How to Check Tire Tread Depth

Drivers often want to know, “Why is tire tread depth important?” and “How do I check tire tread wear?” Essentially, your tire treads grip the road as you drive throughout , helping you remain in control of your vehicle. Over time, your tire tread depth will gradually decrease, lessening the amount of traction between your tires and the road. If your tire tread depth isn’t deep enough, this could put you in a precarious situation, especially during inclement weather conditions when roads are slippery. In these situations, having good traction is incredibly important. 

Want to know how to check tire tread depth? The service team at Kempthorn Motors has you covered! All you need is a ruler or penny, and you can check your tire tread depth right at home in Kempthorn Motors! Find out how to check tire tread depth, below.

What is the Recommended Tire Tread Depth? 

When you purchase a new set of tires, they’ll typically have a tread depth of about 10/32 or 11/32 of an inch (about a third of an inch). Winter tires and tires designed for off-roading purposes, as well as some truck and SUV tires, have deeper tread grooves. 

How do you know when it’s time to replace your tires? According to the U.S. Department of Transportation, you should replace your tires when their tread depth is measuring at 2/32 of an inch. Maintaining the proper tread depth is important to drive safely in . 

How to Check Tire Tread Depth: The Penny Test

While a ruler is the most accurate way to measure tire tread depth, a penny will suffice! The design of the U.S. penny makes it a perfect—and convenient—tool for measuring tire wear. Follow these steps to check the tread depth on your tires:

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

What Are Other Ways to Check Your Tire Tread Depth?

If you don’t have a penny on hand, here are a couple of other methods you can use to check your tread depth: 

• Tread Depth Gauge: You can purchase a tread depth gauge from any -area auto parts store. Insert the probe into the shallowest tread groove, then press the top bar of the gauge flat against the tire to see the tread wear rating.
• Tread Wear Bars: Most tires have tread wear indicator bars built into them, and you can find them at the bottom of the tread grooves in multiple locations across the tires. If the bars are flush with the surrounding tire ribs, this means that the tread depth has reached 2/32 of an inch.

Keep Your Tires in Excellent Condition With Kempthorn Motors

If you’ve measured your tire tread depth and found that you need a replacement, visit our service center today. We’ll inspect them, help you order new tires, and install them as well. Be sure to browse our parts specials to get a great deal on your parts and accessories!