Because it's the only part of the vehicle that grips the road, the depth of tread on your tyres is a very important for the safety of your vehicle. It also signals the health of the tyre. Driving with low tread depth increases the potential for tyre failure and aquaplaning. Low tread depth in winter weather conditions can severely reduce grip and control. Motorists driving with tyres under the legal limit also risk a fine. Step 1 - Access the tyre tread The first step in checking tyre tread depth is to get good access to your tyres. - Park on a wide, flat and even surface in a safe place off the public highway with the engine switched off and put the keys in your pocket. - Put on the handbrake (parking brake) and engage first gear (for manual gearboxes) or park (for automatics). - Once you have clear and safe access to the tyres you can begin the inspection. Step 2 - Check the tread With the tyre tread you can begin to check the depth of the tread and the condition of tyre. Don't rely on guesswork: purchase an easy-to-use tread depth gauge so that you can monitor your tyres.
Not all winter tires wear out at the same speed. Snow tires will generally last longer than models designed for icy conditions. Compound quality also plays a key role in tire durability. The quarter test A classic way to measure winter tire wear is to use a quarter. Insert a 25¢ Canadian coin in one of the grooves with the caribou facing down. If you see the tip of its nose, it means the tread depth no longer meets 6/32", so the tire probably won't last all winter or 10, 000 km. Preventing premature wear: Tire pressure Properly inflated tires will reduce wear and save fuel. Check the tire pressure once a week if you do a lot of mileage; in any case, check at least once a month. Inflate any tire that does not meet the recommended PSIs for your vehicle. The information can be found in your owner's manual or a specific label inside the driver's door frame. Tire rotation, balancing, and alignment Tires should be balanced and rotated every 10, 000 km in order to prevent uneven tread wear. Directional tires must be rotated on the same side of the vehicle (front-rear), while non-directional tires must be rotated to form an X (ex.
All terrain Typically fitted to SUVs, these increase tread spacing to help channel mud out of the tyre. Additionally, the sidewall is strengthened to prevent against punctures. Minimum tread depth From the name, you can probably determine that 'racing' slicks aren't intended for use on public roads. In fact, any tyre with grooves of less than 1. 6mm is illegal – whether constructed that way, or whether prolonged use has worn it to that point. Most roadworthy products start life with a tread depth of around 8mm, so it does take a considerable amount of time and stress for them to wear down to this point. How to check tyre tread depth To ensure that you're not driving illegally, knowing how to check tyre tread depth is important: Tread wear indicator Modern tyres are manufactured with a tread-wear indicator that crosses the circumferential grooves. If these grooves are no longer unbroken, they've worn down too far Tread gauge A simple tread gauge can be purchased from most car accessories shops, including Halfords Ten pence coin A ten pence coin can also help: the distance between the edge and the small dots on the face of the coin is 1.
Once the surface of the tread rubber is level with these raised areas, the tyre tread depth is approaching the legal limit of 1. 6mm and you should have your tyres checked and replaced. Tyre tread depth checker If you're unsure whether your tyre tread depths are at a safe level, you can use a handy tyre tread depth gauge to help. These devices will give you an accurate measurement for that extra peace of mind. Discover our range of tyre tread depth gauges Halfords Free Tyre Check Want help checking your tread depths are at a safe level? Book a Free Tyre Check and one of our trained technicians will not only check your tyre tread depth but will also carry out a pressure check and inspect for wear and damage. If any problems are found during the inspection, one of our technicians will advise you on what can be done to correct the issue. It's the easiest way to check that your tyres are up to the task! Book your Free Tyre Check Find your nearest Halfords autocentre Replacing tyres If the tread depth on your tyres is at or below 1.