Tire safety is more important than many motorists may realize, and bald tires can be a real hazard. Without the proper tire grip, your car’s stopping time drastically increases while your ability to control your vehicle–particularly in inclement conditions–is greatly compromised. Here at our Morristown area Toyota dealer and service center, we know it’s important that drivers always know just what shape their tires are in.
When we say “bald tires,” we don’t always mean tires that are as smooth as a freshly-shaved head. “Bald” can refer to tires that still appear to have a bit of tread on them, but not enough to provide safe and reliable driving. Sometimes, the eye test isn’t enough to tell whether or not you should be in the market for a fresh set.
There’s a few ways to check the tread level on your tires. Tire tread depth gauges can be bought cheaply at most auto parts suppliers, but your pocket change can also tell you all you need to know.
The classic method of checking whether your tires are safe is to simply stick a penny upside down in the groove between your tires treads. Make sure that Abe Lincoln’s head is pointed straight down towards the rubber. Looking at the face of the coin, if any part of our 16th President’s head is covered up, then your tires have at least 2/32” of tread left. That’s just about the minimum that’s safe to drive with. If you can still see the top of Abe’s head, however, your tires need to be replaced.
If you clear the 2/32” measurement but want to get more specific, you can pull out a quarter and measure with that. If part of our first President’s head is covered up, then your tires are in pretty good shape, with about 4/32” tread. If you’re covering up Abe’s hair on the penny but not George’s on the quarter, it might be time to start shopping around for a new set of tires, since you might need them soon.
Replacement Toyota Tires in Morristown, New Jersey
It’s important to check every tire to make sure they’re all worn evenly, and it’s smart to check your treads on each tire in multiple spots to ensure consistency. And it’s also important to get the best deal you can on high quality tires. So if the coins tell you it’s either new tire time or about to be, reach out to the service team here at Toyota of Morristown to set up an appointment, or give us a call at 800-924-0421. And be sure to check out our specials page for great deals on parts and service before you come in!