What Are Tire Wear Bars and What Do They Do?

Tire wear bars, also known as tread wear indicator bars, are an incredibly useful tool that is embedded in most tire treads. These bars are used to assess the condition of your tire and indicate when you are due for a new set of tires. If you are looking into your tires Washington NC tread and interested in learning more about the wear bars, continue reading this article from Pugh’s Tire and Service Center. 

What and Where Are My Tire Wear Bars?

Tire wear indicator bars are small tread marks that are found at the lowest safety point in your tire tread and are placed around the tire to measure how evenly your tread is being worn down. These bars are often raised to 2/32”, which is the hazard point in most tires. Put more simply, the sole purpose of the wear bar is to offer a visual indication of how much tread you have left on your tires before becoming hazardous and even illegal. 

What Can Happen If My Tires Are Bare?

Tire tread helps stabilize your car in wet conditions, helps provide better traction and an all-around improved driving experience. Without it, you might find yourself losing control on the road, or with a popped tire. When the tread has worn down to the level of the wear bars, it’s time to replace your tires, yet most manufacturers and the professionals at Pugh’s Tire and Service Center suggest replacing your tires Washington NC sooner to help keep you safer on the road. But how do you know exactly how much tread you have left on your tires? There are a few different ways to check the remaining tread!

How to Check the Tread on Your Tires

1. Penny Test- The penny test is pretty simple and somewhat accurate. Place a penny head down into several tread grooves across the tire. If you are seeing the top of Lincoln’s head, your tread is shallow, worn, and potentially dangerous. If this is the case, your tires need to be replaced. If part of Lincoln’s head is always covered by the tread, you have more than 2/32 of an inch of tread depth remaining. This means you probably don’t need new tires, just yet. If you frequently drive in wet conditions due to where you live or work, it’s a good idea to leave a little extra tread on your tires Washington NC for safety. In this case, you can check your tread level using a quarter instead of a penny.
2. Measure with a Tread Depth Gauge- To get a more precise and readable tread measurement, you can use a tread depth gauge. Alternatively, you can use a ruler with 1/16th inch markings or millimeter measurements. Place the ruler or depth gauge into a few of the grooves and measure from the base of the tread to its current level. Any tire that measures at or below 1/16 of an inch (or roughly 1.6 millimeters) should be replaced. 
3. Leave it to the professionals- While testing fairly new tires at home is acceptable, if you are trying to get as much life out of your wheels as possible, the most accurate measurement will be from an experienced tire and auto mechanic, such as the ones at Pugh’s Tire and Service Center. Stop by one of our locations and request a tire tread inspection, and we will make sure you are driving safely!

New Tires and New Tread- Pugh's Tire and Service Center

If you realize through any of the above indicators that your tread is getting low, or your tires are past low and are bald, then it is time to purchase new tires! Bring your vehicle into your nearest Pugh’s Tire and Service Center for new tires Washington NC that are the right fit for your vehicle and lifestyle. Contact us today, and we look forward to seeing you soon!