Where Do You Measure Tread Depth?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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The best way to measure your tread depth is to

stick the probe into the shallowest groove on the tire

, press the shoulders of the probe flat against the tread and then read the result. All gauges should measure both in the 1/32′′ United States standard and in millimeters.

How do you calculate tread depth?

Place a 20p coin into the main tread grooves of your tyre. If you can’t see the raised edge around the coin, your tyre’s tread is likely greater than

1.6mm

and, therefore, legal. If, on the other hand, the outer band is visible when inserted, your tyre could be unsafe and require professional inspection.

How do you measure tread depth in Canada?

Hold the quarter between your thumb and forefinger with the quarter head facing down. Select a point on your tire where tread appears the lowest and

insert the figurehead

first into one of the grooves. If the top of the figurehead is covered by tread, you’re driving with the legal and safe amount of tread.

What is minimum tyre tread depth?

The legal limit of

1.6mm

is reached when the tyre is worn to the level of the tread wear indicators in the main groove — as soon as this happens, the tyre should be replaced. Remember: – Check your tread depth on all four tyres – Check the inner, centre and outer.

What depth are new Tyres?

Optimal depths

A new car tyre begins life with

approximately 8-9mm of tread depth

. Legally, you can drive on them until they reach a minimum depth of the tread of 1.6 mm, across 75% of the tyre’s width and all around its circumference.

What is the minimum tire tread depth in Canada?

The legal limit of wear is

1.6 mm or 2/32nds of an inch of

tread depth. But most tire makers recommend tires be replaced before the legal limit of wear is reached to ensure better wet-weather stopping power.

How good is 6 32 tread?

6/32′′ or higher:

Your tire’s tread depth is sufficient

. 5/32′′: If snow-covered roads are a concern, you should consider replacing your tires. 4/32′′: If you frequently drive on wet roads, consider replacing your tires. … 2/32′′ or lower: Your tires are legally bald, and it’s time to replace them.

What is a good tire tread depth?

The tire tread depth gauge measures in 32nds of an inch. Good tire tread depth will be

6/32 or deeper

. If the depth is 4/32, you should start thinking of replacing your tires and getting new ones. 2/32 or less means that you should change your tires ASAP.

Is 2 mm tyre tread legal?

So, what is the minimum tread depth required for car tyres? While a new car tyre begins life with approximately 8mm of tread, the minimum legal tread depth is

1.6mm

. However, most motoring organisations recommend changing your tyres before the tread gets to this level.

How many points is 2 bald tyres?

For all tyre offences, the court has to impose

three penalty points

. It can also impose these points for each defective tyre.

Is Outer TYRE wear illegal?

It is also important to remember

it is illegal to use a spare tyre outside of its stated limitations

. … Worn tyres are more likely to lose air pressure much more quickly than a tyre with deep tread. This loss of pressure causes the tyre to become underinflated and so the rate of tyre wear increases.

Do all new tyres have the same tread depth?


New tyres are manufactured with around 8mm of tread depth

, but this wears away over time, which compromises the car’s road handling, ability to cope in wet conditions, road grip and safety. Legally, the minimum allowable depth of tread is 1.6mm – any less than this and you run the risk of a hefty fine of up to £2,500.

Is 4mm tread OK?

Any tyre that has a tread depth less than 1.6mm is illegal in the UK. … A tyre with a tread depth of

4mm is a cause for concern as the tyre is 62% worn

. At 3mm it is recommended that the tyre should be replaced.

Is 4mm tire tread OK?

Fast facts: When to replace tires

You must replace tires when the tread depth falls below 1.6 mm, which is the legal limit. Continental recommends changing summer tires at 3 mm and winter tires at 4

mm tread depth

; after this point safety and performance characteristics are not optimal.

What percentage of tire tread is 6 32?

Then usable tread depth is compared to remaining tread depth in order to calculate tread wear percentages. For example, a tire that started with 10/32′′ of original tread depth and has worn off 4/32′′ (down to 6/32′′ of remaining tread depth) is

50%

worn.

When should tire tread depth be replaced?

New tires typically come with 10/32” or 11/32” tread depths, and some truck, SUV and winter tires may have deeper tread depths than other models. The U.S. Department of Transportation recommends replacing tires when they

reach 2/32”

, and many states legally require tires to be replaced at this depth.

Timothy Chehowski
Author
Timothy Chehowski
Timothy Chehowski is a travel writer and photographer with over 10 years of experience exploring the world. He has visited over 50 countries and has a passion for discovering off-the-beaten-path destinations and hidden gems. Juan's writing and photography have been featured in various travel publications.