Many Grodno residents have driven all summer on winter tires and are not changing their cars’ shoes this season,” Grodno tire fitting companies told a site correspondent while compiling a price review.

Note that winter tires wear out faster than summer tires due to softer rubber and a smaller area of ​​the blocks. The Belarusian traffic regulations establish the minimum tread depth of a winter tire when operating on an icy or snowy road surface - it is 4 mm.

The Grodno traffic police asks not only to use winter tires from December 1, but also to monitor the remaining tread height. As a clear example, the traffic police cite an illustration from the magazine “Behind the Wheel”:

Traffic Regulations of the Republic of Belarus, Chapter 5, paragraph 25: “A tire is considered unsuitable for use if one wear indicator appears located at the bottom of the tread groove, with uniform wear, or two indicators in each of two sections - with uneven wear of the treadmill.”

Once again about the difference between “summer” and “winter”

One of the German concerns conducted large-scale studies of the behavior of summer and winter tires on snowy roads. Comparisons were carried out at a speed of 50 km/h. According to the measurements obtained, summer tires brake to a complete stop of the vehicle 31 meters later than their winter counterparts. At the same time, the residual speed at the moment of braking of winter tires compared to summer tires is 39 km/h, which poses a serious danger for road users.

Experience of European countries in seasonal tire replacement

Austria. From 1 November to 15 April, all vehicles in Austria must be equipped with winter tires (must have the M&S mark on the sidewalls of the tyre) with a minimum tread depth of 4 mm.

Belgium. It is not necessary to drive on winter tires in winter. Drivers can use their own discretion, however, studded tires in Belgium can only be used from 1 November to 31 March.

Czech. In the Czech Republic, the use of studded tires is prohibited, and the use of winter tires is mandatory between 1 November and 31 March if the road is covered with snow, ice or frost, or the road is expected to become snowy, icy or frost-covered while driving.

Estonia. The use of winter tires in Estonia is a legal requirement from 1 December to 29 February. These time frames may be subject to change depending on weather conditions. From October 1 to April 30, the use of winter tires is permitted. From October 15 to March 31, the use of studded tires is permitted.

Great Britain. Winter tires are not compulsory in the UK, except in areas where the local government may make it compulsory to change tires according to weather conditions. For example, in Scotland you can use winter tires during the winter season, but studded tires are prohibited in the UK.

Poland. You can only drive to Poland on winter tires without studs. The law specifically prohibits the use of tires “equipped with a permanent anti-skid system.” The use of snow chains on tires is only permitted on roads covered with snow. The use of winter tires in the cold season is recommended.

Sweden. If the car is not registered in Sweden, then winter tires are not required. But if the car is registered in Sweden, then you need to change your shoes from December 1 to March 31, but you can drive on winter tires all year round. From May 1 to September 30, it is prohibited to drive on studded tires.

Russia. On January 1, 2015, the Technical Regulations of the Customs Union “On the safety of wheeled vehicles” came into force. The regulation prohibits the operation of vehicles that are not equipped with winter tires during the winter period - December, January, February. Considering that in different regions of the country the weather conditions differ significantly - in some places winter weather actually sets in much earlier than December - by decision of the regional authorities, the timing of the ban on the operation of vehicles without winter tires can be changed, but only upward.

Summer tires are more rigid than winter tires. The material of the products has a high density, which provides the necessary coefficient of adhesion to the surface. Surface requirements: resistance to wear due to their rigidity, ensuring good vehicle handling, high-quality road grip, and combating aquaplaning.

An important indicator is (height). There is a standard for each type of vehicle, or more precisely, restrictions on the degree of wear of rubber. If it is more than permitted, you can no longer drive.

Number of treads on a new summer tire depends on the type of vehicle: for a passenger car the figure is 7.5-8.5 mm; for trucks and SUVs, tires with an indicator of 12-18 mm are required; for dump trucks it can be up to 23 mm.

It makes sense to change the tires, when the depth of the car tire depression decreases to 2 mm. And in some countries, the permissible tread for summer tires is 3 mm.

Requirements for tread height or depth are contained in Chapter 5 of the Russian Traffic Regulations. And the degree of wear of the part is reflected in the “List of faults and conditions under which the operation of the vehicle is prohibited.” According to the documents, residual tread of summer tires for different types of cars: motorcycles – 0.8 mm; passenger cars and trucks weighing up to 3.5 tons, trailers for them - 1.6 mm; trucks over 3.5 tons – 1 mm; buses – 2 mm.

Tread wear indicator

Thickness The actual tread depends on the type of tire. It may vary due to the type of pattern.

Types of summer tire treads have advantages and disadvantages:

• Symmetrical. The side parts of the picture are the same. The rubber has average wear resistance and should be used primarily at moderate speeds. Hydroplaning is quite good, but on a dirt road the car can stall. The advantage of classic tires is their low price.
• Asymmetrical. One section of the tire is designed for speed, the other for drainage. On such tires you can drive fast and not be afraid of wet roads, puddles, or mud. The only drawback is the high price. Since the patterns of the right and left wheels are different, it is not clear which “spare” to purchase and carry with you.
• With directional pattern. More suitable for riding on wet surfaces with puddles or in heavy rain. But these tires are not intended for high speeds; they are also quite noisy.

Read more in our article about the features of summer tire treads and the rules for choosing them.

Read in this article

Tread Features

Summer tires differ from winter tires in being more rigid, as they are designed for safe driving on hot or wet asphalt and roads free of ice and snow. The material from which they are made has a high density, which provides the necessary coefficient of adhesion to the surface. There are a number of requirements that summer tires must meet:

• resistance to wear, which is possible due to their rigidity;
• ensuring good vehicle control;
• high-quality road grip;
• combating hydroplaning, that is, the car should not “float” on a wet surface or arbitrarily change its trajectory due to moisture.

Depth

The relief of car tires is never smooth; there are always depressions and bulges on it. They must have certain parameters. Otherwise, the wheels are considered worn out and the car is considered faulty. An important indicator is the tread depth of summer tires (height). There is a standard for each type of vehicle, or rather, restrictions on the degree of wear of rubber. If it is more than permitted, you can no longer drive.

When buying a car, it is important to know what kind of tread the new summer tire has so that you don’t have to change it right away.

• The number depends on the type of vehicle:
• for a passenger car the figure is 7.5-8.5 mm;
• for trucks and SUVs, tires with an indicator of 12-18 mm are required (the heavier and more powerful the car, the greater the tread height of summer tires should be);

if we are talking about dump trucks, it can be higher – up to 23 mm.

It is this depth that will ensure good grip on the road, including wet ones. The depressions will drain water and the machine will not lose stability.

Motorists need to understand: if the minimum tread of summer tires is 1.6 mm, this does not mean that it is worth bringing them to this condition. Because the shallower the depth, the lower the coefficient of adhesion. And this can become dangerous in difficult weather and road conditions.

A car with almost “bald” tires is less stable and slows down. If you stop suddenly, it may skid to the side. It makes sense to change the tires when the depth of the car tire depression decreases to 2 mm. And in some countries, the permissible tread of summer tires is not even a little more than 1.6 mm, but 3 mm.

Expert opinion

Nadezhda Smirnova

Automotive Law Expert

When deciding when to replace them, you need to look at what surfaces you drive on most often. After all, with worn tires you can not only get into an accident on off-road or wet asphalt, but also easily get stuck on a dirt road. Its quality and novelty also affect the vehicle’s cross-country ability.

What laws govern

• Requirements for tread height or depth are contained in Chapter 5 of the Russian Traffic Regulations. And the degree of wear of a part that does not allow the use of the vehicle is reflected in the “List of faults and conditions under which the operation of the vehicle is prohibited.” Both documents indicate what the remaining tread of summer tires should be for different types of cars:
• motorcycles – 0.8 mm;
• trucks over 3.5 t – 1 mm:
• buses – 2 mm.

This indicator should normally be higher (accordingly, the degree of wear should be lower). For a violation, the driver will be punished under Part 1 of Article 12.5 of the Code of Administrative Offenses:

Driving a vehicle in the presence of malfunctions or conditions under which, in accordance with the Basic Provisions for the admission of vehicles to operation and the duties of officials to ensure road safety, operation of the vehicle is prohibited, with the exception of malfunctions and conditions specified in parts 2 - 7 of this article, entails a warning or the imposition of an administrative fine in the amount of five hundred rubles.

Thickness

Such an indicator as the tread thickness of a summer tire, traffic rules or the “List of faults...” is not regulated in any way. But rubber used in warmer months usually has narrow grooves and wide ridges with sipes. The latter provide good grip on the road.

The actual tread thickness depends on the type of tire. It may vary due to the type of pattern. But there are no standards here; more precisely, they exist for parts manufacturers. The driver does not have to monitor the thickness, since it does not decrease during operation.

Types of summer tires

There are several types of tires designed for use in the warm season. They are divided depending on the pattern. It's not just about purely external differences. All types of summer tire treads have advantages and disadvantages:

• Symmetrical. This is a classic option and therefore universal, although it behaves best on an asphalt road. On such tires, the side parts of the pattern are the same. The rubber has average wear resistance and should be used primarily at moderate speeds. The latter is especially important on turns and in rainy weather.

Hydroplaning is quite good, but on a dirt road the car can stall. The advantage of classic tires is their low price.

• Asymmetrical. One section of the tire is designed to provide speed, the other to drain water, which is why they differ in appearance. On such tires you can drive fast and not be afraid of wet roads, puddles, or mud. With it the car becomes more stable. The only drawback is the high price.

And the tires for the right and left wheels are different, because the outside should not be on the inside. Therefore, it is not clear what kind of “spare spare” to purchase and carry with you. After all, you can’t guess in advance whether the right or left tire will be punctured.

When installing, it is important to determine the direction of the tread pattern of summer tires. For correct installation, you should look at the “Rotation” icon and the arrow indicating how the wheels should rotate. This is how tires with a directional pattern are marked. If it is asymmetrical, you need to look for the inscriptions Outsaid (“outside”) and Inside (“inside”).

If the tires are installed incorrectly, the car becomes less obedient, which increases the risk of an accident. In addition, the rubber will deteriorate faster. The direction of the pattern may not be taken into account if the tires are symmetrical.

To learn how and which summer tires to choose, watch this video:

How to determine tread wear

If the tires have been used for a long time and are very worn, an experienced driver will be able to determine by eye the need for replacement. But still, summer tire tread wear requires a more reliable way to determine its degree. You can measure using a coin, placing it in the recess. It is then applied to a ruler or tape measure to determine the tread height. Measurements are taken at least at 6 different points, and preferably at 9-12.

Sometimes the surface wears off unevenly, which may indicate improper use of the car:

• The tread height is less in the middle, which means the wheel has been overinflated for a long time;
• the indicator is higher in the center - on the contrary, there is too little air in the tire, it needs to be pumped up;
• one of the edges is less worn, therefore there is a problem with the suspension;
• The depth is not the same over the entire surface - the wheels have experienced extreme driving and sudden braking many times.

No matter how high-quality and exemplary the tread of summer tires is, this does not negate law-abiding behavior on the road and accuracy. And of course, when driving you should always take into account the characteristics of the surface. And in winter the car definitely needs to be “changed”.

Useful video

To learn how to determine tire wear, watch this video:

Having in the garage a set of tires whose permissible tread depth for winter tires corresponds to the norm, every motorist is firmly convinced that he is fully prepared to meet the winter fully armed. Still, you shouldn’t be so self-confident, but take a closer look at the tires, since the tread life for winter and summer is very different. There are certain indicators according to which it is better not to use last year’s tires at all, but to buy new ones. No amount of money can compare with safety on the winter road.

Winter tires and the law

Any rules and laws do not grow out of the blue, but are based solely on practice. Therefore, the new decree of the Government of the Russian Federation dated January 1, 2015 affected the regulations for transport malfunctions in which its operation is prohibited. In particular, this affected tires. In the new edition of the list of critical faults, tires are clearly divided into winter and summer. If earlier, according to the old transport classification, a car could have a tread depth of 1.6 mm, a truck 1 mm, and a bus 2 mm, now both the classification and the tire wear tolerances have changed.

The remaining tread depth in summer for motorcycles and mopeds remained equal to 0.8 mm, and for another type of transport everything is more complicated and stricter:

• transport categories N2 and N3, as well as O3 and O4 - 1 mm;
• transport categories O1, O2, M1 and N1 - 1.6 mm;
• cars of categories M2 and M3 must have a tread depth of more than 2 mm.

The term “not less” has been replaced by the term “more”, which means that the denomination specified in the regulations is in fact considered unacceptable.

The remaining tread depth of tires intended for use on ice or snow must be no more than 4 mm. The law clearly states that a winter tire means tires marked in a special way - either with a logo with Mount Fuji, three peaks and a snowflake in the center, or with the letters MS in any combination, which means “mud & snow”, mud and snow. There are some caveats: the requirement applies only to sections of the road with icy or snowy surfaces. Therefore, you can drive on asphalt or slush according to summer regulations, but on ice - with a tread depth of winter tires of at least 4 mm.

Video tips for determining tire tread height without special tools

Many are misled by the terms “remaining tread depth” and “no more” and “no less”. If they talk about depth, they say “no more,” and if they talk about tread height, they say “no less.” This sacred 4 mm applies to all types of vehicles shod with winter tires. But it is also important to remember that this restriction does not apply to winter tires with wear indicators, at which the tire is considered unsuitable for use on public roads. The appearance of an indicator is equivalent to the presence of cuts, cracks, punctures, cord delaminations and hernias; in a word, it cannot be used, except instead of a spare tire.

Spare parts are a different story. If an inspector catches a driver using a wheel with broken indicators, but the rest of the wheels are in order, then such a violator is given a day to restore the broken wheel. The same applies to the tire, you can use it to get to the nearest tire shop and have the tire repaired. There is no fine as such for using non-regulated tires, but an inspector can easily draw up a protocol stating that the car does not comply with the technical regulations for wheeled vehicles and prohibit operation. Naturally, tires that do not meet the new requirements for the permissible tread depth of winter tires will not be able to pass the inspection. At the same time, tires with different tread patterns, not to mention the sizes and types of cords, cannot be installed on one axle. Naturally, this does not concern the documents.

We look at the tread and measure its depth

From January 1, 2015, we had to take a closer look at tires, including winter tires. For example, a used winter tire in the fall may have a perfectly acceptable minimum tread height of 4 mm. But how long it will last and when critical wear will occur, one can only guess. And few people think that after the first winter rolling season, even if the remaining tread is normal, the grip properties of the tire deteriorate by 10-15%. Wear indicators are also installed not in order to increase global tire turnover, but precisely for safety reasons. In addition, with each new season, the elasticity of winter tires deteriorates.

If we talk about the off-season, then the current topics of aquaplaning and slashplaning come up. Hydroplaning is a complete loss of contact with the road surface in water; the wheel simply floats up at speed. Nokian conducted a series of tests and found that on tires with a tread depth of 1.6 mm and a water level of 4-5 mm, aquaplaning is possible already at 70-75 km/h. At the same time, the tread height of the new tire can keep the car from losing contact up to 95-100 km/h. Slashplanning is a similar phenomenon, only it occurs on slushy snow during a thaw. If the tire tread wears out (or speed is exceeded), loss of contact with the road on regular tires can occur at 50-60 km/h, and on winter tires that meet the standard 4 mm depth, at a speed of 70-80 km/h. In this case, the contact patch with the road will be only 17% of the contact on a new winter tire. Therefore, a remainder of 4 mm is not such a luxury.

There are several ways to measure the tread depth:

1. Approximately. This is what most motorists do, without thinking about the fact that the height of the tread pattern in different places on the tire can be completely different and a visual assessment serves only to ease the conscience.
2. Coin. Not a very accurate method, but it gives an idea of ​​the actual wear of winter tires. The coin is inserted into several points of the tread pattern and pressed with a finger from the top point. After this, the resulting distance is measured. It is advisable to measure in several places along the width of the tire.
3. Vernier calipers with depth gauge. A simple, reliable and accurate method. It is better to measure at 9-12 points in diameter and three points in width.
4. Special digital depth gauge.

Initially, a new summer tire can have a tread depth of 6 to 8 mm, and a winter tire - from 8 to 11. At the same time, a winter tire on asphalt wears out much faster than a summer tire, since it has more slots and softer rubber, and the load on each tread block increases.

Experts say that with 50% wear on a summer tire, it is still quite suitable for use, but a winter tire with the same percentage of wear is no longer good for use.

To calculate the real wear of a winter tire, it is enough to subtract the real indicator from the height of the new tread and multiply the result by 100. If you cannot find out the tread height of a new specific tire, you can take the average value:

• high-speed winter tires with a tread pattern similar to summer tires may initially have a height of within 7 mm;
• a classic winter tire will have a tread height of about 9 mm;
• All-terrain winter tires with the so-called Scandinavian pattern must have a height of at least 10-11 mm.

Installing winter tires correctly

Of course, not everyone can afford to buy a new set of winter tires every season. Before installing last year’s kit, you should pay attention to a number of important points, except for the tread height, of course:

• On a slippery road, even the most expensive summer tires do not grip the car as effectively and do not brake as effectively as the most inexpensive winter tires.
• If the rules for storing tires were not followed or the tires were stored together with the disks assemblies, the wheels must be balanced before installation.
• Before installing the winter kit, it is advisable to check the wheel alignment, since in summer a slight deviation from the norm is not as noticeable as on a slippery road.

• Since winter tires are more elastic, it is worth paying more attention to the pressure in the wheels and checking it more often.
• If possible, the spare wheel should have the same tread pattern as the other wheels.
• Regardless of the type of drive, the best pair of tires is installed on the front axle, since handling on slippery roads is very important.
• If you respect the seasonality of tires and alternate summer and winter tires in time, they will last 30-40% longer.

In addition, it is necessary to take into account the operating conditions of the car, however, this most likely applies to the choice of new winter tires. The permissible tread depth of winter tires is just as important as the suitability of the tires for the season, so by complying with the requirements of technical regulations, we ourselves worry about our safety and the safety of our neighbors on the road.

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In Ukraine, most motorists are accustomed to assessing the condition of tires by eye. Like, the tread is still normal - enough for the season

Of course, everyone has the right to decide for themselves whether to drive on “bald” tires. But on the other hand, those who want to save money on buying new wheels risk not only their lives.

In Ukraine, the permissible height of the tread pattern is regulated by the document - Order No. 33 dated 03/01/2010 "On the approval of technical features that are tested in the departments of the State Inspectorate of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the detection and recording of violations of road traffic rules."
According to this document, tires of cars and trucks with a permissible maximum weight of up to 3.5 tons must have a residual tread depth of at least 1.6 mm. Although we note that in fact, traffic police officers do not have a certified measuring device that they could use to check the remaining tire tread depth.

About aquaplaning and slashplaning

In human terms, hydroplaning is the floating of the wheels and, as a result, a complete loss of traction. The more worn the tread, the higher the risk of hydroplaning. The braking distance also increases. This is evidenced by Nokian testing.

AutoPortal has already told you that during the visit it was not a test site in Finland, we studied and monitored the movement. In addition, we were able to personally test tires of varying degrees of wear and feel the difference in the car’s behavior when driving on wet roads.

According to data obtained by Nokian during tests, with worn tires with a tread of 1.6 mm, the danger of hydroplaning on a road with a water level of about 5 mm occurs at a speed of 76 kilometers per hour. For new tires - at 96 km/h.

There is also such a term as “slashplaning”. This is almost the same as hydroplaning. But in this case we are talking about the loss of traction not when driving on water, but when moving through slush - a soggy “porridge” that forms during a thaw. That is, this is sliding on slush.

If the tread wears out or the speed is too high, the tread stops pushing water out. This is explained simply - the area of ​​the contact patch between the tire and the road is greatly reduced. This picture shows the size of the contact area of ​​a tire with different tread thicknesses at 3mm of water and a speed of 75km/h. The contact patch of an old tire with 1.6mm tread is only 16% of that of a stationary vehicle.

How much does the braking distance increase with a remaining tread depth of 4 millimeters, and what does driving through a puddle feel like when the tread depth is 8 millimeters - watch our video:

Conclusion

If you value your car and the health of your loved ones, change your tires on time. Yes, this pleasure is not cheap, but a collision with a car in front or falling into a ditch is even more expensive. It is especially important not to wear the wheels until they become bald. Even 4 millimeters of remaining tread depth affects the braking distance and the behavior of the car on slippery roads. What can we say about the 1.6 mm remainder...

The tread of a passenger car tire can hardly be considered one of the nuances that the average car enthusiast pays attention to. In most situations, buying new tires is accompanied by considering brands and reading tests, but rarely does it occur to a car driver to think about the role of the tread pattern and its impact on the characteristics of the tires.

In practice, the situation is such that it is the tread pattern and its depth, coupled with the composition of the rubber mixture, that are the main factors ensuring the performance properties of the tire.

And it is for this reason that when tires wear out, abrasion of the tread layer leads to the fact that the tire becomes unusable. Which type of tread is better in a given situation and how to determine tire wear - this is what we will talk about in this material.

What is tire tread

The tread consists of multidirectional grooves of varying depths located on the outer surface of the tire at the points of its contact with the road surface. The purpose of a car or truck tire tread is to drain fluid from the contact patch between the tire and the road surface during rain, as well as to ensure the best “sticking” characteristics of the wheel to the road surface.

Surely many have noticed that Formula 1 racing cars do not have tread on the tires - their role is played only by longitudinal grooves applied to their surface. However, more attentive spectators clearly noticed the fact that in the event of unplanned rain after the pit stops, the cars receive tires of a different configuration, where the tread is already clearly visible.

This eloquently demonstrates that it performs the main function of draining water while driving, preventing the occurrence of aquaplaning, when a layer of water appears between the wheel and the road, which can lead to loss of control and even the car drifting off the trajectory.

Video - how the hydroplaning effect occurs:

The video eloquently shows why it is important to take this seriously:

A big role is given to the tread on winter tires. Here it plays the main role, ensuring the removal of snow slush and dirt from the contact patch and ensuring control efficiency. Together with the composition of the rubber mixture from which the tire is made, it guarantees the stability of the car, and in the case of non-studded tires it plays a leading role in ensuring handling and general consumer characteristics.

Remaining tire tread height according to traffic regulations

Every car enthusiast knows that during operation the tire wears out, and its performance properties deteriorate. This is due to the fact that the depth of the tread grooves becomes smaller, and therefore they cease to cope with the functions assigned to them.

The traffic rules (appendix LIST OF FAULTS AND CONDITIONS UNDER WHICH OPERATION OF VEHICLES IS PROHIBITED) clearly regulate the residual tread depth for cars and motorcycles under which operation of the vehicle is prohibited.

The requirements of the Rules are clearly visible from the table, according to which you can easily understand what value the residual tread depth should be:

	Remaining tread depth (without wear indicators)
L - mopeds, motorcycles, quadricycles, etc.	0.8 mm
N2, N3, O3, O4 - trucks with a permissible maximum weight of more than 3.5 tons and trailers with a permissible maximum weight of more than 3.5 tons	1 mm
M1, N1, O1, O2 - cars, trucks with a permissible maximum weight of up to 3.5 tons, trailers with a permissible maximum weight of up to 3.5 tons	1.6 mm
M2, M3 - buses	2 mm
*Remaining tread depth of winter tires intended for use on icy or snowy road surfaces, marked with a sign in the form of a mountain peak with three peaks and a snowflake inside it, as well as marked with the signs “M+S”, “M&S”, “M S”	4 mm

It is prohibited to use tires with even one wear indicator displayed if such indicators are used on your tires.

For winter tires, the remaining tread height should be more than 4 millimeters due to the fact that such tires are much more demanding in terms of the severity of the tread pattern.

It is prohibited to place tires with different tread patterns on the same axle, since such a combination can seriously impair handling and make the car's movement unpredictable in the event of a skid or drift of the axle.

What types of drawing are there?

Conventionally, there are two main types of tread patterns - symmetrical and asymmetrical. The first type, in turn, is divided into directed and non-directional types.

The directional tread has a pattern (usually reminiscent of a herringbone pattern), which with its sharp end is directed towards the rolling direction of the tire. A non-directional pattern implies a ladder arrangement of grooves that are symmetrical relative to each other, but do not have a clear direction in one direction. The asymmetrical pattern offers a different arrangement of grooves on the outer and inner (located closer to the car) parts of the tire.

Video about directional and non-directional tire tread patterns:

Speaking about these varieties, it is extremely difficult to identify which type of tread pattern is better in terms of consumer properties. It is believed that the directional type of tread better removes moisture from the contact patch, and therefore it is more often found on winter non-studded tires, and the asymmetrical pattern allows for better handling.

And therefore, it is not surprising that an expensive tire with a non-directional pattern may well demonstrate better results in tests than a cheap Korean or domestic version with a directional groove arrangement. What is much more important here is how carefully the engineers simulated the pattern in a particular model and ensured the overall performance of the tire.

How is it measured?

Measuring the tread height of a tire is easy. This can be done using both special tools and improvised means.

The first and most effective way is to use a caliper or a special ruler with a depth gauge. This measurement gives the most accurate result.

A simple option is to measure using a regular coin, which is inserted into the slot, and the end of the protector is clamped with a finger, after which the depth is measured using a ruler. The accuracy of such a measurement, of course, is significantly lower, but if you have nothing to measure the tread depth with, this method is quite suitable.

It should be remembered that the remaining tread depth should be measured not in one, but in several places on the tire. It is important to remember that the tread depth closer to the center will be higher than at the edges.

How to determine the degree of tire wear if there are indicators on them:

If the depth indicators in all places are approximately the same, this means that wear occurs evenly. In case of unevenness during measurement, there is a high probability of wheel alignment or other technical malfunctions of the vehicle that can lead to accelerated tire wear. In this case, it makes sense to fix this problem before installing a new tire kit.

Tread depth of new summer and winter tires

The tread depth of new summer and winter tires is regulated, first of all, by the manufacturer’s internal requirements for a specific individual tire model.

This is due to the fact that developers optimize the depth parameter in accordance with the operational parameters and composition of the rubber mixture, using a computer to calculate in advance the optimal parameters for the best characteristics of water removal from the contact patch.

However, there is a general criterion for the tread depth of new tires - winter versions have deeper grooves than summer ones, and durable sipes are designed to ensure reliable cutting of snow cover and provide the best traction characteristics.

Deep tread is also used on off-road tires. In particular, the tread pattern of new tires for crossovers is much more pronounced than that of “passenger” variations, and in purebred “off-road” tires (for example, the well-known Goodrich) the tread generally has a clearly defined structure and significant depth for better off-road performance. viscous soil (in mud and clay).

Video - review of summer tires for SUVs:

In addition, the function of self-cleaning the tread from dirt is important for such tires, because otherwise, when driving on soft soils, such tires will quickly “get washed out”, losing their grip properties.

What to look for when choosing and purchasing new tires

Today, the choice of tires from various manufacturers is very extensive. New tires are sold both directly at tire centers or specialized stores, and on online platforms. In particular, you can buy tires on www.kamtex.ru or in other online stores, but you should familiarize yourself with the assortment in advance and choose the tire model that suits you according to the main consumer criteria.