Is it Time for New Tires?
It is no secret, the age and condition of your carās tires is a significant aspect of your vehicle being safe to drive. Even knowing this, we can be hesitant to replace tires because of the hefty price tag. That being said, checking your tread depth is the best way to know when itās time to replace your tires.
You can certainly take your car to a mechanic to have this done, but by learning how to check the tread depth yourself, you can better anticipate and be proactive about knowing when you will need to pay to replace your tires.
The best way to check your tread depth is with a tire tread depth gauge, but most people donāt have one of those lying around. Lucky for you, our good friend Abe Lincoln gave us a readily available tool that can still give us a pretty accurate measurement - a penny!
Start by focusing on the middle of your tire where you will likely find the lowest tread depth. Hold a penny vertically inside the grooves of the tread with Lincolnās head facing upright. If the height of the tread coverās Abeās head, then you are good to go - you donāt need to visit your mechanic just yet! If you can see Lincolnās head peeking out over the tread of the tires, then it is time to start shopping. Be sure to take multiple measurements if you need to.
Planning ahead to make a significant purchase, like new tires, can ease some of the sticker shock and financial impact on car maintenance that is necessary to keep you, and your passengers, safe on the road. Hopefully this tip helps you take some of that uncertainty and guess work into your own hands!
You can certainly take your car to a mechanic to have this done, but by learning how to check the tread depth yourself, you can better anticipate and be proactive about knowing when you will need to pay to replace your tires.
The best way to check your tread depth is with a tire tread depth gauge, but most people donāt have one of those lying around. Lucky for you, our good friend Abe Lincoln gave us a readily available tool that can still give us a pretty accurate measurement - a penny!
Start by focusing on the middle of your tire where you will likely find the lowest tread depth. Hold a penny vertically inside the grooves of the tread with Lincolnās head facing upright. If the height of the tread coverās Abeās head, then you are good to go - you donāt need to visit your mechanic just yet! If you can see Lincolnās head peeking out over the tread of the tires, then it is time to start shopping. Be sure to take multiple measurements if you need to.
Planning ahead to make a significant purchase, like new tires, can ease some of the sticker shock and financial impact on car maintenance that is necessary to keep you, and your passengers, safe on the road. Hopefully this tip helps you take some of that uncertainty and guess work into your own hands!