How to Check Your Tire Tread for Wear

Over the course of a tire's lifespan, the tread begins to wear down. If left too long, a tire can become completely bald, which is extremely dangerous for the motorist. A bald tire is most dangerous on icy or snowy roads, but it can also make driving in normal weather conditions treacherous. This is why it is important to routinely check your tire tread for wear.

Tire Examination

Tire tread refers to the grooves in the rubber around the surface areas of your tire. The tread can be straight, jagged, wavy, or woven in some other pattern, depending on the type of tires you use and what type of driving they are intended for.

To check your tire tread for wear, a close examination is necessary. You'll first want to look at all tires to see whether they are worn evenly. If the tread seems more worn at the inside than the outside, that could indicate an alignment problem. If the front tires are more worn than the back, it's probably time to have your tires rotated.

If the center tread is more worn than either the outside or the inside edges, this could mean your tires are over-inflated. This is extremely dangerous and could lead to a blow-out on the road. When this happens, you'll want to bleed your tires of some air, checking the pressure with a tire gauge.

You might also notice random bald spots on the tires, or uneven wear patterns. If this is the case, it's a good idea to have your mechanic look it over. If the alignment is off or if there is some other mechanical problem with the car, it's best to know about it now.

The Penny Trick

I learned how to check my tire tread for wear from my Dad, who taught me the penny trick when I was nine or ten years old. You take an untarnished penny (so Lincoln's profile is easily visible) and turn it upside down. Place it between the treads on your tires.

If you can see all of Lincoln's head, your tires are too worn. If part of his head is obscured, the tread is fine. This is an easy way to check your tire tread for wear and to continually monitor the situation without spending any money.

Of course, it is important to talk to a mechanic if you have any concerns about tread depth or wear, and to purchase new tires when the tread is completely worn. Otherwise you could be putting yourself and other motorists at risk every time you climb behind the wheel.