Measuring Tire Tread Depth With A Penny? It’s Time To Stop.
April 6, 2023
Ever been told to use a penny to measure your tire tread? The belief is, when the tread on your tires is worn to the top of Lincoln’s head, it’s time for new tires. This may have been popular advice during your grandfather’s time, but testing shows this practice is out of date.
Experts suggest replacing your tires when the tread is worn to 4/32 of an inch, or about where the tread would come up to the top of Washington’s head on a quarter. The distance between Lincoln’s head and the edge of a penny is only 2/32 of an inch, well past the advised wear depth. As tires wear, they lose their efficiency in gripping the pavement in the rain, snow or when stopping.