Driving on bald tires is hazardous, especially in the rain or other slippery conditions. But how significant is the difference between worn and fresh tread, and how do you know when it's time for new tires?
In the featured video, Toyota shows how a car, when braking from 60mph on a wet road, takes as many as 10 additional car lengths to stop when it has worn tread compared to fresh tread.
Do you need special equipment to tell when your tread is worn down, or can you just eyeball it?
While you can purchase a purpose-built tread depth gauge, an easier method is to use a coin. Traditionally, a penny was used-- if the tire tread is deeper than Lincoln's hair when the coin is inserted head-first, then your tread is still safe to drive on.
However, as the video demonstrates, the 2/32 inch depth that a penny measures is already cutting it thin. Use the same method, but with a quarter instead. Washington's head begins at the 4/32 inch mark from the top of a quarter.
If you think your tire tread is getting thin, then visit Trotter Toyota for service and parts.
