The Importance Behind Your Tread

Your tires are responsible for t lot of the driving process. Fun Fact: only four small palm-sized patches of tire rubber are in contact with the ground as you drive at high speeds down the freeway. They are holding up the full weight of your car and everything in it. It is that small area’s job to grip and hug the road as they push off the ground to go forward and take turns and stops.

The grip your tires need is, actually, due to their tread. It is the grooves themselves that give you the traction you need on the road. It is the force of friction that gives your car the acceleration it needs, whether stopping, steering, or just moving. Without the proper tread on your tire, you lose control of your vehicle. Instead, your car will move where the forces were already taking it.

Measuring Your Tread

To build up enough traction, your tires need deep enough grooves. A standard new tire will come with a tread depth between 10/32 inches and 11/32 inches, although many SUV and truck tires might be deeper. In this state, you are legally required to replace your tires before they get down to 2/32 inches. However, it is far safer, and we highly recommend getting new tires when your old tread is worn down to 4/32 inches.

There is a simple enough way for anyone to easily measure their tire tread on the go. All you need to do is take a penny and place it upside-down into your tire’s grooves. Then, look at the head side of the penny from the side. If you can see any space above the top of Lincoln’s head poking out from the tire groove, then you need a replacement. On the other hand, you can always buy a very convenient and compact hand tire gauge. They are inexpensive and fit easily inside your glove compartment.

Getting a Tire Rotation

One of the easiest ways to extend the life of your tires is to rotate your tires as recommended: about every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. The role of a tire rotation is to keep the wear on your tires’ tread even and uniform. Because your tires are in different locations on your car, they receive different pressures at different angles. This means you can utilize all the tread of each tire and makes sure each one lasts longer. For example, if you have front-wheel drive, then your front tires will run out of tread much faster then the rea. And, based on turning, you can run out of tread on the edges of your tires before the center.

Always have your tires rotated by a professional. They have the power tools to put your tires in at the right tightness and square angles and can properly jack up your car with ease. Any crooked or loose tires will only experience wear and tear on their tread faster.

Your Ford Service Coupon

We are offering a special discount on tires at our Ford dealerships. It provides up to $180 in savings. Call us at (859) 341-6603 to get in contact with your nearest dealership.