To check tread depth of your tires yourself, insert a penny (Lincoln's head first) into one of the tire's grooves. When the penny goes into the groove deeper than the top of Lincoln's head, the tread depth should be safe. The tread depth at this location on the line is greater than 2/32rds of an inch.If you can see the top of Lincoln's head, you are riding on a tire with a less-than-safe tread depth.
The illustration below shows the different types of abnormal wear your tires could have. In addition to causing your tires to wear out prematurely, abnormal wear can cause an uncomfortable ride and possibly damage your car's suspension components. If you recognize any signs of abnormal wear, have a professional check your tires and suspension. (click on the images for a larger view)
