Anyone who’s been around the block knows that a quarter doesn’t have the same buying power it used to. Purchasing a slice of pizza or a movie ticket for 25 cents is a thing of the past, but the coin remains an unlikely yet incredibly useful tool for staying safe on the road. Many drivers…
Treading With Caution
If you look at a brand-new set of tires, you’ll notice a series of intricate patterns and grooves. This is tire tread, and it’s essential for maintaining traction on the road. However, as you drive, those grooves gradually wear down until the tires become “bald.” A lack of tread prevents your tires from being able to grip the pavement, putting you at serious risk of losing control of your vehicle.
For safety reasons, it’s important to keep track of the tread depth — which is measured in 32nds of an inch — and replace the tires when necessary. While new tires typically start with 10/32 to 12/32 of an inch of tread, you should consider replacements once they wear down to 4/32 of an inch, as that’s when traction begins to weaken. If your tread reaches 2/32 of an inch or less, you are at the legal limit and must replace the tires immediately.
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The Quarter Trick
How do you know if your tires are in bad condition without consulting a mechanic? It’s simple: Insert a quarter into the tread with the top of Washington’s head pointing down into the groove. The distance from the edge of the coin to the top of his head is approximately 4/32 of an inch. If George’s scalp is concealed, you still have a safe amount of tread. But if you can clearly see the top of his head — or the tread sits right at that level — your tires are around 4/32 of an inch or less, which means it’s a good time to think about replacing them.
As stated before, things get especially dangerous when your tread depth is 2/32 of an inch or less. To check this, repeat the test with a penny, which measures about 2/32 of an inch from the rim to the top of Abraham Lincoln’s head. If you can see the top of Lincoln’s scalp — or the words “IN GOD WE TRUST” between his head and the rim — your tread is worn to the legal limit and the tires should be replaced right away.
