Summer tires

Are My Summer Tires Worn out

The summer has arrived, and you must have already made a series of plans to make the most out of this season. One thing you must keep an eye on for making all those plans successful is the condition of your summer tires. As you have already made those tires run for several miles, it’s critical that you inspect them regularly for identifying signs of wear, tear, and damage. Carrying out such inspections is of particular importance before hitting the highway.

Tires with bulges, cracks or abrasions you must replace immediately. Also, replace tires after they attain the specified minimum tread depth. For winter months, most manufacturers recommend replacing tires when they reach a tread depth of 4/32 inch. For summer, the recommended tread depth is 2/32 inch. Tires with tread depth below the levels mentioned above are called bald and are known to cause safety issues.

Tires that have tread depth equal to the recommended level or more than that, on the other hand, would provide you with more impressive traction and the ability to dispel moisture (which would ensure that you don’t hydroplane when driving on wet roads). Those healthy tires are also less likely to get punctured.

Checking a tire’s tread depth using a gauge

The easiest way of checking a tire’s tread depth is by using gauges designed for completing the job accurately. Here are the steps, you will have to complete:

Step 1: Locate the tread’s shallowest groove and slot in the pin inside the gauge. Continue inserting the pin until the base gets flush with your tire.

Step 2: Now, check the reading on the scale. Below are some readings you might come across:

2/32 inch- The tires have turned legally bald. You must replace them immediately.

4/32 to 3/32 inch- At this point, you should start considering tire replacement seriously and get the job done as early as possible.

5/32 inch- If you are visiting a place that might require you to drive on wet roads, you should consider replacing the tires.

6/32 inch- You should be happy with a tread depth of 6/32 inch. Tires with this tread depth can be considered all season tires.

The majority of the gas stations in this part of the world have gauges. To ensure easy access, you should have one in the glove compartment of your car.

Checking a summer tires tread depth using a toonie

A toonie can also tell you whether all your car tires are performance tires. Insert the toonie into the tread groove of the tire you are looking to inspect. ( Toonie center design upright) There’s no need of replacing the tire if the silver area of the coin is not visible. Replace the tire quickly, if “Canada or Dollar” appear.

Use the built-in wear indicators for inspecting your tire’s tread depth

These built-in indicators are tiny raised bars present on all your car tires. Each tire typically features six such raised bars arranged along its groove. If you find that all those indicators have worn out, you should replace the tire right away.