Tire question with pic

[tgravo2]

Mainly what I want to know is how low do you let your tread get before you need to buy new tires. I have the Z-rated Turanzas, and I have 18,000 miles on my car. Does anyone think it's just about time to have them changed, or about how much longer do you think I can go on them safely. Thanks

http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=26963

[wingspan]

I change my tires at about 3 mm left. I bought a UK tire wear gauge (guess that would be a tyre gauge:) ) years ago that showed the UK standard minimum of 1.6 mm. Most of the new tires I get seem to have about 7-8 mm of tread when new. YMMV of course.

[tgravo2]

I change my tires at about 3 mm left. I bought a UK tire wear gauge (guess that would be a tyre gauge:) ) years ago that showed the UK standard minimum of 1.6 mm. Most of the new tires I get seem to have about 7-8 mm of tread when new. YMMV of course.
I don't have a gauge :eeps: maybe that would help

[Alex Baumann]

It only takes a few steps to check your tire depth:

# Pinch a Lincoln-head penny, from the base, between your thumb and forefinger, so that the top of Lincoln's head and the words "In God We Trust" are showing.

# Place the top of Lincoln's head into one of the tire tread grooves -- try to measure in the lowest point within the tread.

http://www.reviewsonline.com/auto/images/article/PennyTireGuage.jpg


# If any part of Lincoln's head is obscured by the tread, you're all set -- you have a legal and safe amount of tread. However, if you can see above Lincoln's head or any of the "In God We Trust" letters above his head, then you are ready for a new tire.

This penny trick works because the distance between the rim and Lincoln's head is 1/16 of an inch -- the minimum required tread depth. When your tire tread is lower than 1/16 of an inch, your vehicle can have handling problems in adverse conditions (rain, sleet, snow). In short, bald tires are dangerous and could even get you a ticket in some states.

Picture and text courtesy of Reviewsonline.com

[tgravo2]

hey thanks Alex!

that's a nice little tip to have :thumbup:

[wingspan]

This penny trick works because the distance between the rim and Lincoln's head is 1/16 of an inch -- the minimum required tread depth. When your tire tread is lower than 1/16 of an inch, your vehicle can have handling problems in adverse conditions (rain, sleet, snow). In short, bald tires are dangerous and could even get you a ticket in some states.

Picture and text courtesy of Reviewsonline.com

Interesting, never knew this before:

1 / 16" = 0.0625" => * 25.4 mm/inch = 1.5875 mm :thumbup:

But I would still change it earlier than Lincoln's head - more like two Lincoln heads. But I am conservative...One winter I spun in my old Civic 4D sedan going to work in the slush/snow of No Va...measured and had legal tread but traction sucked. Went that afternoon to Tire Rack and got fitted a set of Pirelli P7000s...boy did that make a big difference!!!

[swchang]

Went that afternoon to Tire Rack and got fitted a set of Pirelli P7000s...boy did that make a big difference!!!

Tire Rack has B&M stores?

[Gary@Tirerack]

Tire Rack has B&M stores?

We mount and balance in our South Bend, Indiana warehouse for $15 each.

[Desertnate]

How tall are the wear bars on a tire? I have always just gone by those. If I could rub my finger evenly from the wear bar to the tread block and back I knew it was time for new tires. I do this across several bars and different places across the tread of the tire to ensure I was not going by an area that was wearing slower or faster than another.

Not as scientific as the penny test or a tread depth guage, but has served me well.

[Gary@Tirerack]

The wear bars are almost always at 2/32nds, or the minimum legal tread depth.

[HankM3]

We mount and balance in our South Bend, Indiana warehouse for $15 each.

Terrific... I'm about 60 miles from South Bend. If I wanted to buy a new set of summer tires, can I make an appointment and then drive over to have them mounted?

Do you charge the same prices as if I ordered them over the web?

[LDV330i]

Though measuring the tread depth is a good guideline as to the need to change out tires you may also want to consider how the tires feel in actual driving conditions. Many tires, depending on tread pattern, may start hydroplaning at relatively low speeds prior to the end of their useful life. At that point I get a set of new tires.

[Desertnate]

Though measuring the tread depth is a good guideline as to the need to change out tires you may also want to consider how the tires feel in actual driving conditions. Many tires, depending on tread pattern, may start hydroplaning at relatively low speeds prior to the end of their useful life. At that point I get a set of new tires.

Ahh...so you had ContiSport Contacts mounted on your car originally too? :D

I have never seen a tire with 1/3 of its tread perfom so poorly in the rain. :tsk: