How to measure tread depth on a tire?
- Thread starter HikerBob
- Start date
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If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
If you have answers, please help by responding to the unanswered posts.
SeilerBird
Well-known member
I think the way you measure depth depends on if you are one selling new tires or if you are the one buying the new tires.
CharlesinGA
Well-known member
Ignore that goofy rib in the bottom of the tread groove and measure to the deepest part of the groove. I'm wondering if that is some kind of minimum wear indicator. Usually minimum wear indicators are the raised bars at the bottom of the tread in about three places around the tire.
Milton S-448 Tire Tread Depth Gauge
Charles
Milton S-448 Tire Tread Depth Gauge
Charles
HikerBob
Well-known member
So if I don't want to buy tires it's to the bottom.
The tires are Good Year 245/70R19.5.
HikerBob
Well-known member
Thanks
Mark_K5LXP
Well-known member
Manufacturing date is up there with tread depth.
Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM
Mark B.
Albuquerque, NM
HikerBob
Well-known member
There 2020 tires. This front tire is worn more on the outside. Should I move this tire to the back?
Babe2201
Well-known member
You should use a tread depth gauge and go to the deepest part of the groove in the tire.
Barnibus
Active member
If tire is worn on both sides more than the middle, it is likely under inflated.
If it is worn on one side more that the other, you have an alignment problem.
If it is worn on one side more that the other, you have an alignment problem.
Babe2201
Well-known member
Not every retailer is a crook.
Barnibus
Active member
And, if you have an alignment problem, of course, you want to fix that before worrying about replacing a tire.
Gary RV_Wizard
Site Team
I wouldn't bother unless there is a substantial difference.
Moving a tire off the front is a based on the old notion that a tire failure is more risky if it occurs on a front (steer) wheel than the rear. Probably some truth there, but if you think the wear is enough to make the tire unsafe, then it shouldn't be used in any position. And if it's safe to use, it's ok on the front.
In any case, if the wear is uneven, you need to fix the alignment problem first. Otherwise you just wear yet another tire.
Babe2201
Well-known member
The reason why he should move it to the back is because it would even the wear out. The tire looks completely safe.
Rene T
Site Team
You need to find out why it’s worn. Moving a tire will just wear that one down in no time
Babe2201
Well-known member
What? If his rear tires are wearing smoothly putting it on the back would help to even out the wear on this one.
Rene T
Site Team
And bring the rear tire to the front will wear it out unevenly. That’s what I was getting to
Babe2201
Well-known member
How many miles do the tires have being on the front. It is a little hard to tell by the pic but it does not look all that bad and quite often vehicles will wear the outside edge of the front tires a little even if it is aligned especially if you are driving on roads that have a lot of turns or are crowned.
Babe2201
Well-known member
But if he has 6k on the tires it would be due for a rotation anyway so it would mean the same in another 6K.
Rene T
Site Team
Sooooo are you saying the OP should just leave it alone, rotate the tires and not try to find out why it wore the way it did?
Kirk
Well-known member
Part of the answer depends on what the tires are on. Car tires are normally rotated and the same is true for my single rear tire truck. I have never owned a dualy truck so have no experience there. On both of our class A rigs the tire shop agreed that rotation was not justified but part of that is due to the fact that RV tires rarely ever reach the rated mileage before they are replaced due to age. If we are talking about a motorhome I would only rotate if the problem is severe and I'd also have the alignment checked. From experience I can also tell you that worn balljoints in the front will also cause uneven wear. How old is the vehicle the tires are on and how many miles are on the tires and the total on the vehicle?
To check tread wear the following comes from the Direct Tire website.
Perform the penny test by placing a penny into the tread groove with President Lincoln’s head upside down. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, the tires are completely worn out and need to be replaced stat. If Honest Abe’s head is covered, then your tires still have more than 2/32nds of tread.
Keep in mind, even if your tires pass the penny test, they might still be worn below 4/32nds, at which point safety and performance are diminished.
