How to Check Tire Tread Depth

When we talk about keeping your car healthy, that includes the tires. Your tires are part of what makes your car drive smoothly on the Clovis roads, so it’s important to make sure they are properly taken care of as well. Regardless of how often or how far you drive your Acura, your tires will eventually wear down and require replacement. In order to avoid the unfortunate problems that can arise due to bad tires, you can check the health of your tires by looking at its tread depth. 

When it’s time for replacement, talk with our service department to schedule an appointment! Learn more about checking your tire tread below. 

What Is Tread Depth?

Tread depth isn’t often talked about and should be. It’s important to overall car health and your safety while driving. Tread depth refers to the vertical measurement between the outermost rubber of the tire and the depth of the grooves within the tire. As you continue to drive your car through Madera, you naturally wear out the tire, decreasing its tread depth over time. 

The closer the top layer of rubber is to the bottom of the grove, the more wear and tear on the tire and the sooner it will need to be replaced. The minimum tread thickness for passenger car tires is 2/32 inches. At that point, it’s time to get new tires. 

How Often to Check Tire Tread Depth

It’s important to routinely check your tire tread depth, so you can gauge when it’s time for new tires rather than guessing. In general, you should check the depth at least once a month. Checking in between major road trips is also good practice. Next, you’ll learn how to check your tire tread depth. 

Checking Tread Depth Using a Penny

Many Madera drivers often ask us “How do I check tire tread wear at home?”, and we’re happy to provide an answer. If you have a penny, you can do it! These few simple steps will save you time and money if you do them routinely:

1. Put the penny into the tire upside down (Licnoln’s head pointing down towards the tire) into the groove of the tire. 
2. If you can see Lincoln’s whole head, then your tire tread is at 2/32 of an inch and will need to be replaced. 
3. Repeat this process for all of your tires on their inner and outer ridges to check their tread depths. 

Why Should I Check My Tire’s Tread Depth?

Your tire’s tread depth plays a vital role in its health and can tell you a lot about your tire. It also shows you whether or not it’s safe for you to drive on Visalia roads. If you don’t check your tire, the following can happen: 

• Less air pressure, which affects steering, braking, and fuel economy
• More likely to blow out on the roads
• Less traction control

Service Your Tires at Fresno Acura

Now that you know how to check your tire’s tread depth and its importance, you can start doing it yourself! If you’d like a professional look, feel free to contact us, and we’ll make sure you’re safe on the road in your %%di_make%% vehicle.