Tread depth is an important factor in deciding the stopping distance of your car, especially over wet surfaces. Just see how much farther a car with worn-down tread takes to stop compared to a car with fresh tires.
The tread depths tested were 10/32, 4/32, and 2/32 inches. Yes, all tire treads are measured in 1/32 increments. We can almost hear our middle school math teacher telling us to simply the fractions.
Now, the famous "penny method." Take a penny, and have Lincoln nose-dive into your tread. If you can still see the top of his head, you need new tires. If his hair is covered by the tread, you're good to go.
While this can be an accurate way to judge depth, Lincoln's hair is actually at the 2/32 inch mark on the coin. By the time you can see his head, you're already at dramatically reduced stopping power.
Visit Shore Toyota's Tire Center for new tires, or stop in to our Service Center for tire maintenance.
