Sterling Tire & Auto Tire Safety: Washington vs. Lincoln
January 14, 2016
Welcome to the Sterling Tire & Auto automotive blog. Today, let’s talk about the effect of tire tread depth on braking. When talking about stopping power, most Sterling Heights and Warren auto owners tend to focus on our brakes. But our tires are where the rubber meets the road. So having good brakes isn’t enough. Safe Warren drivers need to have tires with enough traction to translate braking power into stopping power.
Let’s focus on stopping in wet Warren conditions. In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way. If it can’t move the water, the tire will actually ride on top of a thin film of water.
That’s called hydroplaning. If it’s really bad, Warren car owners can actually spin out of control - endangering themselves and the other drivers around them. At best, you won’t stop as fast.
So how does a tire move water? It has channels for water to flow through. Look at your SUV tire and you’ll see channels: channels that run around the tire and channels that flow across the tire. They’re designed to direct water away from the tire so it can contact the road better.
And the deeper the channel, the more water it can move. A brand new Sterling Tire & Auto tire has very deep channels and can easily move a lot of water. As the tire wears down, the channels become shallower and can move less water. When it wears down enough, it can seriously affect your ability to stop your SUV on wet Warren roads.
So that’s why it’s so important for Michigan motorists to replace their SUV tires when they get worn. Consumer Reports and other advocate groups call for a standard of 3/32 of an inch and they have the studies to prove it.
By comparison, you’ve probably seen the wear indicator that’s molded into tires. When tires are worn 3/32 of an inch, the tread wear bar is visible. So the recommended standard has twice the tread depth as a completely bald SUV tire.
At Sterling Tire & Auto, we want our customers to know that the deeper recommended tread depth makes a big difference. Stopping distances are cut dramatically on wet Warren freeway. A safe stop from Michigan highway speeds with 4/32 of an inch of tread would result in a crash with worn out tires.
There’s an easy way to tell when a tire’s worn to 4/32 of an inch. Just insert a quarter into the tread. Put it in upside down. If the tread doesn’t cover George Washington’s hairline, it’s time to replace your SUV tires. With a Canadian quarter, the tread should cover the numbers in the year stamp.
Many Warren drivers have heard of this technique using a penny and Abe Lincoln’s head - the old method. That measure gives you 2/32 of an inch – half the suggested amount. Of course, SUV tires are a major purchase. Most of us in Warren want to get as many miles out of them as we can. But there’s a real safety trade-off. It’s your choice.
Need Service?
More articles from Sterling Tire & Auto
Beginning to See the Light (Check Engine Light Diagnostics)
April 21, 2024
It's a light many drivers fear they'll see turn on at the most inopportune time. It's the one on the dash that says "Check Engine," "Service Engine Soon," or it may be simply an engine-shaped light. Your first instinct may be to pull off to the side of the road and turn off the engine. The truth... More
Oil Times are a-Changin' (Oil Change Synthetic)
April 14, 2024
When it comes to oil changes, things are really changing. Most newer vehicles require synthetic oil, and while it costs more than conventional oil, it doesn't need to be changed as often. When conventional oil was the only game in town, you changed your oil every 3,000 miles/5,000 km. But as tec... More
Automotive Tips from Sterling Tire & Auto: Air Conditioning ? Common Problem
April 7, 2024
Your auto air conditioning system cools and conditions the air in your passenger compartment when you are driving around Sterling Heights. It also removes moisture from the air to keep your windows from fogging up.A common A/C problem for Sterling Heights drivers that visit Sterling Tire & Auto i... More