Checking Your Tread Depth

Your tyre's health is of the upmost importance when it comes to the safety of yourself and other road users. Making sure that your vehicles tyres have adequate tread is vital in maintaining grip and traction, especially in the wet.

For this reason knowing how to check your tread and knowing when it's time to change your tyres is an important part in tyre care and maintenance.

As we drive, we are constantly faced with changing weather conditions and road hazards. Not only can this be very strenuous, it also adds to the general wear and tear of your tyres.

If you have access to a tyre tread wear indicator, you can easily identify if you have reached the minimum tread point, on all four tyres. For safety and legal reasons, tyre tread depth should not be less than 1.6mm.

Ensuring you have adequate tread means that the tyres have the ability to brake and stop safely on the roads.

If you don’t have access to an indicator you can use the following items as effective measuring instruments:

• Coin
• Ruler
• Car key
• Credit card

Simply place the item flat in between the tread and ensure there is a depth of at least 3mm to stay safe on the road.

If you have a tyre tread depth of anything less than 2mm it is recommended to immediately visit your local Bob Jane T-Marts store to have your tyres inspected and possibly changed.

Remember to consider a wheel alignment with your service. Correct wheel alignment plays a part in extending the life of your tyres. Here is a video with more information as to why wheel alignment is important and the difference between a balance and an alignment.