How to Check Your Tire Tread

Your car tires are in constant contact with the road, so it is extremely important that you make sure that they are in good condition and have plenty of tread depth. Wondering “how do I check tire tread wear?’’ The service team at Standard Motors has prepared the following guide on how to check tire tread depth. If you find you need assistance, stop by our dealership near Regina.

What is the Recommended Tire Tread Depth?

New tires start with a tread depth of 8 mm to 9 mm. If they wear down to 1.6 mm or less of tread depth, it’s time to replace them. Off-roading tires, winter tires, and some truck and SUV tires have deeper treads and may need to be checked and replaced more often.

Driving on bald or balding tires in the Regina or Kyle area increases the possibility that you’ll get a flat tire or blowout. The latter can be especially dangerous if you are traveling at high speeds on the highway.

A Quick and Easy Way to Check Tire Tread Depth

How do you check your tire tread depth? There are tire tread depth gauges available, but if you don’t have one, you can use a Canadian nickel Here’s how:

1. Insert a Canadian nickel with the Queen’s crown facing down into the tire tread groove.
2. If the Queen’s crown is covered, you have plenty of tread depth remaining.
3. If you can see the top of the Queen’s crown, then your tire treads are 1.6 mm deep or less, and it’s time to get a new tire.

Use this test on all four tires and in different locations on each tire to ensure that they are wearing evenly. If some tires are more worn than others and the tread depth isn’t too low, then you should have your tires rotated to even out the tread wear.

Some tires come with tread wear indicator bars that show when the tread has worn down. They are located at the bottom of the tread grooves in several locations on the tire. When the bars are flush with the tread it means that there is 1.6 mm or less tread remaining.

Trust the Tire Care Experts at Standard Motors

If you are still wondering, “How do I check tire tread wear,” the service professionals at Standard Motors are here to help. Just schedule an appointment and our technicians will inspect your tires for you. Unfortunately, tires don’t last forever, so if you are in need of a new set use our convenient Tire Wizard to find the right ones for your car, truck, or SUV. If you want to know what the numbers on your tires mean, when to switch from winter to summer tires, or how to jump start a car, please feel free to contact us.