Measuring Tire Tread

New tires sold in the U.S are required to have small indicators molded into the tread design and across the tire called wear bars. When your tires wear down to the point where your wear bars are at the same height as your tread, they no longer meet the minimum required tread depth and the tires must be replaced. When the tire treads are worn down, it is dangerous and can be illegal. With worn down tread, your tires are more prone to losing traction in rain or snowy weather. Water is meant to escape through the treads to allow the rubber of your tires to meet the ground. When the water cannot escape, the tire floats on the water, which causes hydroplaning, making the driver lose control of the vehicle.

There are several ways to check your tire tread depth, the most popular and well known being the penny test. To perform the penny test, turn a penny upside down and insert it in between your tire treads. If all of Lincoln’s head is exposed, it’s time to replace your tires. This trick is fool-proof because there is 1/16 of an inch between the top of Lincoln’s head and the edge of the penny, which is the minimum legal limit for tread depth.

At Competition BMW of Smithtown Tire Center, we can take care of all of your tire needs. Some pros of bringing your vehicle to us are making sure you buy the correct tires for your BMW model, expert installation from our trained technicians, and competitive tire pricing. Your safety is our priority so call us today to schedule an appointment! (888) 874-2022