Worn tires can be a severe hazard on wet roads. This is because the grooves are no longer deep enough to channel the water out from the tread effectively. This can cause hydroplaning when the tread skims across the surface of the water, and the vehicle doesn’t respond to steering. Braking during wet-weather and traction in snow also degrades as the tires wear down. If you suspect your tires are worn, look into a discount tire near Justice.
Most tires should last 25,000 to 40,000 miles before the tread is worn to the halfway point.
Slipping winter grip:
New tires effectively grip into the snow with deep grooves and a series of small slits called “sipes.” Worn tread and sipes significantly reduce snow grip.
Hydroplaning:
The risk of hydroplaning is greater, the faster you drive. This is because higher speeds allow less escape time for water to pass through the tread grooves. Worn tread allows more water to remain under the tire.
Poor wet-weather stopping:
Worn tires can reduce wet-weather braking. Compared to new tires, half-worn tires can take 3 to 6 feet longer to stop from a speed of 40 mph.
Tires are bald when one or more tread groove is 2/32 inches deep. This is compared to 10/32 inches for a new tire. Manufacturers have made it easy to detect bald tires with a series of horizontal bars molded into the bottom of the grooves. The bars will become flush with the tread when a groove’s depth reaches 2/32 inches. At that point, your tires will fail a state safety inspection.
Make sure that your tire’s tread is still safe by checking it at least monthly. A good time to do this is when you check your tires’ air pressure. If it’s time for new tires, go to Wilrae, Inc. for a discount tire near Justice.
