How to Check Tire Tread Depth

Unsure how to check tire tread depth? Taking proper care of your tires entails paying attention to their wear and tear, which can be assessed with a ruler or a penny at your Peoria home. Find out how to check tire tread depth and what different depths mean from the experts at Mike Murphy Ford. If you have any questions or need additional service tips, don’t hesitate to get in touch.

Recommended Tire Tread Depth

First and foremost, you must know the benchmark against which you are comparing your tire tread depth. Typically, new tires feature a tread depth of about 10/32 or 11/32 of an inch. However, keep in mind that off-road or winter tires may have even deeper tread grooves. That being said, when your tires reach 1/16 of an inch, the U.S. Department of Transportation recommends replacing your tires.

How Do I Check Tire Tread Wear?

Proper tire tread depth is essential to safe driving in East Peoria, and checking tread depth and taking care of your tires can even extend their lifespan.

In order to check tire tread wear, you will need a ruler for the most accurate measurement. But if you can’t find a ruler or you’re away from home, you can simply use a penny. Follow these steps to check your tire tread depth with a penny:

1. Place a penny into a tire tread with Lincoln’s head going into the groove.
2. Observe how much of Lincoln’s face is covered by the groove.If you can see all of his face, then your treads are worn down and it’s time to replace your tires. If his face is completely or mostly covered, then your tires are still drivable.
3. Repeat the process in multiple locations on all four tires.

Pekin drivers can also utilize a special tire tread depth gauge which is available at most auto parts stores. Note that some tires come with tread wear bars that indicate when it’s time to get new tires.

Additional Tire Care Tips

Tire rotations help your tires to wear more evenly, so that you won’t find that your front tires are bald while your back tires are still functioning. When checking your tire tread depth, you can pay attention to the following, as well:

• Tire pressure
• Any visible tire damage
• Tire rot or disintegration
• Wheel alignment

Schedule Tire Service at Mike Murphy Ford

Schedule service with Mike Murphy Ford when you need tire care in Morton. Our technicians can handle routine maintenance like tire rotations or major service like tire replacements. You can also consider special winter tires with deeper treads for enhanced traction for snowy or icy Bloomington roads. Check out our winter preparedness guide for more information, and make sure to check out our service specials to save some money!