The main task of road safety is to reduce accidents. Meanwhile, ruthless statistics claims that a huge proportion of accidents occur because of a disregard for the condition of cars. Any driver, no matter how experienced and careful he is, should know the axiom - half-tires, replace it with a new one. Many car owners, especially those with little experience in operating cars, often ask how to determine tire wear? We analyze several ways.

Content

• 1 Allowable wear
• 2 Tread gauge as the easiest way to check
• 3 "Engineering" method
• 4 Check the depth "from the manufacturer"
• 5 "Handy" method using a coin

Allowable wear

The easiest accurate way to check tire wear is to use a special meter.

Allowable wear шин — это минимальная высота рисунка протектора, при которой вождение легковых автомобилей считается безопасным. Он прописан в ПДД и составляет 1,6 мм. Но, как вы знаете, покрышка покрышке рознь, поэтому это допущение не может быть справедливым для абсолютно любых шин. Поэтому водители, эксплуатирующие свои автомобили много лет в разных погодных условиях и на разном покрытии, вывели другое «золотое правило» — глубина протектора летом должна быть не менее 2 мм, зимой – 4 мм.

Tread gauge as the easiest way to check

Nowadays, on the shelves of stores in a large assortment there are so-called tire tread meters. Anyone can take advantage of them, as there are versions of devices that will not only show the numerical value of the height of the picture, but also tell you whether it is time to change the tires. Simply attach the device to the wheel (or rather, insert the probe into the groove) and it will show the residual tread depth.

"Engineering" method

The first thing that comes to mind is to measure the tread depth for people with a technical mindset - a ruler or a caliper. Insert the caliper gauge into the protector (at the bottom of the groove) and look at the instrument readings. Also, this operation can be done by replacing a pin (for example, a match) and a ruler instead of a probe. If you have experience with measuring tools, then measure the tread with a ruler and calipers will not be easy.

See also: What does speed index and tire load index mean?

Check the depth "from the manufacturer"

Tire with TWI indicator

Часто, уважающие себя производители, такие как Michelin или Nokian, используют tire wear indicator, то есть впечатывают на поверхности протектора цифры. В результате эксплуатации и истирания шин, стираются и цифры. Эти цифры и означают остаток от рисунка в миллиметрах. Благодаря этому ориентиру можно легко заменить изношенные шины именно в тот момент, когда они полностью отходят свой ресурс и станут небезопасными.

Another way for a manufacturer to care about the safety of its products is to indicate the normalized mileage value for each of the models produced. But unfortunately, one cannot rely on these figures. The “mileage” of a tire is very dependent on the following factors: operating conditions, driving style, vehicle weight, suspension performance and even the type of transmission (mechanical or automatic). The accuracy of this method is plus or minus 10 thousand kilometers.

Also on tires used special wear alarms - TWI. This type of indication is quite common and is a narrow strip, which is applied to the tires between the tread blocks. To notice this control device, you should look at the side surface of the tire. You can see either the logo of the company, or its name, or the arrow. In case of contact of this sign with the road, it should be replaced with a new rubber.

Some manufacturers suggest monitoring tire wear using a digital indicator.

"Handy" method using a coin

Drivers of all countries are distinguished by their sense of humor, so they came up with an easy and positive method for determining the degree of tread wear. It is based on measuring its height with a one-dollar coin. It is done this way: a coin with the image of the president is pushed into the protector so that its head is pointing down. Pay attention to the hair of Washington. If they are visible, then the rubber can be changed.

See also: Running in of winter tires with spikes

If there is no metal dollar, maybe there is a cent? If so, then Lincoln will come to your aid. With the same scheme as with Washington: Lincoln's crown accessible for contemplation indicates a desirable change of tires. If God only favors rubles and pennies, do not despair. You will be assisted by a proud eagle with a two-ruble coin. Send a coin, with the eagle head down, into the protector. Head over the tread - change tires, head in the tread - the tire will still work. Oddly enough, this method is quite common. Probably due to the fact that there is a trifle in any motorist.