How Do I Check Tire Tread Wear?

If you’re curious about whether or not it’s time to change your tires, your car’s tire tread wear is a good indicator to let you know. Luckily, checking your tire tread depth is easy and doesn’t take much time. What’s more, all you need is a ruler or penny! Learn how to check your tire tread depth below or visit Mercedes-Benz of Newton near Sussex and Hamburg to have one of our service technicians do it for you!

How Deep Should My Tire Treads Be?

New tires have a tread depth of 10/32 or 11/32 of an inch. Winter tires and tires that are meant for off-roading usually have deeper tread depth for improved traction. The more you drive, your tires will eventually become subject to wear and tear, resulting in shrinking tread depth. Although tread depth shrinkage is inevitable, you can reduce this by rotating your tires on a regular basis.

If your tread depth measures at 2/32 of an inch or less, you should purchase a new set, as 2/32 of an inch is the minimum tire tread depth recommended by the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Measure Tread Depth with the Penny Test

While using a ruler is ideal when measuring tire tread depth, you can also use a penny if a ruler is not at hand. To determine whether your tires have a safe tire tread depth, follow the steps below:

1. Hold the penny so you can see Lincoln’s face and place the coin into the tread, head facing down.
2. Determine how much of Lincoln’s face you can see.
3. Your tire tread depth is less than 2/32 of an inch and your tire needs to be replaced if you can completely see Lincoln’s head.
4. Check the tire tread depth using this method on all four tires.

More Ways to Check Tire Health

If you’d rather have a professional check your tire tread depth, visit Mercedes-Benz of Newton’s tire center. Our team of experts can use special tools, like a tire tread depth gauge or tread wear bars, that offer a more accurate reading of your tires’ tread depth. Additionally, our technicians can inspect your tires for signs of damage, check wheel alignment, and more!

Visit Mercedes-Benz of Newton for Tire Inspections and Replacements

The team at Mercedes-Benz of Newton is comprised of highly trained experts. Whether you want us to measure your tread depth to determine if you need to replace your tires, or are in need of a wheel replacement or rotation, you’re in good hands at our Hackettstown-area dealership. We can help you with your car care, from tires to cleaning your leather seats. Schedule an appointment online today!