Checking Tire Tread Depth in Hillsboro, KS
The short answer
Your tires are worn out at 2/32 of an inch of tread, and they are worth replacing at about 4/32, which you can check in a minute with a penny or a quarter from your pocket.
The grooves in the tread push water, slush and mud out of the way so the rubber can grip, and shallow grooves cannot keep up. You find that out on a wet morning on US-56 when a pickup stops short ahead of you and your car keeps sliding for a heartbeat longer than it should. If you are not sure what you are looking at, bring it in, or we will come and get it.
Call or text (620) 416-0008. Describe the noise. We'll do the rest.
We answer texts the same day we get them.
Worn tread, decoded
Tap the ones that sound like yours.
You ticked 0. That is worth a look.
Text us which onesHow to check your tire tread depth at home
Start with the penny test. Hold a penny with Lincoln's head pointing down into a tire groove. If you can see the top of his head, your tread is at or below 2/32 of an inch, which is worn out and time to replace. Check a few spots across each tire, because tires rarely wear evenly.
Know what the numbers mean. Tread depth is measured in 32nds of an inch, and new tires usually start around 10/32 or 11/32. At 4/32 your tires still pass, but they have lost a lot of their ability to clear water and slush, so that is a good time to start shopping. At 2/32 most tire makers consider a tire worn out.
Use a quarter for a head start on winter. It works the same way as the penny, and seeing the top of Washington's head means you are at about 4/32. The wear bars molded into the grooves tell the same story, because tread level with them is at 2/32 and done.
Look at how it wore, not just how much. Uneven wear usually means the alignment or the tire pressure is off, and new tires will wear the same way unless that is fixed. We check both while you are here, so your next set lasts longer.
Why Hillsboro has Moxie check its tire tread depth
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We measure every tire
We check the tread on all four tires, in more than one spot, and tell you plainly how much life is left.
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Hunter alignment equipment
If your tires are wearing unevenly, we can find out why and fix the alignment on every make.
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An ASE-certified technician
Our technician is ASE certified in engine repair, automatic transmissions and drivetrains, and Moxie pays for ASE testing for the whole team.
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No pressure to buy
If your tires have plenty of life left, we will say so, and you approve any work before we do it.
Call or text (620) 416-0008. Describe the noise. We'll do the rest.
Tread depth myths we hear at the counter
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What wears tread down around here
- Gravel roads across Marion, Harvey, McPherson, Chase and Lyon Counties, which are hard on tread
- Alignment knocked out by potholes and rough county roads, which wears one edge fast
- Tires run low or high on air, which wears the edges or the center early
- Skipped rotations, which let the front tires wear out long before the rears
- Towing and heavy loads, which work the tires harder than everyday driving
Tire tread depth across five Kansas counties
We look after drivers across Marion County, Harvey County, McPherson County, Chase County and Lyon County, with free pickup and delivery within 40 road miles of 611 Orchard Dr, Hillsboro.
Tire tread depth questions we hear every week
How often should I check my tread?
Checking once a month is a good habit, and it only takes a minute when you check your tire pressure. It is worth checking before winter and before any long road trip, too. If you would rather not get down on the ground, we are glad to look whenever you are in for an oil change or anything else.
My tires pass the penny test. Are they fine for winter?
Passing the penny test means the tires are above 2/32 of an inch, and that is the bare minimum. For snow, slush and icy Kansas mornings you want 4/32 or more, which is roughly where the quarter test comes in. If you are close, it is better to replace them in the fall than on the side of the road in January.
Why is one edge of my tire more worn than the rest?
Wear on one edge usually means the wheel alignment is off, while wear down the middle or on both edges usually points to tire pressure that is too high or too low. Either way, new tires will wear the same way unless the cause is fixed. Text us a photo of the tread and we will tell you what it looks like.