What your tire tread is telling you?
Place a penny head first into several tread grooves across the tire. If you always see the top of Lincoln’s head, your treads are shallow and worn. If this is the case, your tires need to be replaced. If part of Lincoln’s head is always covered by the tread, you have more than 2/32 of an inch of tread depth remaining.
When do You Know you need a new tire?
This will often look like little cracks or holes in the tire itself. Cracked tires could be a sign of a future blowout, so it is definitely something you need to get checked soon. It may also be a sign that your tire is steadily leaking. Cracked tires can also be the result of direct damage to the tire, such as hitting a pothole or curb.
How can you tell if your tires are bad?
Cracked and weathered sidewalls are a bad sign, too. Not all problems with the tires are going to be in the tread. They can also appear in the sidewall. Fortunately, it’s easy to do a visual check of sidewall problems. Look for tracks or cuts in the sidewall — grooves that are distinct enough to be visible to the naked eye.
What to do if you don’t have enough tread in your tires?
Take a Lincoln-head penny, the kind you find in your change every day, and insert Abe’s head (head-down) into the tread. If Lincoln’s entire head remains visible, you don’t have enough tread. Take your car into the mechanic and ask about getting a new set of tires.
What happens when you drive with bad tires?
At the very minimum, worn or damaged tires compromise your car’s ability to respond to your inputs. Handling, steering, and braking suffer as a result. The longer you drive on bad tires, the more risk there is of a separated tread or blowout, which will cause you to lose control of your car.
When do you know it’s time for new tires?
If you always see the top of Lincoln’s head, your treads are shallow and worn. If this is the case, your tires need to be replaced. If part of Lincoln’s head is always covered by the tread, you have more than 2/32 of an inch of tread depth remaining. This means you probably don’t need new tires.
Why do you need to check your tire treads?
With good treads, your car will drive better on the road. When tire treads are worn, your vehicle may be unable to handle weather conditions like rain and snow. Worn treads can also make other parts of your car wear down faster. And remember – having insufficient tread is considered illegal in many states, so please check your tire tread regularly!
Is it illegal to have insufficient tread on your tires?
And remember – having insufficient tread is considered illegal in many states, so please check your tire tread regularly! With President Lincoln’s head pointed down, insert a penny into the grooves on your tire tread. If any part of Lincoln’s head is hidden by the tire tread, your tires are fine.
Can you put a penny in a tire tread?
With President Lincoln’s head pointed down, insert a penny into the grooves on your tire tread. If any part of Lincoln’s head is hidden by the tire tread, your tires are fine. Otherwise, your treads are too shallow and it’s time to replace your tires.