Find out the minimum thickness of your car's tire treads for safe travel
Tires are the main safety component of a vehicle. Tire performance must remain optimal if you want to always travel safely. To do this, make sure the thickness of the car tire grooves always meets the standards.
The tire groove or what is often called the tire tread turns out to have a big influence on tire performance. The thickness should be within the recommended range. The reason is, the tire grooves really help the tires to grip well on the road surface and provide traction for driving.
If the tire grooves are thin, the risk is very big. Safety is at stake because the tires are no longer firmly planted on the road. In other words, the tires become slippery so they are unable to grip the surface optimally.
The important use of tire grooves or better known as treads is increasingly felt in the rainy season. The reason is, the unique tread pattern is of great benefit in disposing of water on the road.
This pattern is not just an accessory. Through the treads, water on the surface will be channeled through there so that the tires remain firmly tread.
If the tread is thin, the ability to drain water decreases. As a result, tire performance also decreases. It's a big danger if that happens because driving safety is at stake.
To maintain optimal tire performance, pay attention to the thickness of the tire grooves. It is recommended to start replacing tires with new ones when the thickness reaches 1.6 mm. The maximum tolerance is 1.4 mm. If it is less than this thickness level, the tire is in bad condition because it cannot grip the road properly.
HOW TO MEASURE
To measure tire tread thickness, you need a special tool called a Tire Depth Gauge. You can get it at various automotive accessories stores.
Later measurements will be made from a tire thickness indicator called the Tread Wear Indicator (TWI). The shape is a triangular symbol located at the bottom limit of the tire tread and the rubber protrusion between the tire treads. If the TWI is visible or even eroded, the tire must be replaced without needing to be measured again because it means the tread is thin.
However, if you can't see it yet, you can find out the thickness of the tread from there. Don't measure from the bottom of the tire groove. This is a big mistake because it does not describe the actual thickness of the tread.
If the thickness level is below the tolerance range, replace the tire immediately. Even if it's still close, there's no harm in looking for new tires. The reason is, over time the tires will become increasingly bald.
Remember, tread thickness is very important for tire performance. If it is bald because the tread is thinning, the tire will not be able to tread the road firmly so that driving safety will be reduced.