How to Check Tire Tread Depth

Driving around St. Louis, Chesterfield, and Kirkwood, Missouri, can cause your tires to wear down over time. This is an unavoidable result of friction between your tires and the road, so it's essential that you keep your tires in top shape. One of the best ways to gauge the state of your tires is by testing the tread depth.

Learn how to check tire tread depth, and discover where you can get all the tire services you need.

Coin Test

The most popular way to check tire tread depth is the coin test. While this test can be easy to remember and conduct, it matters what type of coin you use. A quarter measures the general safety standard of 4/32 of an inch, while a penny measures down to 2/32 of an inch, the tread level that means your tires need to be changed immediately.

Each of the coin tests is simple to conduct. For either test, simply place the coin upside down in between your tire treads, then look at how far the surrounding tread extends on the coin. With the quarter test, you're checking to see whether you can see the top of Washington's head. If you can, it means your treads have worn down to 4/32 of an inch or less. This is the general minimum safety measurement for stopping before hydroplaning, so get your tires changed when you can.

The penny test, on the other hand, measures 2/32 of an inch from the top of Lincoln's head. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, your tires are totally worn out and far below accepted safety parameters, so they need to be changed as soon as possible. If the tread covers the top of Lincoln's head, it's still greater than 2/32 of an inch, but it may not necessarily be greater than 4/32 of an inch, so conduct the quarter test to see whether your tires need to be changed.

Indicator Bars

If your vehicle's equipped with modern tires, it's likely they'll have indicator bars built in. These are little bars that run the length of a tread indention and are approximately 2/32 of an inch tall. If you can locate one of these bars, it can tell you whether your tires are within traditional safety standards. If the bar is the same height as the surrounding tread, it's time for a tire change.

Tread Depth Gauge

A tread depth gauge is a device used to precisely check the depth of your tread. To get the most out of a depth gauge, make sure you find the part of your tire that looks the most worn. Once you've found the spot, place the end of your tread gauge over it and push down on the handles until the tread blocks stop them.

Pushing down the handles should cause a bar to come out of the top of the gauge that will have the measurement on it. To be safe, check the tread depth at a few different spots because tires don't typically wear down evenly. Finding the most-worn spot can be tough to discern simply by eye.

Schedule Tire Service

Now that you know how to check tire tread depth, you'll know when it's appropriate to schedule tire service. If you live in the St. Louis, Chesterfield, or Kirkwood, Missouri, areas, you can find the quick, quality service you deserve at Glendale Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram. Our service team can take care of all your tire needs and beyond. Schedule your tire service today!