As a majority of you may know, driving on overworn tires is a considerable risk to take. It can severely affect your vehicle's overall performance and safety. The more challenging part is trying to figure out when your tires need replacing. We have the solution for you - the penny test. This is an old-school hack that is trusted in checking your tire tread.
According to the Department of Transportation, you need to replace your tires once the tread wears down to 2/32 of an inch. The truth is that measurement is so small that it is not easy to track with a ruler, which is why most people just use the penny test. To measure your tread, all you have to do is the following steps:
- Take the penny and place it with Lincoln's head upside down on one of the lines of your tire.
- If part of Lincoln's head is covered, that means your tire is still in good shape.
- If you can still observe his head, then your tread has been worn to 2/32 inch or less, meaning it's time to make a trip to the repair shop.
- Repeat these steps for all your tires.
We urge you to inspect and check your tire tread regularly to be safe.
What Are the Dangers of Overworn Tires?
Even though it is a safe practice to replace your tires once they get to 2/32 of an inch, your vehicle's performance surely would've decreased by then. Your car becomes more susceptible to dangerous mishaps like hydroplaning and tire blowouts as the tread wears down. You will probably notice that your tires have a hard time making proper contact with the road. Lastly, you will also have to account for a longer stopping distance.
If you need assistance inspecting or replacing your tires, please do not hesitate to reach out to our expert team. Our technicians at Springdale Automotive are skilled in working on various types and makes of vehicles. For all your tire (and automotive) needs, please give us a call or visit one of our 4 convenient shop locations today!