Is 3 32 tire tread safe? (2023)

Can I drive on 3 32 tires?

The minimum legal limit is 2/32 of an inch. This doesn't mean that tires are perfectly safe if they have 3/32 left of tread. This is simply the limit at which you won't pass your state safety inspection. Your tires become incrementally less safe as the tread wears down.

The U.S. Department of Transportation recommends replacing tires when they reach 2/32”, and many states legally require tires to be replaced at this depth. The idea of the penny test is to check whether you've hit the 2/32” threshold.

Check For Tread Depth

To meet legal safety standards in the U.S., a tire's tread needs to be at least 2/32” deep. If the tires do not meet the 2/32” standard or are approaching not meeting it, you should replace your tires. When replacing tires, it's important to select the right tire size for your vehicle.

Put George Washington's head into one of the big grooves. If the top of his head is flush with the tread, you have about 4⁄32 inch of tread left, meaning you have some grip remaining for rainy or snowy conditions. That's the time when you should start shopping for new tires.

Low tire tread: Many mechanics recommend replacement when your vehicle reaches between 3/32 and 4/32 of an inch. This is especially true if you live in an area with severe climates to prevent hydroplaning and other inclement weather risks. Good tread levels: New tires often have 11/32 of an inch of tread.

Penny Test for Tire Tread Wear Measurement

Insert a penny into your tire's tread groove with Lincoln's head upside down and facing you. If you can see all of the head, your tire tread depth is less than 2/32 inch and it's time to replace your tires.

A tire with a half-tread depth usually has 5/32 to 6/32 of an inch remaining. Tires are worn-out when they reach 2/32 of an inch, but you don't need to go that low to see a substantial decline in performance on slick (wet, snowy, or icy) surfaces.

Good tire tread depth will be 6/32 or deeper. If the depth is 4/32, you should start thinking of replacing your tires and getting new ones. 2/32 or less means that you should change your tires ASAP. The amount of tire tread can affect your stopping distance, making a drive in wet or snowy conditions more dangerous.

A tire with a tread depth below 1.6 millimeters (2/32 inches) lacks grip. Braking distance and vehicle control are impaired. These tires are not safe for driving and must be replaced.

You can expect your tread to go down 1/32 of an inch every 5,000 to 8,000 miles, depending on the tire. As your tire's tred wears down, the grooves between your treads will steadily become more shallow. This will eventually affect your car's grip on the road and can lead to danger with hydroplaning.

Should I replace my tires at 6 32?

6/32” Your tire's tread depth is sufficient for 3-seasons but nearing minimum for a winter tire. 5/32” If wet roads are a concern, consider replacing your tires. 4/32” – 3/32” Seriously consider replacing your tires as soon as possible. If it's a winter tire, 4/32” is the minimum.

Most passenger cars will recommend 32 psi to 35 psi in the tires when they're cold. The reason you check tire pressure when they're cold is that as tires roll along the road, friction between them and the road generates heat, increasing both the temperature and the air pressure.

Normally, used tires last 2-5 years if bought in adequate condition. A 2-year-old tire with no damage, patches, uneven wear, and with about 8/32” tread left, may last for good 5 years. A 4-year-old tire with 5/32” tread left, and without any significant plugs or cuts, may last a further 2 years.

It's always best to replace all 4 tires at the same time. This is because all 4 tires spin independently of one another, and different tread depths and/or styles can cause them to spin at different speeds. That could potentially damage the drive train, and possibly affect an indirect TPMS system if the vehicle has one.

Tires in good condition should have a minimum of 6/32” to be useful, or 4/32” if the tire is 13-14”. The average legal minimum tread depth is 2/32”, but driving becomes unsafe with such a tread. Besides, most dealerships require at least 4/32” tread to trade-in a car without prior a tire change.

To summarize all this research: Narrow tires (<25 mm) are slow. Above 25 mm, the width of your tires are won't change your speed on smooth pavement (at least up to 54 mm wide tires). On rough surfaces, wider tires are faster.

Determine When You Need to Replace Your Tires

In wet conditions, 4/32" or less tread means a significant loss of wet traction due to shallower grooves and sipes. In most states, a tire is legally worn out at 2/32", but its ability to stop is severely compromised at 4/32".

As a rule of thumb, if the other 2 or 3 tires are worn down more than 4/32 of an inch of tread, you should replace all 4 tires. Learn more about tread depth in this article: Do I need new tires?

Architect scales use fractions and have the following dimensional relationships: 3/32 = 1 foot. 1/4 = 1 foot. 3/4 = 1 foot. 3/16 = 1 foot.

How much tread is legal?

Tyre tread depth has to be above 1.6mm to be legal. This must be the case for the middle three quarters of the tyre.

33” tires are a bit more comfortable, while 35 inch tires offer better control. So, to summarize, if you plan on driving in rough terrain with many hills and valleys, go with 33 inch tires. If you plan on driving on flat ground or mostly on dirt roads, go with 35 inch tires.

For example, a tire that started with 10/32" of original tread depth and has worn off 4/32" (down to 6/32" of remaining tread depth) is 50% worn.

One easy way is the penny test. Simply insert a penny into your tire's tread groove with Lincoln's head upside down and facing you. If you can see all of Lincoln's head, your tread depth is less than 2/32 inch and it's time to replace your tires.

The tread depth difference between front and rear tires should be no more than 3/32nds of an inch. If it is, you've got a problem with tire circumference difference. Get all four tires replaced.

Most tires used on passenger vehicles have a treadwear rating that falls between 200 and 500. Tires in this bracket offer a great mix of grip and safety, matched with enough longevity to last multiple years if not driven hard every day. Tires with medium treadwear are therefore excellent for everyday driving.

With all the possible variables taken into account, the minimum average period 3mm of tyre tread depth will last before it reaches the legal limit of 1.6mm is between would be 10,000-20,000 miles but it could be considerably more than that.

Legally it's been said 1.6mm, [but] some people are starting to say 3mm, 4mm, which is almost half of the tread depth, which is an absolute waste for the economy. If you remove the tyre at 3mm instead of 1.6mm it means you have one tyre per car every two years to be added – which is enormous.

The legal minimum tread depth in most states of the US is 2/32”, and a commentary suggests that's already too shallow. After the depth reaches 4/32”, even a small pothole or a nail can cause a tire sidewall blowout.

How many 32nd of an inch are tire wear bars?

Tire wear bars sit at 2/32" of tread depth, which is the lowest tread depth allowed by the law - this depends on state to state, but most in most states you can drive your vehicle with that much tread left.

On average, people drive between 12,000 to 15,000 miles a year, which means the average good quality all-season tire will last somewhere between three and five years, depending on maintenance, driving style and conditions, etc.

To put it simply, bald tires are not safe. A car with bald tires may not break down after driving 200 miles on the highway, but bald tires can cause a lack of control, hydroplaning, blowouts and understeering. Bald tires in wet weather increase stopping distance.

You may want to consider replacing your winter tires well before they get to 2/32 inches. For winter driving, a tread depth of at least 5/32 inches is recommended because winter conditions require thicker tread.

Proper tire pressure can vary from vehicle to vehicle, but for most makes and models the recommended tire pressure is between 30-35 PSI (pounds per square inch). Avoid over-inflating your tires to max pressure or beyond in order to prevent poor braking and decreased tire life.

Most passenger cars' psi requirement will be between 30 to 35 psi, but several vehicles fall outside of that range and every vehicle will have specific requirements. Good tire air pressure ensures that tires wear evenly, provide a smooth ride, and increase fuel efficiency.

A lower tire pressure makes the tire softer, meaning a smoother ride. This is a technique used by some who feel their suspension is too harsh. By decreasing tire pressure, it compensates for stiff suspension slightly. Lower tire pressure increases the contact patch with the driving surface.

Front tyres tend to wear faster, up to 2.5 times faster on some cars. The left front tyre has it the hardest. It is the most heavily loaded and responsible for transmitting most of the steering during right hand turns.

For front wheels, tread groove pattern depths must be at least 4/32 of an inch on major tread grooves. Other wheels must have a depth of at least 2/32 of an inch.

Which tires wear faster front or back?

Since most cars today are FWD and the front tires are responsible for acceleration, steering and most braking, they normally wear faster than the rears.

If two of your tires wear out faster, it may only be necessary to replace those two instead of replacing all four. If you do, it's important to have the two new tires installed on the back and the partially worn tires moved to the front – even on front-wheel-drive vehicles.

According to Tire Review, new tires should always go in the back. Rear tires provide the vehicle stability, and if they have little tread, then stability is lost.

No. Do not drive on a flat tire. However, it may be necessary to travel a short distance on a flat tire when pulling over to the side of the road. But driving on a flat tire is a surefire way to put your passengers at risk and seriously damage your vehicle.

If you have standard passenger tires (ninety percent of vehicles do) the lowest tire pressure you can generally drive with is 20 pounds per square inch (PSI). Anything under 20 PSI is considered a flat tire, and puts you at risk for a potentially devastating blowout.

You can expect your tread to go down 1/32 of an inch every 5,000 to 8,000 miles, depending on the tire. As your tire's tred wears down, the grooves between your treads will steadily become more shallow. This will eventually affect your car's grip on the road and can lead to danger with hydroplaning.

The short answer is no—you cannot drive with a flat tire. While you might be tempted to “limp” your tire to the repair shop, you cannot drive with a flat tire.

Will insurance cover slashed tires? Yes, your car insurance will cover slashed tires if you have comprehensive coverage. There's a common misconception that insurance companies won't cover three slashed tires but will cover four slashed tires instead.

As a general rule, you want replacement tires that are within 3 percent of the diameter (height) measurement of your existing tires' diameter — assuming your current tires are what your owner's manual recommends.

If the two circumferences are more than three per cent apart, check out another size. More than one computer or sensor on just about anything on four wheels today requires an accurate and constant idea of how far and fast a vehicle is travelling.

How do I know if my tires are too low to drive on?

The Penny Tire Test

Simply insert a penny into your tire's tread groove with Lincoln's head upside down and facing you. If you can see all of Lincoln's head, your tread depth is less than 2/32 inch and it's time to replace your tires.

Tires are considered to be worn out at 2/32" minimum tread depth. In wet conditions, 4/32" or less tread means a significant loss of wet traction due to shallower grooves and sipes. In most states, a tire is legally worn out at 2/32", but its ability to stop is severely compromised at 4/32".

The tire tread depth gauge measures in 32nds of an inch. Good tire tread depth will be 6/32 or deeper. If the depth is 4/32, you should start thinking of replacing your tires and getting new ones. 2/32 or less means that you should change your tires ASAP.

Most of the cars on the road today are front-wheel-drive, and a few are rear-wheel drive. These don't necessarily need to have all four tires replaced at once. Usually two at a time is sufficient. But all-wheel-drive systems are becoming more popular, and they do require all four tires to be replaced at one time.

90% of the vehicles on the road are equipped with standard passenger tires. These tires don't stand up well when they are driven on a flat tire. Most tires are made to drive with no less than 20 psi and no more than 50 psi at any time.