Re: tread depth of tires
Wheel world: What you need to know about tire buying, maintenance and technological advances <br /><br />July 20, 2000<br /><br /><br />Tire experts say drivers shouldn't wait until their tires are bald before replacing them. Buying tires is a cinch with a few quick steps to determine when your old ones are worn.<br /><br /><br />Check the tire's tread depth first, said Al Prince, manager of Goodyear, 3075 E. Grand River in Detroit. Tread depth should be the determining factor for when new tires are needed, not mileage.<br /><br /><br />Some use the penny test to check tread depth. Stick a penny into the tire groove. Make sure that Abe Lincoln is right side up. If Abe's head is visible, there's not enough tread on the tires. According to tire experts this is not safe and is illegal because the minimum legal tread depth is 2/32 inch. But Prince said he doesn't like to use the penny test because gauges are more accurate. <br /><br /><br />"Brand new tires are about 10/32 of an inch," Prince said. "A tire that is 4/32 of an inch needs to be changed because it's 80-percent worn." <br /><br /><br />Looking at the customer's vehicle is important for a few reasons, Prince said. The tires show some telltale signs that indicate other problems.<br /><br /><br />If the tire tread is more worn in the middle than on the edges, the tire is overinflated. If the tire treads in the middle are less worn than on the edge, there's not enough air in the tires. Tread depth gauges can determine this, Prince said.<br /><br /><br />Proper wheel alignment is another maintenance problem a tire's treading can reveal, he said. "If tire tread is deeper on one side more than the other, the wheels aren't in proper alignment."<br /><br />Hey, I've "stooped" and gone to Wal-Mart too.
