A survey conducted by the Rubber Manufacturers Association (RMA) has revealed that 13 percent of vehicles on the road today have at least one bald tire.
That marks an increase from 10.4 percent reported in a similar survey that was conducted in 2010. Of course, the less tread your tire has, the more dangerous it is to drive on it – no matter what the weather conditions are.
With plenty of traveling happening during the holiday season, now is a great time to double check your tires to ensure that there’s proper tread left on them before hitting the road. The simplest way is to grab a quarter and insert the top of George Washington’s head into each of the tread grooves on the tire. If the top of the head is level with the tread, then the tire likely has 4/32-inch of tread left.
If your tires show 4/32-inch tread or less, it’s time to replace them. Tires should surely be replaced if you do the same test with a penny, this time using Lincoln’s head as a reference point. If the top of his head is visible in any of the grooves, it’s definitely time to get yourself some new tires.