What is bad tread?

Once your tire tread is below 1/8th of an inch of rubber, most industry experts suggest preparing to replace. If you're down to 1/16th of an inch, your tires are considered worn out, and most states require immediate replacement.

Is 40% tire tread bad?

Used tires tread can be up to 90%, but the average is 6-8/32”. Tires in good condition should have a minimum of 6/32” to be useful, or 4/32” if the tire is 13-14”. The average legal minimum tread depth is 2/32”, but driving becomes unsafe with such a tread.

How do you know if your tire tread is bad?

Place a penny head first into several tread grooves across the tire. If you always see the top of Lincoln's head, your treads are shallow and worn. 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.

What is a good tread number?

Tire Tread vs.

The tire tread depth gauge measures in 32nds of an inch. Good tire tread depth will be 6/32 or deeper. If the depth is 4/32, you should start thinking of replacing your tires and getting new ones. 2/32 or less means that you should change your tires ASAP.

Why is low tread bad?

As the tread wears away over time, the grooves become shallower, making them less effective at directing water away from the tire. The shallower the grooves, the greater the risk of hydroplaning.

Good Tread Vs Bad Tread - What's the Difference

What is unsafe tire tread depth?

The U.S. Department of Transportation recommends replacing tires when they reach 2/32”, and many states legally require tires to be replaced at this depth. The idea of the penny test is to check whether you've hit the 2/32” threshold. Here's how it works: Place a penny between the tread ribs on your tire.

How long should tires last?

On average, people drive between 12,000 to 15,000 miles a year, which means the average good quality all-season tire will last somewhere between three and five years, depending on maintenance, driving style and conditions, etc.

What does treadwear 800 mean on a tire?

Treadwear is not based on any one industry or government standard. The higher the number the longer the tire should last compared to similar tires from the same manufacture with lower numbers. A tire with a treadwear rating of 800 should theoretically last about twice as long as a tire with a treadwear rating of 400.

What does a treadwear of 500 mean?

If the tire being tested gets a 500-tread wear rating, that means it's expected to take five times as long to wear out as the control tire. The tread wear grade designation is defined when the tire is run a 640 kilometer course for 11,520 km, with tread depths being measured every 1,280 to give a projected tread life.

What does treadwear 600 mean on a tire?

In basic terms, and in the spirit of the concept, the higher the UTQG treadwear rating, the greater the tire life. A tire with a "600" treadwear rating is forecasted to last twice as long as a tire with a "300" rating, and should accumulate three times the mileage of a "200" rated tire.

Can I drive with low tread?

The bottom line is that it is extremely dangerous to drive on worn, bald and low tread tires. For example: When roads are wet, worn tires affect a car's ability to brake quickly and efficiently. A car is more likely to hydroplane with low tread tires.

How do I know I need new tires?

Take a penny and place Lincoln's head in one of the grooves of the tire tread. If you can see all of Lincoln's head, it's time to replace the tire. If the penny goes in enough that the tire tread is at least as deep as Lincoln's forehead, your tires are generally considered safe and do not need replacing.

At what tread depth should tires be replaced?

New tires have an average tread depth of 8 to 9 millimeters (10/32 to 11/32 inches). As you drive, the tread will wear down. A tire with a tread depth below 1.6 millimeters (2/32 inches) lacks grip. Braking distance and vehicle control are impaired.

Is 50 tire tread good?

If the tread reaches the bear's paws, your tires are probably pretty new. If it reaches all the way across the silver, they're about 50% worn. If your tire tread reaches only about half-way into the letters, it's time to shop for new tires.

Is 80 tire tread good?

Here's what the heck that means: 2/32nds of tread is the legal minimum of tread you need on your tires to pass inspection in most states. Most tires have 10/32nds of tread when new, and when 80 percent of the tread has worn down, or its reached 2/32nds, it's time for new tires.

Should I replace tires at 4 32?

"Tire Rack's advice is that if rain and wet roads are a concern, you should consider replacing your tires when they reach approximately 4/32" of remaining tread depth." Obviously the tread will wear away over the life of the tire and the volume of its tread grooves will be reduced.

Is 560 treadwear good?

For example, four models that had modest tread-wear grades (520 to 560) and warranties (65,000 to 75,000 miles) scored fair in CR's wear-test ratings. Likewise, a tire with a 700 UTQG grade and an 80,000-mile warranty had excellent tread wear in the tests.

How many miles is a 700 treadwear rating?

A general rule of thumb sometimes used is that an average driver with an average vehicle can typically estimate the tread life of a tire by multiplying the UTQG treadwear rating by 100. For example, a tire with a treadwear rating of 700 may last approximately 70,000 miles.

How long does a 200 treadwear tire last?

A tire rated at 200 has a projected tread life of 60,000 miles. A tire rated at 50 has a projected tread life of 15,000 miles.

What is treadwear 300?

Treadwear grade: A government-required number that indicates a tire's expected wear. A grade of 300 denotes a tire that will wear three times as well as a tire graded 100.

How many miles is a 400 treadwear rating?

For example, treadwear 400 will mean every 1/32” wears every 8,000-10,000 miles. However, hard rubber provides a rather rough ride, while softer rubber performs better and soothes the move.

Is a higher treadwear rating better?

The bigger the number, the longer the tread life. For instance, a tire that has a treadwear number of 200 lasts twice as long as one that has a number of 100. This is all based on a government guideline — a guideline, not a regulation. Each tire company has a test tire that is rated at 100.

Why do new car tires wear out so fast?

New tires or factory tires wear out quickly because car manufacturers use soft rubber for their tires. This soft rubber wears out much faster than aftermarket tires.

How long do factory tires last on a new car?

As a general rule, the original tires on a new vehicle or quality replacement tires should last up to 50,000 miles.

When should you change tires?

When the tread is worn down, tires lose traction during braking and won't grip the road well when driving in the rain, ice and snow. But even if there's plenty of tread left, tires should be replaced if they're too old, at least every six years.