Tires are one of the most important parts of your vehicle, and keeping an eye on tread depth helps you to maintain traction on the San Francisco roads. So, you might be wondering how to check tire tread depth, which is critical, as your tread helps you grip the road and keep your vehicle in control. Eventually, you'll notice that the tread depth will begin to wear down, which reduces the amount of traction your vehicle has with the road. Let's learn more about how to check tire tread depth with the experts at our service center. For more information, feel free to contact us anytime!

What is the Recommended Tire Tread Depth? 

Before we answer the question, "How do I check tire tread wear?", it's important to know what the recommended tread depth is for your tires. On average a tread depth of around 10/32 or 11/32 of an inch is recommended. If you have off-road or winter tires, you'll notice that the tread grooves are deeper. It's recommended to replace your tires when the tread depth is at 2/32 of an inch. Having the correct tread depth is critical to your safety around Oakland.

How to Check Tire Tread Depth: The Penny Test

So, now you might be wondering, "How do I check tire tread wear?" Although it is always recommended to use a ruler to measure tread depth, you could also use a penny if you have one handy. The U.S. penny makes it a great tool to measure tread depth. Let's go over a few different steps to measure tire tread depth with a penny below:

1. Insert the penny with Lincoln head-first into a tire tread groove.
2. Check if Lincoln's head is covered and no longer visible between the grooves.
3. If you can see all of Lincoln's head, your tire treads are 2/32 inches deep or less and it's time to replace them.
4. Repeat this process on all four tires and in multiple locations on each tire.

What are Other Ways to Check Your Tire Tread Depth?

There are a few other ways to check your tire tread depth if you don't have a penny handy. Let's check out a couple of these methods below:

• Tread Depth Gauge: Atread depth gauge can be purchased from any Livermore-area auto parts store. Insert the probe into the shallowest tread groove, then press the top bar of the gauge flat against the tire to see the tread wear rating.
• Tread Wear Bars: Tread wear indicator bars are often built into your tires, and are located at the bottom of the tread grooves in multiple locations across the tires. If the bars are flush with the surrounding tire ribs, this means that the tread depth has reached 2/32 of an inch.

Schedule Service With Us Today!

Now that you know how to check tire tread depth, come stop by our service center if it's time for a replacement. Schedule service and stop by our parts center to get the best deals on tires around Livermore, and check out our service and parts coupons for additional savings!