Tread Depth Guide
Measure your tread, see where it sits between new and the legal floor, and know exactly when to act — with the classic penny and quarter tests.
Use a $2 depth gauge, or the coin tests below
Typical: 10–12 highway · 13–17 AT/MT · check the spec sheet
Counting only depth above the 2/32" legal floor.
Healthy tread. Plenty of usable depth. Keep pressures right, rotate on schedule, and re-check with a coin every few months.
Put a penny into the groove, Lincoln's head down. If you can see the top of his head, the tread is at or below 2/32" — the tire is legally worn out. Test several grooves across the tire.
Same move with a quarter, Washington's head down. See the top of his head? You're at about 4/32" — time to start shopping, and the wet-weather safety margin is already thin.
Tread's done? Sort it today.
Consumers: professional installation near you. Dealers: wholesale replacement stock from Orlando and Dallas.
Common questions
What is the legal minimum tread depth?
2/32 of an inch in most states — that's where the built-in wear bars sit flush with the tread. Commercial vehicles are stricter: FMCSA requires 4/32" on steer tires and 2/32" everywhere else.
How does the penny test work?
Insert a penny into a tread groove with Lincoln's head upside down. If you can see the top of his head, the groove is at or below 2/32" and the tire is legally worn out. A quarter works the same way at 4/32" — see Washington's head and it's time to shop.
Why replace at 4/32 instead of the legal 2/32?
Wet braking and hydroplaning resistance fall off a cliff in the last few 32nds — independent testing shows dramatically longer wet stops below 4/32". The legal limit is a floor, not a recommendation.
How deep is a new tire's tread?
Typically 10–12/32" for highway and touring tires, and 13–17/32" for all-terrain and mud-terrain patterns. Check the spec sheet for your exact model — that's the number to enter as 'depth when new.'