Regularly inspecting your tires and taking care of any issues you find go a long way toward getting the best performance and most mileage out of your tires, and keeping you safe on the road. Take time to look for:
Tread depth: Tires with shallow tread are more susceptible to sliding and skidding, and to being damaged. Tread should be a minimum of 2/32” deep, which you can easily check with a penny. Put a US penny into your tires’ built-in tread wear indicators with Lincoln upside down. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, the tire needs to be replaced.
Tread wear: If it’s been a long time since you’ve had your tires rotated, balanced, or aligned (or checked for underinflation), your tires may show signs of uneven tread wear. Look for wear that’s worse on one edge than it is on the other or, if you have radial tires, exposed steel.
Embedded objects: Tire tread is bound to pick up various objects from the road. Look for small pieces of metal, glass, stone, or other materials that have become wedged in the tread. Catching embedded objects early can prevent them from becoming serious issues later.
Damage: A tire may need to be replaced or repaired if you see damage on its side or in the tread. Look for holes, bulges, cuts, splits, and cracks.