replacing your tires? Using a quarter, your tires have more than 4/32 tread if the top of Washingtons head is always covered. The Drive and its partners may earn a commission if you purchase a product through one of our links. We are no longer supporting IE (Internet Explorer). If you change your vehicle or tire size, the tire in your cart will be removed. Fast, free online quotes for your car repair. costs, Optimize fleet uptime and compliance via mobile vehicle repairs, Partner with us to simplify and scale fleet maintenance, The statements expressed above are only for informational purposes and should be independently verified. The minimum tread depth is when your tires are so low that theyre dangerous to use. Most new tires come with a feature built into the design of the tread pattern called awear bar. Its important that the pin is in contact with the bottom of the tread channel, meaning that the measurement pin is spanning the full height of the tread that youre measuring. Doing so will ensure you get an accurate tread depth measurement. You can do the same test with a quarter to measure tire tread. You can also use the tire tread wear indicator as another method for how to check your tire tread. you should check the tire tread every quizlet Expert Interview. Having a sufficient tread depth is important to ensuring the safest possible driving experience. The first 2 digits are the week and the last 2 digits are the year that your tire was manufactured. If you cant see the top of Lincolns head, you can continue to drive on your tires. Four-tenths of a liter retail display fixtures. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration recommends checking your vehicles tires at least once a month. There are 11 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. Your safety depends on it. Check for any bulges on the tire tread section. Would you like to see tires for this SIZE or start a new search? How to Check Tire Tread (With Video) | Family Handyman How Often Should Tire Pressure Be Checked? Turn the quarter upside down with Washingtons head facing you. This is roughly. These wear bars are 2/32 in height which equals the legal minimum depth in most states. Do I Have To Get New Tires With New Rims? Step 3: Adjust the tire pressure as needed. If the tread touches Washington's head, you have at least 4/32 of an inch of tread remaining. If the top of Lincoln's head is always covered, you have more than 2/32 of tread remaining. Some gauges have a needle-like design with a portion that expands to measure tread depth. For uniformity reasons, its best to replace all of your tires at the same time if you can. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Log in to MyTravelers, http://www.nhtsa.gov/nhtsa/Safety1nNum3ers/june2013/SafteyInNumbersJune2013.html, http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811617.pdf, http://www.consumerreports.org/cro/2012/12/how-safe-are-worn-tires/index.htm, Older Car Maintenance in 5 Steps [Infographic], What to Do if Your Car Breaks Down [Video], 3-Second Rule for Safe Following Distance [Video], How to Drive Safely in Strong Wind and Rain [Video]. Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered. Before you conduct any of these tests, make sure your vehicle is in the park, the ignition is off, and the parking brake is engaged to prevent the vehicle from rolling. Youll want to line up the tool so that the measurement pin goes into a tread groove. Another way to check your tread depth is to use a tire tread depth gauge. For an added measure of safety, consider replacing your tires at 4/32. Perform the penny test by placing a penny into the tread groove with President Lincoln's head upside down. According to some experts, the penny test doesnt leave a deep enough tread to provide adequate traction in wet or snowy weather. For example, if you fill your tires with 2.0 bar at 25 in summer, the air pressure decreases to 1.7 - 1.8 bar at -5 during winter. In CA, quotes for all products must be obtained through a local independent agent. * How often should you check the tire pressure of all your tires? Because of the role that tire treads play in traction and safety, theyre an integral part of the safety of your vehicle. The depth gauge will then show you the exact depth, giving you more precise measurement. Experts agree that this constitutes a once-a-month check of the treads, although, with brand new tires, you can probably get away with bi-monthly inspections. This rule has been questioned throughout time, however, and AAA now suggests a different standard. If Lincolns head is partially or fully covered by the tire tread, your tire has enough tread to drive safely. For an added measure of safety, consider replacing your tires at 4/32. X When it comes to tire safety, we prefer to stick to the side of caution, so we use the quarter test. Check three or more spots around the tire with a penny to make sure the tread is wearing evenly. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this image under U.S. and international copyright laws. Jonathon Klein: Twitter (@jonathon.klein), Instagram (@jonathon_klein), Tony Markovich: Twitter (@T_Marko), Instagram (@t_marko), Chris Teague: Twitter (@TeagueDrives), Instagram (@TeagueDrives), Big Red Torin Steel Jack Stands, 6-Ton Capacity, Got a question? from each edge and the depth of the center tread. To perform thepenny tire test, start by holding a penny so that the face of the coin is facing you. Navigating Your Business Through COVID-19, Travelers customer? Step 5: Note any inconsistencies in tread depth on each tire. Example: The version/option of a Honda Accord EX V6 is EX V6. These never belong. Youll also need a flat workspace, such as a garage floor, driveway, or street parking thats also well-ventilated. Explore the world of Goodyear racing. Visually look for metal or fabric strands sticking out of your tire. How to Do a Tire Safety Inspection | YourMechanic Advice Finding your tire size is simple. 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? A few key numbers to keep in mind when checking tread depth are: Tread depth and stopping distance have an inverse relationship: the shallower the tread, the longer it will take for a vehicle to stop. The Jeep Oil Change Indicator lets you know when and what service your car needs. I was not sure if he needed to change tires. Not all tires fit every vehicle or tire size. What Ways Are There to Measure the Tires Tread? If your tires require double the amount of space, you have a much higher risk of hitting them. they can even order for you.