Your tires are crucial to the safety and handling of your car, and you should perform regular vehicle inspections to check the tread on them each month, at minimum. Most tread problems can’t be fixed with a tire repair, but detecting issues early can help you plan for the visit to the tire dealer when it’s needed. Below is a guide to checking tread and common problems to watch out for.

How to Check Your Tread

Tread refers to the space between the top edge of the tread and the lowest indent in the tread. The legal minimum tread requirement is 2/32 of an inch, but your tires should be replaced before this to maintain safety. A good way to check the tread is to use a penny.

Stick it in a groove of the tread with Lincoln’s head upside down. If you can see the top of his head, the tread is low, and you should plan a trip to the tire dealer.

You can also gauge tread by using the wear bars on tires. Tread wear indicators are little raised notches in the valleys of the tread, and if the top of the tread reaches the top of the notches, it’s time to get the tires switched out.

What to Watch For

Just because the tread in one spot of your tire looks okay, it doesn’t necessarily mean that there aren’t problems. Uneven wear -- where the tread wears down more in some spots of the tire instead of evenly across the surface -- can lead to higher risks of hydroplaning, difficulty maneuvering in inclement weather, and a harder time stopping.

Check the tread in multiple places around each tire and watch for unusual wear patterns. Over- and under-inflation are common causes of uneven wear. Underinflated tires will have more wear on the outer treads, and they’re at higher risk for overheating, tread separation, and blowouts.

Overinflated tires will have more wear in the middle treads, and they have less contact with the road. You’re at a greater risk of punctures, hydroplaning, and blowouts. The tires can also have uneven wear between them due to faults with your alignment or suspension, where one tire is wearing faster than the others, which can also lead to hydroplaning.

You deserve a reputable tire dealer to examine your tires, correct issues causing uneven wear, and replace tires with unsafe treads. G & J Auto Center in Columbia, MO, has over 20 years’ experience in auto care and is a trusted tire dealer. Learn more about their services online and call (573) 474-5819 for an appointment.