How to Check Your Car Tire Wear

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Proper tire tread is an essential part of your car's performance. Tires that have lost their tread are called "bald" tires. Bald tires increase the stopping distance and time of your car and can lead to accidents. Some states will even issue citations for bald tires. Check your car frequently to make sure the tires still have adequate tread. The steps below give you some guidance on how to go about it.

Steps

1. 1
   

   Find a safe, level surface to park your car.
   Find a safe, level surface to park your car. You will need to walk around your car several times to perform an accurate check so try to carry out the check away from traffic, parking on a level surface if possible. Work in a well-lit setup, making sure carry out this check in good lighting conditions. Remember, this is above all a visual check for you to find out whether and when to buy new tires.

   2

2. 

   Check that the car is in Park (P).
   Check that the car is in Park (P). If the car has a manual transmission cars, shift into first gear.
3. 3
   

   Apply the parking brake and turn off the ignition.
   Apply the parking brake and turn off the ignition.
4. 4
   

   Walk around the car and examine each wheel.
   Walk around the car and examine each wheel. Do the wheels appear to be smooth or flat in any area?
5. 5
   

   Check that your tread depth gauge "zero's" out by pressing it against a hard, flat surface.
   Check that your tread depth gauge "zero's" out by pressing it against a hard, flat surface.
6. 6
   

   Push the measuring scale into the gauge as far as it will go.
   Push the measuring scale into the gauge as far as it will go.
7. 7
   

   Place the probe into the center of tire groove and push down on the gauge's base.
   Place the probe into the center of tire groove and push down on the gauge's base. Repeat this step several times along the circumference of the tire to establish the average tread depth.
8. 8
   

   Identify the percentage of tire wear by confirming the tire's original/new tread depth in its specs compared to the remaining tread depth just measured.
   Identify the percentage of tire wear by confirming the tire's original/new tread depth in its specs compared to the remaining tread depth just measured. f the percentage is less then 60, it's time to replace the tires.

   
   

Tips

• Incorrect air pressure, steering wheel alignment, loose or worn parts, driving conditions, load, etc, can cause rapid or uneven tire wear.
• For a slightly less technical method, try sticking a penny in the tread of the tires. If you can see the top of Abe Lincoln's head, it's time for new tires (works with most cars.)

Warnings

• Make sure wheels are aligned straight forward and that the tires have correct pressure.
• Lookout for major problems such as rips or tears. Sometimes tires need to be replaced even when the tread percentage is fine.

Things You'll Need

• 1 tread depth gauge, for measuring tread depth or one penny.
• 1 air pressure gauge (optional)

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