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How to Check Tire Wear

Tires are one of the most important components of the overall safety of your vehicle on the road. Worn out tires lose traction much more easily on wet roads resulting in reduced handling and stopping power. With that in mind, it's important to inspect your tires at least once a month for signs of damage or uneven tire wear. There are two easy ways to check tire wear:

Wear Bars

Wear bars are narrow bands of rubber which appear in the grooves across the tire tread. They are built in to every tire and will show up when only 2/32" of tire tread remains. If you can see the wear bars, you need new tires as soon as possible.

Tire Wear

Tires are an integral part of your overall safety on the road. Worn out tires skid much more easily on wet roads and reduce handling and stopping power. With that in mind, it's important to inspect your tires at least once a month for signs of damage or wear. There are two easy ways to check tire wear:

The Quarter Test

It used to be that honest Abe, or the common penny test was a quick and easy way to check the depth of your tire tread. If you simply placed a penny in a tire’s shallowest tread groove with Lincoln’s head turned down and you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, you knew you had more than 2/32” of tread depth remaining. A good thing, because that is still above the legal limit.

Although you can still count on honest Abe, it is now recommended you use a quarter to determine how much tread life remains on your tires. If you place a quarter in the same area and you can’t see the top of Washington’s head, you have 4/32” remaining. At this depth your tires are proven to be safer in rain. At least 6/32” tread depth is recommended for safer driving in the snow.

Tire Damage

Utah roads can be hard on your tires. If your tire is damaged, there's a good chance it can be repaired if the following criteria apply:

1. The puncture is less than 1/4" in diameter
2. The damage is on the tread section of your tire and not the sidewall
3. The tire was not driven on while flat

You should always take your damaged tire to Glen's Tires. Glen's Tires will safely repair your tire, from the inside if applicable. If you’re not at a Glen's Tires, be sure to ask how the dealer or mechanic intends to fix your tire. Do not accept a plug repair! Plug repairs are unreliable and can lead to a blowout.