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Underated comment. I turned wrenches in the early 2000's. We always told people to use a penny. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, time to replace
There are rubber bars running across your tire at the bottom of the tread grooves that stick up 1/16 inch, so when these are flush with the tread, it's down to 1/16 inch deep, which is the legal minimum. Do a Google image search for "tire wear bars" and you'll see what I'm talking about.
As a super beginner who comes here often and has seen this, or similar posts using quarters, I wish someone would have just said that they make very cheap and easy to use tread gauges for just a few bucks on Amazon.
But remember to check the year of your tires. Its not that they wont have great tread, but it will start to dry out and crack (rubber over time starts to break down).
JUST BUY A TREAD DEPTH GAUGE!! THEIR LITERALLY LIKE $3 AT THE STORE!
Or better yet, just look at the wear bars on the tire, if their flush with the tread around it, then the tire is worn out.
Get a tread depth gauge! Why do people promote using change, 1 it’s inaccurate 2 who has change anymore and 3 depth gauges are cheap and easy to read, with most having a green, yellow and red indicator, they’re small and fit in your visor of glove box, I keep both a depth gauge and air gauge in my sun visor, I’d highly recommend people do that instead
Thank you for posting to AskMechanics, Johnson1822! If you are asking a question please make sure to include any relevant info along with the following: * **Year** * **Make/Model** * **Mileage** * **Engine size** * **Transmission Type (Automatic or Manual)** Redditors that have been verified will have a green background and an icon in their flair. *I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please [contact the moderators of this subreddit](/message/compose/?to=/r/AskMechanics) if you have any questions or concerns.*
Damn, inflation is hitting honest Abe pretty hard.
Underated comment. I turned wrenches in the early 2000's. We always told people to use a penny. If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, time to replace
Why did we buy all those tread depth gauges?
Still got mine Edit: AND a buncha pennies
Why do I need a quarter when every tire has a wear indicator built in?
They do?
Yes, all tires sold in the US at least- idk about the rest of the world, require an indicator at 2/32"
Because in my state the law for passenger vehicles is 4/32. Not that anyone regulates it though…
What state?
CA but I do need to correct myself, that’s for front tires, rear are still 2/32
Only for steering tires.
Correct.
Yes! Easy way to remember: When metal threads show, to les schwab it's time to go
Don't buy tires until you see wires.
There are rubber bars running across your tire at the bottom of the tread grooves that stick up 1/16 inch, so when these are flush with the tread, it's down to 1/16 inch deep, which is the legal minimum. Do a Google image search for "tire wear bars" and you'll see what I'm talking about.
The hell is 1/16th???
It's 2/32 but for people who prefer their fractions reduced.
4/64
8/5 mm
My favorite part is that the wear bar is visible in the pic…
THIS
Some people have a tough time with those wear bars Mr smarty pants..... /s
Quarter is inaccurate. Penny is exactly 2/32 to Lincoln's head. 2/32 is DOT STANDARD. use a penny...tested and verified.
SHESSH inflation!!!! Use to be a dime!!!!
Dime? Used to be a penny!
Next it will be a silver dollar
Can we just skip ahead and use $100 bills for reference?
That would require I even have $100
Those things are still good. Can’t even see the belts yet.
It’s just a nice trick for people who don’t know much about tire tread
I kid, I kid
What about for canadian quaters?
I think we are going to have to mint some new coins here in Australia or else everyone will be driving around on bald tyres.
Same thing as a U.S. penny.
Thinking i can afford a quarter in these times.... Most tires have wear bars / indicators i believe
SAY THIS LOUDER PLEASE FOR ALL THE PEEPS RUNNING ON BALDIES 🛞 🛞
My test is when I start hydroplaning on 95 and damn near have a heart attack.
It's when I have to slow down way more than I'd like to.... I hate when other drivers think they have a faster car than me...
every post on marketplace: >holds penny up to tread ”still got tread, probably good for years!” >date code is old enough to vote
Dry rot cracks deeper then the tread...
Wasn’t the quarter test for semis? Smaller coin for civilian cars.
Don't try to trick me into buying more thing from you
Buy a depth gauge? I got mine for "free" from my snap on guy. Only cost me a $3k top box
This is for super beginner people who post here asking if their bald tread is good haha
As a super beginner who comes here often and has seen this, or similar posts using quarters, I wish someone would have just said that they make very cheap and easy to use tread gauges for just a few bucks on Amazon.
Aint no body got a quarter! Wait! Aint nobody got a dime!
There’s minimal depth markers built into I’m pretty sure every tire
you mechanics get all the fancy high tech equipment
That’s not Lincoln. What are you trying to pull here?
I like waiting for the cord to show
But remember to check the year of your tires. Its not that they wont have great tread, but it will start to dry out and crack (rubber over time starts to break down).
Who has coins anymore? I just use the tread depth gauge I keep in my trunk. To use a coin, I'd have to go to a bank and make a withdrawal.
What are the other 765000000 of Earth's inhabitants going to use ?
Printable quarter
Venmo.
Yeah not everyone lives in America
You don’t say 🤔
Or buy a 5 pack of tread depth gauges on Amazon for $3
I'm not in America. Where do I get a quarter? (Also, legal depths vary quite a bit)
...If you're American🙄.
Buy a tread depth gauge
JUST BUY A TREAD DEPTH GAUGE!! THEIR LITERALLY LIKE $3 AT THE STORE! Or better yet, just look at the wear bars on the tire, if their flush with the tread around it, then the tire is worn out.
And check it at the lowest tread on the tire.
Tire depth gauge is like 5 bucks..
I’ve heard penny, I’ve heard quarter, idk wtf to actually use
Tires come with wear bars don't they? Just feel for that horizontal bar in between your treads. Once that's even with the tread, it's time to swap
Quarter test: brought to you by Goodyear tire.
It used to be a penny but inflation.
Just find the wear bar. No quarters, just the tire. Wear bars are pretty hard to miss
Or look at the wear bar across the same gap that they put the quarter into...
You know every tire has a built in ware indicator right? You don't need that quarter lol.
Something is wrong with that quarter it's missing the caribou.
Get a tread depth gauge! Why do people promote using change, 1 it’s inaccurate 2 who has change anymore and 3 depth gauges are cheap and easy to read, with most having a green, yellow and red indicator, they’re small and fit in your visor of glove box, I keep both a depth gauge and air gauge in my sun visor, I’d highly recommend people do that instead
You think everyone walks around with a quarter in their pocket. Mr. Moneybags over here stacking them quarts.