How Do I Check Tire Tread Wear?

“How do I check tire tread wear?” is one of those common questions that our service team hears all the time! If you’ve ever wondered about how to check tire tread depth at home in Ridgewood or Jersey City, don’t worry, the process is simple and quick, and although a professional tread gauge can be helpful, it doesn’t actually require any special tools.

What is the Recommended Tire Tread Depth?

If you’ve just purchased a new vehicle or you’ve recently acquired a set of new tires, your tread depth should come in at roughly ⅓ of an inch–about 10/32 or 11/32 of an inch, to be precise. Although this can vary depending on the type of tires you’ve selected for your vehicle, all tires will gradually wear down until they’re no longer safe to use.

The U.S. Department of Transportation says that drivers should replace their tires whenever tread depth drops to 2/32 of an inch or lower. On a related note, it’s a good idea to rotate your tires if the tread variance between your tires is greater than 2/32 of an inch.

How to Check Tire Tread Depth with a Penny

If you don’t have time to visit our parts department and pick up a tread depth gauge, the penny test can help you assess your tread depth in a hurry:

1. Take a standard U.S. Penny and insert it into the tread, with Lincoln’s head facing down and out.
2. If you can see all of Lincoln’s face, your tread depth is below 2/32 of an inch, and you need new tires. Check your tires in multiple locations to be safe.
3. Repeat the process with all four tires. Significant differences may indicate an issue with your alignment.

Maintain Your Tires with Our Service Team

Knowing how to check your tire tread depth is a great start. For everything else related to tire care, you can count on our Paramus service team to help you get the job done right. Schedule your appointment or learn more about DIY car care with our team.