Ventura Auto Center

Car owners often get advice on when to replace tires, but don’t really hear it explained exactly why they need to check. In fact, tire tread depth only comes into play in a handful of situations. (Racing pros win the Indy 500 on “slicks” or tires without treads entirely.) But the times they do pose the most danger for any driver.

Driving in the rain is more than a nuisance. Get enough water between a car’s tires and the road surface, and the driver’s on a knife edge between arriving home safely and an uncontrollable spin. Add hampered visibility and overall awareness to the mix, and suddenly the odds don’t look so even.

In this one instance, it’s no exaggeration to say tire wear alone plays the role of difference maker. Not good brakes, or even skill. Thankfully, this is one contingency where a little ingenuity and due diligence goes a long way toward being prepared.

So how do drivers tell when to replace tires? U.S. law requires manufacturers to put tire wear indicators into every tire sold. These “wear bars” become visible when tire tread depth gets worn to 1/16th of an inch, an unsafe margin indicating need of replacement. In practice, wear bars aren’t always easy to spot, but the 1/16″ rule holds. Drivers in the know use the penny test as a reliable time-saver.

Holding a penny upside down, simply insert it between the tire’s treads. If the treads hide the top of Honest Abe’s head, the tire doesn’t need replacing. But if there’s copper showing between the tops of the treads and Lincoln, don’t wait another minute to contact a dealer.

Try the penny test at multiple points to make sure. Better yet, make it a habit to check tire wear as often as convenient. After all, it’s one piece of good advice that comes cheap.

All the auto dealers in the Ventura Auto Center offer new tires. They have the right tire for your model and can install them for you. If your shopping for new tires remember the Ventura Auto Center.