When it comes to measuring the state of your tyres in terms of wear, tyre wear bars, also known as tread wear indicator bars, are quite helpful. They’re one aspect that can assist you determine when you need new tyres and whether or not your present tyres fulfil legal tread depth criteria. Read on to understand what wear bars are, how to determine if you have a safe tread depth, and a few easy techniques to monitor tyre tread wear. TIRE WEAR BARS: WHAT ARE THEY?
Tread wear indication bars are little, elevated bars seen between the tread lines in the grooves of your tyres. They are positioned at various spots around the tyre to determine how uniformly the tread is worn down.
The wear bars’ purpose is to provide a visible indicator of wear is to identify how much tread your tyres have remaining
Tire tread aids in the stabilisation of your vehicle in wet weather, improves traction and handling, and improves cornering. You can find yourself spinning out of control if you don’t have it! That’s why it’s critical to monitor the wear bars on your tyres.
It’s time to replace your tyres when the tread has worn down to the level of the wear bars. This indicates that your tyres have reached the authorised tread depth limit and are no longer safe to use. Most manufacturers will advise you to replace your tyres sooner rather than later in order to keep you safer on the road.
Running your finger horizontally over the tyre wear bars is one technique to assess the condition of your tread. It’s time for new tyres if the wear bar rubs on your finger as evenly as the tread.
HOW TO INSPECT YOUR TIRES FOR TREAD
If you can’t find a wear bar on your tyre or aren’t sure what to look for, there are a few additional things you can do to check the tread on your tyres.
TEST WITH A PENNY
The penny test is straightforward. Hold a dime upside down with Lincoln’s head on it. Place it between the treads in one of the grooves. If you can see Lincoln’s entire head, your tread is worn down to or below 1/16 of an inch and has to be changed. Your tyres may still have some tread left if the top of his head is half covered.
It’s a good idea to leave a little extra tread on your tyres if you often travel in rainy weather because of where you live or work. You may have to replace your tyres more frequently, but it’s worth it to help avoid an accident. Instead of a penny, you may use a quarter to verify your tread level in this scenario.
USE A TREAD DEPTH GAUGE TO MEASURE
Use a tread depth gauge if you want to get particularly accurate with your tread readings. These may be found for a few dollars at most car parts stores. A ruler with 1/16th inch markings or millimetre measures can also be used.
Simply insert the ruler into one of the grooves and take a measurement from the tread’s base to its present level. Any tyre with a thickness of less than 1/16 inch should be changed.
GET THE FEELING OF A NEW TIRE
Are your tyre wear bars indicating that it’s time to replace your tyres? Bring your car to Smart Mechanics – Tyres in Stansted, Tyres in Bishops Stortford, Tyres in Essex, Tyres in Hertfordshire for new tyres that are the ideal fit for your car!