How Do I Check Tire Tread Wear?

When your tires are healthy, that’s a big part of making sure your car is healthy. As you’re driving through Providence, RI, your tires are keeping you on the ground and moving safely, so it’s imperative that you have your tires aligned and rotated the right way to maintain its suspension. If you’re asking “how do I check my tire tread wear?” you’ve got us to explain the process to you. You should also check out our great national offers on new MINI vehicles.

What’s the Right Tire Tread Depth?

Putting on your new tires in Cranston, RI will give you a starting tire tread depth of 10/32 or 11/32 of an inch. This might be deeper if you’re using off-roading tires or winter tires that are specified for conditions out of the norm of typical driving. If you’re down to 2/32 of an inch, that means it’s time to change your tires according to the United States Department of Transportation.

The Penny Test

One quick method of how to check your tire tread depth is called the penny test. All it requires is an American penny featuring Abraham Lincoln’s face on it. While we recommend using a ruler in Newport, RI, if you’ve got just a penny handy, that’ll work too. Here’s a quick way of figuring out whether your tires have too little tread on them:

1. Put the penny into the tire tread groove with Abe Lincoln’s head facing face-first.
2. Check to see if Lincoln’s head is fully obscured and no longer visible in between the grooves of the tire.
3. If you can see the entirety of Lincoln’s face, it’s time to change your tires by visiting our parts experts or a tire center in your local area. That’s a sign your tires are at 2/32 of an inch or less.
4. Check this on all four of your tires in multiple locations to ensure that all your tires have the proper tread.

In addition, there are a few more things you should check for when you’re looking at your tires. These are just a few signs it might be time for new tires:

• Visible damage to the tire
• Lack of tire pressure
• Tire rot or disintegrated tires
• Improper wheel alignment

Need Tires? Look No Further Than MINI of Warwick

Now that you know how to check your tire tread depth, if it’s time for tires, you can trust in MINI of Warwick to deliver you tires that are perfect for your Mini. We know Mini cars inside and out and are always focused on making sure you’re taken care of when you’re in our showroom or in touch with our sales professionals. If you want to discover our high standards, learn what the MINI Cooper warning lights mean, where to get MINI Cooper oil changes, or even want to check out our MINI Countryman AWD models, just contact us.