How to Check Your car Tire Wear
It's important to check your car tire wear to make sure that your car is functioning properly and that the tires are correctly inflated. Tire tread can be an indicator of alignment problems. Incorrectly inflated tires could reduce your car's fuel efficiency or increase the chance of a blown tire. Learn how to check your car tire wear.
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Instructions
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Park your car in a well-lit and safe location. Ideally the location should also be as level as possible so that extra pressure isn't placed on one side of the vehicle which could make it difficult to accurately read tire wear.
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Shift your gears to first if you're driving a manual. Leave your car in park like you normally would if you're driving an automatic. Apply the parking brake to make sure your car isn't going to move while you check the tire tread. Turn off the ignition.
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Walk around your car and do a cursory look. If you see any shiny spots, it means the tread is worn and the tire should be replace immediately to prevent it from blowing. If the thread more worn on one side of the vehicle than the other, then it means your alignment is out and you should take it to the mechanic.
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Check tire pressure if you suspect there's too much or too little air in your tires. Too little air will show up as more wear on the outside of your tires. Too much air shows up as wear down the middle. Use a tire gauge and follow the tire specifications for your vehicle.
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Compare your current tread depth to what the tread depth would have been if the tires were brand new. To find out current depth tread, use a tread-depth gauge. Check the tire manufacturer to find out the tread depth of the new tires. Calculate the percentage. Replace your tires if it's less than 60 percent.
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Tips & Warnings
Check your tires every month. It'll only take five minutes and may save your life. Don't forget to check the spare.
