Why should tire tread be checked regularly? Because road safety starts with assessing the condition and proper maintenance of your tires. Regularly checking the tread not only increases safety, but also affects fuel efficiency and driving comfort. In this article, we will explain why it is worth checking the tread depth , how to measure it correctly, and what to do when your tires are worn out.
The tire tread provides the vehicle with the right grip on the road. As it wears, the tire's ability to drain water decreases, which can lead to the dangerous phenomenon of aquaplaning. This occurs when water is not properly drained and a thin layer of it remains between the tire and the road. This causes a loss of grip. Too shallow a tire tread for a truck, a single-seater car, and any other vehicle significantly increases the braking distance , especially on wet and slippery surfaces.
Why is it important to know how to measure tire tread? Regularly checking this element can take care of:
safety – in difficult weather conditions, such as rain or snow, the correct tread depth can be the key to avoiding an accident; a well-maintained tread minimises the risk of skidding;
driving comfort – the right tread height in the tyres affects driving comfort. The right tread better dampens road irregularities, which translates into a smoother and quieter ride, which is especially noticeable on long routes;
savings – worn-out tires can cause not only financial losses related to more frequent replacement, but also the risk of a ticket for failure to meet the regulations regarding tire tread depth. Its amount ranges from several hundred to even 3 thousand zlotys. It is also worth being aware that in the event of an accident, the insurer may reduce the amount or refuse to pay compensation to the person who was driving on incorrect tires.
Not every driver needs to know how to measure tire tread, but everyone should have their vehicle checked regularly. This is especially true for commercial vehicles such as trucks and vans.
Knowing how important it is to keep your tires in good condition, it's worth knowing how to measure tread depth . Here are a few methods you can use:
tread depth gauge – this is the most accurate tool for measuring tire tread. It is not too expensive, you can buy it for less than PLN 30. How to use it? Simply place the probe/measuring line of the gauge in the tread groove, lower the upper part so that it rests on the tread blocks and read the result on the gauge;
Tread Wear Indicators (TWI) – Every tire has tread wear indicators, which are small protrusions in the grooves of the tire. If the tread is level with these indicators, it’s time to replace the tire.
How to measure tire tread? It is important to measure in several places around the circumference of the tire , because tread wear can be uneven. Before starting the measurement, park the car on a flat, even surface and turn the wheels as far as possible to ensure easy access to the tires.
Legal regulations regarding minimum tread depth vary from country to country. In Poland, the minimum tread depth for passenger cars and trucks is 1.6 mm . However, experts recommend replacing tires at a depth of 3 mm, and in the case of winter tires at 4 mm, to ensure adequate traction and safety. To better visualize the degree of tire wear at such values, it is worth remembering that new passenger tires have a tread depth of about 8-9 mm, and truck tires from 10 to 24 mm, depending on the type of transport .
Deeper tire tread is particularly important for delivery vehicles – carrying heavy loads increases tire wear, which requires more frequent tread checks. Even more attention should be paid to truck tires – due to their large weight and intensive use, the tread height in tires is of great importance for safety and driving economy.
If the tire tread is worn out, the tire should be replaced , because driving on worn out tires is not only dangerous, but also against the law. There is no way to renew the tread.
The available truck tires have the right traction parameters. Replacing tires is an investment in safety and driving comfort. While shopping, you can also check truck parts and delivery vehicle parts .
