How Do I Check Tire Tread?

Your tires are your vehicle’s only contact with the road. So, taking care of them is essential to maintaining safe and efficient performance.

This includes replacing your tires when the tread starts to wear low. After all, you want a solid grip on the road when you’re navigating sharp corners and rainstorms.

“But how do I check tire tread?” you may be asking. “Won’t I need a special tool for that?”

Sure, you can use a tread depth gauge. But Cloninger Toyota is here to tell you there’s a simpler way. Actually, there are three simpler ways—and all you need is some spare change. Read on to determine whether you still have enough tread to grip the streets of Salisbury, Mooresville, Huntersville, and Lexington.

Method 1: Check for the Wear Indicator

Most car, truck, and SUV tires are built with indicator bars in their tread grooves. When the surrounding tread is higher than the indicator bars, you’re still good to go. If the tread is the same level as the indicator bars, you need new tires.

Method 2: Use a Penny

Penny for your treads? Grab any penny and place it in your tire grooves, with Abraham Lincoln’s head facing the tire.

As long as part of his head is always covered, you have at least 2/32 inch of tread remaining. That's the minimum amount you should be driving with, according to North Carolina law. If you can see his entire head, you need new tires.

Method 3: Use a Quarter

While 2/32 inch is the minimum tread depth you should drive with, we don’t recommend letting your tires get that low. Most experts recommend having at least 4/32 inch of tread so your tires can safely grip wet roads.

That’s where our nation’s first president comes in. Use the same method as above, but this time with a quarter instead. If the tread always reaches the top of George Washington’s head, you’re good to go with at least 4/32 inch of tread remaining.

Check the Whole Tire

No matter which method you’re using, make sure to check the tread at various locations on the tire. Check the center, inner, and outer grooves at one location. Then, move about 15 inches around the tire before checking each groove again.

Normally, your tread should wear evenly across the tire. However, issues such as poor alignment, under-inflation, and over-inflation can cause your tire to wear unevenly. If you notice uneven tire wear, contact your service center to find out what’s behind it.

And if your tire tread is lower than 2/32 at any point—even if it’s just one spot—contact your local tire center to get them replaced.

Tire Problems? We can Help!

If your tread is low or uneven in Salisbury, Mooresville, Huntersville, or Lexington, contact Cloninger Toyota. We can get you sorted with new tires that match your vehicle’s specifications. Plus, we can help you determine why your tires might be wearing out in some places and not others.

Schedule an appointment online or head to our tire center today for service!