Washington V. Lincoln: Tread Depth Champion In ROCKFORD

Today's River Valley Auto article focuses on the effect of tire tread depth on braking. When ROCKFORD and drivers talk about stopping power, they tend to focus on their brakes. But our tires are where the rubber meets the road. We have to have tires with enough traction to translate braking power into stopping power.

Let's concentrate on stopping in wet conditions. In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way. If it can't move the water, the tire will actually ride on top of a thin film of water. That's called hydroplaning and it is a factor in many MI auto accidents. If it's really bad, you can actually spin out of control. At best, you won't stop as fast.

Your vehicle tires have channels for water to flow through. The deeper the channel, the more water it can move. A brand new tire has very deep channels and can easily move a lot of water. As the tire wears down, the channels become shallower and can move less water. When it wears down enough, it can seriously affect your ability to stop on wet MI roads.

That's why it's so important for ROCKFORD and motorists to replace their tires when they get worn. Consumer Reports and other advocate groups call for a standard of replacing tires when the tread is worn down to 4/32 of an inch. That's 3.2 millimeters. By comparison, you've probably seen the wear indicator that's molded into tires. When tires are worn to 3/32 of an inch, the tread wear bar is visible.

And that little bit of additional tread makes a big difference. Stopping distances are cut dramatically on wet ROCKFORD surface streets and highways. A safe stop from MI freeway speeds with 4/32 of an inch of tread would result in a crash with worn out tires.

There's an easy way to tell when a tire's worn to 4/32 of an inch. Just insert a quarter into the tread. Put it in upside down. If the tread doesn't cover George Washington's hairline, it's time to replace your tires. With a Canadian quarter, the tread should cover the numbers in the year stamp.

You've probably heard of this technique using a penny and Abe Lincoln's head. That measure gives you 2/32 of an inch – half the suggested amount. And if you have uneven tread wear, have us check it out at River Valley Auto. It could be a problem with your steering or suspension components or a wheel alignment problem. If you need new tires or have any concerns about your brakes, give us a call today at 616.866.4578.

River Valley Auto
300 Northland Dr NE
ROCKFORD, MI 49341
616.866.4578
www.rivervalleyauto.net

At River Valley Auto we install quality NAPA replacement parts.