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A good set of tires is crucial to your safety on the road, as it allows you to maintain control of the vehicle while driving. With regular use, however, your tires will inevitably wear out—and so will their treads. It’s important to give your tire treads a check-up before winter to see if they’re deep enough to provide traction. Before heading to a tire dealer to get a replacement, here’s how to check the state of the tread.

How to Inspect Your Tire Treads

Checking tread depth won’t cost you a penny, although you will need to use one. Called the penny test, it’s the simplest, quickest way to know if your tires need to be changed. Place an upside-down penny into the grooves of your tires, and if you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, then it means your treads have thinned out. Aside from the penny test, you can also use a tire gauge to measure depth or keep an eye out for the tread wear indicator bars found on all modern tires. When these indicator bars get exposed, you need to visit a tire dealer soon.

Why Checking Tread Depth Matters

tire dealerTires treads are designed to provide much-needed grip on the road when driving. At depths of more than 2/32 of an inch, treads will have sufficient traction to maintain contact with the road. As treads become shallow, your tires will become more susceptible to skidding and sliding when you drive under adverse conditions, such as rain and snow. Worn down treads can also lead to excessive wear on your braking system, as it needs to work harder to stop the vehicle. Driving with shallow treads is also illegal in some states.

What Affects Tread Depth?

Several factors can affect the rate by which your tires lose tread depth, including age, road conditions, driving habits, and exposure to elements. Skipping basic maintenance, like inflation, periodic alignment, and rotation also contributes to faster, and sometimes uneven, wear.

 

To ensure your safety on the road, have your tires and treads checked regularly. Replace your old, worn out tires by visiting G & J Auto Center, the leading tire dealer across Boone County, MO. Aside from their wide selection of tires, they also offer quality auto repair services and thorough vehicle inspection. For more information, get in touch with this tire dealer at (573) 474-5819 or head over to their website.

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