Tire Inspection Tips

Tire Inspection Tips

There are multiple ways to inspect your tires in Orem to ensure that they’re safe to drive on. The first major task in ensuring your tires are okay to drive on is to check your tire tread depth. The second major task is to check your tire pressure. We often get asked “How do I check tire tread?” and “How do I check tire pressure?” here at Orem Toyota. Both are important functions because the proper tire pressure helps optimize your fuel efficiency and promote good handling. The proper tire tread depth, meanwhile, helps optimize traction and keep you safer. Read on to learn more with the Orem Toyota service center.

What is the Recommended Tire Tread Depth?

As anyone in our Toyota tire center will tell you, there’s no real “recommended” tire tread depth, since tires are a wearable item, so their tread depth is always changing. That having been said, new tires generally have a tread depth that is between 10/32 and 11/32 of an inch (for reference, that’s about a third of an inch). Other types of tires, like winter tires, off-roading tires, or even truck and SUV tires tend, usually have deeper tread depth to suit their unique purposes. While there’s no recommended tire tread depth with which to drive around Provo or Lehi, there is a mandated tread depth at which to replace your tires and that is at 2/32 of an inch.

How Do I Check Tire Tread Depth Using The Penny Test?

Using a ruler is one of the most accurate ways to measure your tire’s tread depth, but in a pinch, a penny will do. Why? Well, the design and measurements of the U.S. penny are ideal for checking whether or not it’s time to replace your tires. That’s because of where Lincoln’s head falls in relation to the tread wear grooves.

1. Put a penny into the tire, with Lincoln’s head facing down into a tire tread groove.
2. If Lincoln’s head is covered and no longer visible between the grooves, there’s no need to worry about tire tread depth wear. You have enough tread depth to keep driving.
3. If you can visibly see all of Lincoln’s head, then your tire treads are 2/32 inches deep or less and it’s time for you to replace your tires.

What Are Other Ways I Can Check Tire Tread Depth?

Some people find that they no longer have pennies on hand to use in an instant. That’s okay. If you don’t, there are other methods for tire inspection, when it comes to tread depth:

• Tread Depth Gauge– This method is just about as accurate — if not more — than a ruler. To utilize a tread depth gauge, simply put the probe into the shallowest tread groove, then press the top bar of the gauge flat against the tire to see the treadwear rating.
• Tread Wear Bars: The vast majority of new tires have tread wear indicator bars built into them, where If the bars are flush with the tire tread grooves that surround them, it means that the tread depth has reached 2/32 of an inch, and it’s time to replace your tires.

How to Check Tire Pressure

Checking a car’s tire pressure is easier than you might think. It does, however, require a specialized tool built for this purpose. Called a tire pressure gauge, this device takes a reading of how much pressure is in the tire. When you insert the gauge into the valve stem, air rushes out with a particular amount of force, which corresponds to the reading you get on the gauge. Here’s what to do to check tire pressure at home:

• First, remove the tire valve stem cap.
• Press the guage firmly into the valve stem as if you were going to fill the tires with air.
• Read the pressure reading that is displayed on the gauge. Some gauges are now digital, others are analog. Either way, it shouldn’t be difficult to get a pressure reading.
• To be sure your tires have enough air in them, you’ll want to compare the tire pressure you got from your reading with the tire pressure recommendations on your tire sidewalls or found in your vehicle’s owner’s manual.
• Fill up your tires with air as needed.
• Replace your valve stem caps.

Premier Tire Care Awaits at Orem Toyota

Ready to experience a premier automotive service experience? Orem Toyota in Orem is here to help you with all your tire care needs! Give us a call at (801) 223-4400 now with any further questions you may have. Be sure to schedule service online now if you have any additional needs you can’t do yourself.