If you didn't know already, tire tread naturally wears down with use. But what happens when your tires wear down too much? Well - they are considered bald. Bald may mean no hair for humans, but it means there is little to no tread left when it comes to tires. What technically qualifies as a bald tire? Any tire with at least one ridge whose depth reaches 2/32 of an inch or less is deemed bald. Once your tires get to this state, you need to change your tires ASAP.
What Does It Look Like?
It's not difficult to spot a bald tire. But if you have to, you can check the depth of tire tread with a tread depth gauge. If you don't have one, don't worry; you can use a penny. All you have to do is hold the coin upside down on the groove. If you can still observe all of Abraham Lincoln's head, you have a bald tire.
In all honesty, you should replace your tires before they wear down to 2/32nds of an inch — more so around 4/32nds of an inch, to be safe.
How Do Tires Become Bald?
Besides normal wear, you can accelerate the wear on your tires by:
- Underinflated Tires
- Overinflated Tires
- Unbalanced Tires
- Misaligned Tires
Overall, if you don't care for your tires, you will wear out your tires sooner than you think.
What Kind of Problems Could You Face with Bald Tires?
There are many dangers you can face on the road with bald tires:
- You increase the likelihood of losing control of your car, particularly on wet roads. You may skid or hydroplane.
- Since your tires can't properly grip the road, it may be harder for you to come to a complete stop.
- It's easier to puncture a tire when it's bald because they've worn thin. Therefore, you can experience a flat tire or tire blowout.
For your and everyone else's safety, you need to know your tires' condition, especially their tread. If your tires have gone bald, please take them to Complete Automotive Repair Specialists, LLC. Our expert team can assist you with picking out your new tires and replace them for you. Feel free to give us a call or visit today!