What Would Cause Trailer Tire To Cup On The Inside Of The Tire Tread
One of the main causes of a trailer tire to cup on the inside is overloading. Under such circumstances, you should check to see if the axle has curved. Tire cupping can also be caused by bad alignment or worn-out suspension. This can cause the tire to bounce its way down the highway, thereby causing uneven tire wear.
How Much Tread On Wide Glide Is Safe
The size of your motorcycle tires is all about your riding style and preferences. Having a wide glide means that youâll compromise on safe handling and this could be more harmful if your motorbike doesnât have the right dimensions to hold the tire size.
Differently, wide glide tires give you a smoother but powerful ride. As such, you should know exactly what your bike needs, your preferences, and this will be helpful in the decision-making process. That being said, the safest tread depth to have on a wide glide tire is 1/32 of an inch.
Ways To Check Used Tires Tread Depth
- Penny test.There are two ways of performing the penny test:
- Put a penny sideways into a tread groove and look at how much of Lincolns head hides in it. If you can see all of it, the tire is worn out with 2/32 tread depth. If a small part of the head is still in the groove, you may have 4/32 tread left.
- Now use a penny with the Lincoln Memorial facing you. If the top of it is covered by the used tires tread, you have 6/32 or more.
Treadwear indicator bars.Most tires have treadwear bars throughout the grooves indicating the minimum legal depth of 2/32. There are also tire models that have several grades of bars: at 8/32, 6/32, 4/32, and 2/32. When a bar becomes visible, the tire is reaching a certain tread depth.
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The Penny Test How It Works
After understanding about tread depth and its importance, you could start figuring out whether you have the right level of tread.
Lets dig deep into your pockets, your couch cushions or your piggy bank, grab a penny, and head out to your garage. Its time for the penny test.
The penny test is fairly simple, however, many individuals do not know how to properly test their tires using a penny or what the results mean.
First, if you want to measure tire tread depth effectively, you need to know how to position the coin.
Place a penny between the tread ribs on your tire.
A good rhyming memory aid for you to use when trying to remember how the penny test works is Head into the tread.
A rib is the raised portion of tread. The raised portion spans the circumference of your tire. Tire tread has several ribs.
The top of Lincolns head will disappear on a tire with adequate tread. If can see his chin, nose and eyes, thats great. But you know your tire treads are too shallow and worn if you can also see the top of Lincolns head. If all of his head is visible, then its a sign that the tread has worn down too low and you have 2/32 or less of tire tread remaining, its time to start shopping for new tires.
FRIENDLY REMIND:
When using the penny tire test, DO NOT check a single tire. Try to check all four tires, remember to check various places around each tire and pay special attention to areas that look the most worn.
What Happens When Tire Tread Is Low

There are several reasons why itâs an offense to drive a car with worn-out tire treads. Low tire treads are more vulnerable to punctures and can lead to sudden blowouts. This can lead to devastating accidents if it happens when youâre driving at speed. The low tread will also affect your carâs braking ability. In other words, chances of hydroplaning will increase and the car will not brake quickly and efficiently.
Thatâs not all, driving a car with low or worn out treads will lower traction in wet conditions and it can be a lot easier to lose control of the vehicle in such conditions.
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How To Measure Tire Tread Depth With A Canadian Coin
A classic way of measuring your tire tread depth is by using a quarter Canadian coin. You can insert it in one of the grooves with the caribou facing down. If you can visibly see the tip of the nose, it means that your tire tread depth is below the 6/32 inch- threshold and you should replace the tires.
Is 9/32 A Good Tread Depth
Average new tires used on cars typically start with 10/32″ to 11/32″ of original tread depth. … As mentioned above, tires are legally “worn out” In most States when they reach 2/32″ of remaining tread depth. For example, a typical tire that starts with 10/32″ of original tread depth has only 8/32″ of useable tread depth.
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What Is The Tire Tread Depth Of A Kelly Edge A/s Tire
The Kelly Edge A/S tire is an all-season tire thatâs meant for SUVs, minivans, crossovers, coupes, and sedans. Itâs designed with a tread block and tread compound that enhances traction on both dry and wet surfaces. It has a tread depth of 9/32 with wider circumferential grooves to help in channeling away water and slush for added grip.
How Much Tread Depth Is There On New Tires
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A tireâs tread depth determines traction and braking performance. So, how much tread depth is there on new tires? This article has the answers.
New tires come with a tread depth of 10/32 inch to 11/32 inch. With time, the tread will wear down gradually. And once the tread reaches 2/32 inch, that tire is considered worn out and it cannot guarantee safe driving. When that time comes, you are advised to replace such a tire right away.
In this article, we will take a closer look at tire tread depth. We will also walk you through the different methods that you can use to measure tire tread depth, to determine whether the remaining tread is safe for driving. And by the time you finish reading this article, you will have learned everything that you need to know about tire tread depth, its effect on driving performance as well as how you can measure it.
We are committed to publishing well-researched, objective, informative and up-to-date reviews. And this is made possible by our highly capable team, comprising tire experts, trained researchers, experienced journalists and various other experts. So, whenever you are reading a tire article on our website, you can be assured that the information you are getting is credible.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
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How To Check Tire Tread With A Penny
After understanding tread depth and its importance, you can find out if your tread depth is satisfactory. Find a penny and go to your car. It is time to do a check tire tread depth. This test is not difficult. However, many people do not know how to check their tires properly or do not know what the results mean. First, to measure the tread depth, you need to know how to place the penny. Place a penny between the veins on your tire.
On a new tire with the tread depth, the top of Lincoln’s head will disappear. But if you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, your tread is too shallow and worn. If the entire head is visible, it is a sign that the tire is too worn and the tread depth is only 2/32 inches or fewer. You need to replace the tire immediately.
Note that you should check all four tires. Then, check multiple places around each tire and pay attention to the most worn areas. Maybe some parts of your tire do not meet the requirements, but others do. You should change the tire when any area is unsatisfactory.
What Is Tire Tread
Tire tread refers to that part on the circumference of the tire that meets or makes contact with the road. Itâs a crucial part of the tire and includes several elements such as tread grooves, tread lugs, wear bar, tread voids, and rain grooves. It spans the entire surface of the tire and may wear out as the tires are being used and this can limit their effectiveness.
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What Is A Directional Tire Tread
A directional tread pattern simply refers to a tire tread pattern thatâs designed to rotate only in one direction. The lateral voids and channels of these treads should all point forward and down. Tires with directional tread patterns are generally perfect if you have a performance car and youâre more concerned with speed.
With A Tire Tread Wear Indicator

You can also check wear on tires without any tools because tires have a built-in tire tread indicator or wear gauge.
They can be seen as six bars throughout the tread ribs. The bar becomes visible as it reaches the minimum legal tread depth of 2/32 inches or 1.6 millimeters.
Some tires were designed with different grades of bar, such as 8/32, 6/32, 4/32, and 2/32. So check all the tread grooves to make sure it follows the tire wear indicator chart.
The tire tread depth of brand new tires of pickup trucks or large vehicles is around 15/32 to 20/32 inches.
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What Are Some Of The Elements That Influence The Tire Tread Patterns
Tire tread patterns can impact your tire performance in areas such as handling and the amount of traction they provide in different driving conditions. In most cases, three elements influence the tire tread patterns:
- Cost-efficiency and comfortability
- Enhanced performance, and
As far as cost-efficiency and comfortability are concerned, the tread patterns to choose are symmetric. The outer and inner sides of the treads are mirror images of one another, which enable the tire to use any type of rotation. This is why they are generally referred to as multi-directional tread patterns.
Asymmetric tread patterns are ideal for enhanced performance. The inner and outer halves of the treads have different channels and tread blocks, which are essential in dispersing water, snow traction, and dry grip.
For enhanced safety and performance, you can choose directional tread patterns, which are only designed to roll in one particular way. This type of tread pattern is common in winter and high-performance tires and is V-shaped to help in moving water more competently from under the contact patch, thereby boosting hydroplaning resistance at higher speeds.
When Should Your Tires Retire
No matter how new your tire is, Bridgestone recommends checking inflation pressure every month and scheduling regular inspections with a pro. After five years, an inspection is essential to determine if a tire is still road-worthy.
We recommend tires that were manufactured 10 years prior be taken out of service and replaced with new tires. Same goes for the spare. If its 10 years old, it needs to be replaced, even if it appears new.
Its important to note that the age of a tire is not the only indicator of whether it needs to be replaced. Many tires will need to be replaced before 10 years of age due to routine tread wear and other conditions such as punctures, impact damage, improper inflation, overloading and more. If a tire is worn out or otherwise unserviceable from damage or conditions of use, it should be replaced regardless of when it was produced or purchased.
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How To Best Maintain Tyres To Optimise Tread Depth
While tyre tread will inevitably wear down over time, there are several measures that you can take to slow this process and keep the tread deep and effective:
How Does Tire Tread Work
Tire manufacturers spend many hours developing tread patterns that will not only offer optimum performance but will also ensure that the other parts of the carâs performance arenât compromised. As such, the focus is chiefly on noise reduction, wet braking, dry braking, irregular wear, snow and ice traction, and PRAT .
Also known as tread patterns, the grooves in the rubber are also designed to expel water from beneath with the main aim of preventing hydroplaning. This means that a tire with a high void concept is perfect for providing excellent wet braking performance. More importantly, optimum tire tread patterns that deliver excellent performance without compromising any other part or function of the car are quite essential.
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How To Create Tire Tread In Solidworks
Modeling tires in Solidworks is a technique that can be used for any tire. It can be very handy if you want to create a tire by 3D-printing a mold then molding the tires from rubber or silicone.
Here is what you can do.
- Get the specifications and tread pattern of the tires you want to make. You should also have a good picture of the tread pattern you want to copy if you want the tire to look more realistic.
- Create the first section of the tread
- Then model the other section of the tread
- Make the tread round so that it looks like a real tire by trimming the tread.
- Save a copy of the tire.
- Add the necessary lettering.
How Do I Know If My Tires Are Good
Use the penny test, a tire tread depth gauge, or consult the wear indicators to determine whether you have optimal tread depth.
You shouldn’t let it fall below 2/32″ .
But tread depth is only part of the battle.
- Sidewall cracks Look for cuts or cuts in your tire’s sidewall. If they’re visible to the naked eye, your tire might be leaking or ready to blow out.
- Bulges and blisters protrude from the surface and considerably weaken your tire, causing sudden blowouts.
- Vibrations While a small amount of vibration is natural, too much could indicate a problem. Misaligned or unbalanced tires typically cause it.
- Uneven Tread Wear – A tire’s tread wears unevenly, so it’s important to get your tires balanced regularly.
The above plus insufficient tire tread depth is a recipe for disaster that a mechanic can fix.
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What Causes Tire Tread Feathering
Tire treads feathering generally refers to a condition whereby the tread ribs are worn out and rounded on one side while remaining sharp on the other side. The main cause of tire tread feathering is improper wheel alignment settings. For example, tire tread feathering can occur if thereâs excessive toe-in alignment.
Another major cause of tire tread feathering is serious issues with the carâs suspension. This can cause handling problems and even further damage to the tires. Feathering is also a sign of aggressive driving such as taking corners at high speeds.
Why Does Tire Air Pressure Matter

Having the proper air pressure in your tires is also critical. Tire air pressure is expressed as a number followed by PSI. This stands for pounds per square inch. 28 PSI means 28 pounds per square inch. It is a measurement of the force inside the tire applied to one square inch. You can check the recommended tire pressure for your car in your owners manual or on a sticker inside the drivers side door. For most vehicles, it is around 32 PSI.
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How Deep Should Tread Be On Tires
New tires typically come with 10/32 or 11/32 tread depths, and some truck, SUV and winter tires may have deeper tread depths than other models. The U.S. Department of Transportation recommends replacing tires when they reach 2/32, and many states legally require tires to be replaced at this depth.
How Much Tread Should A Tire On A Rental Car Have
When going for a rental car, most people often look at tire pressure but they forget to check the tire tread. The acceptable tread depth for a rental car should be 6/32 or deeper. You should always keep in mind that tread depth can affect your gripping, braking, and cornering, so you should never take it for granted.
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