Your tires are your car’s best friend—they’re the only thing connecting you to the road. When their tread gets too worn down, it’s like wearing smooth-soled shoes on an icy sidewalk. That’s why knowing how to check your tire tread depth is so important for safety. Worn tread makes it harder to stop, especially in rain or snow. Driving with tires that are too worn is also illegal. Here are some easy ways to check your tires. This will help you know when to visit a tire shop like Don Hattan Derby Service for professional help.

Tire manufacturers make it easy for you. Every tire has little rubber bridges, called tread wear indicator bars, molded right into the main grooves.

1. Look closely at the main, wide grooves that run around the tire.
2. You will see small, raised bars of rubber that sit low inside the grooves.
3. If the tire tread is worn down to the same level as these bars, the tire is worn out!

No special tools? No problem! A penny can tell you if your tires are at the dangerous, legal limit. A quarter can tell you if you should think about replacing them soon.

The penny test quickly tells you if your tread is 2/32″ deep or less.

1. Grab a U.S. penny.
2. Place the penny into a tire groove with Abraham Lincoln’s head pointing down toward the tire.
3. If you can see all of Lincoln’s head, your tread is too shallow (less than 2/32). It’s time for new tires!
4. If the top of his head is covered by the tread, your tires still have some life left.

Many experts recommend replacing tires before they hit the legal limit, especially if you live in a rainy or snowy area. 4/32 of an inch is a much safer depth.

1. Grab a U.S. quarter.
2. Place the quarter into a tire groove with George Washington’s head pointing down.
3. If you can see the very top of Washington’s head, your tread is getting low (less than 4/32″). You should start planning a trip to a tire shop soon, like Don Hattan Derby Service.

Tread depth is most important, but physical damage also means a tire is worn out and unsafe.

• Uneven Wear: If one part of the tire is much more worn than another—like one edge is bald while the middle is fine—this is a sign of a problem like low pressure or an alignment issue. You need professional tire service to fix the underlying problem before it ruins your new tires!
• Cracks and Dry Rot: Look at the sides of your tires (the sidewall). If you see lots of small cracks or the rubber looks dull and brittle, this is called dry rot. It means the rubber is breaking down, and the tire could fail even if the tread is deep.
• Bulges or Blisters: A bulge or bubble on the sidewall is extremely dangerous. It means the inside layers of the tire have broken, and air pressure is pushing out. Do not drive on a tire with a bulge—it could blow out at any moment! Get a professional tire repair or replacement immediately.

Keeping an eye on your tire tread is one of the easiest ways to keep your car safe. If your penny test fails or you see any strange bulges or cracks, don’t wait. You need an expert diagnosis. At Don Hattan Derby Service, we offer complete tire service, from simple tire repair to checking your alignment, rotating your tires, and finding the perfect set of replacements.