How to Check Tire Tread Depth

If you are questioning, “how do I check tire tread wear?” you are not alone. Many Moose Jaw drivers are concerned with maintaining optimal tire health but aren’t sure how to do it. Our guide below will teach you how to check tire tread depth to keep your vehicle riding like new. You can view our maintenance guide or learn how to change a tire on our website for safer driving!

What is the Recommended Tire Tread Depth?

The tread depth of a new tire is roughly .8 centimetres and should be replaced when the tread reaches .15 centimetres. Tires designed for winter, off-roading, SUVs, or trucks can have deeper treads. No matter how deep your original tread, being conscious of your tire status can be critical for safe navigation around Southey.

Measure with a Ruler or the U.S Penny Test

Using a ruler will be the easiest way to learn how to check tire tread depth and will be the most accurate gauge to determine if your tire is safe. However, if one of those pesky American pennies made their way into your change jar, you can use this trick for reference:

Insert a penny with Lincoln’s head face first into the tire tread groove.
Observe if Lincoln’s head is covered and no longer visible between the grooves.
If you can see all of Lincoln’s face, that means your tire treads are 2/32 inches deep or less and it’s time to replace them.
Repeat this process on all four tires and in multiple locations on each tire.

More Ways to Check Tire Health

While shopping in Carlyle you can pick up special tools like a tire tread depth gauge, or tread wear bars, so you won’t ever have to wonder, “how do I check tire tread wear?” again. Other things to check while you measure your tire tread depth include:

Tire pressure
Visible tire damage
Tire rot or disintegration
Tire alignment

Maintain Your Tires at Crestview Chrysler

Now that you know how to check tire health, you won’t be asking “how do I check tire tread wear?” anymore! If you ever need to schedule service for your vehicle, our trained and friendly technicians can handle the job. Whenever you drop your vehicle off at our Regina service center, we will inspect your tires for wear to ensure your vehicle is safe to drive. Also, learn more about your tires with our tire faqs blog, learn how to prepare for winter, and more.