How do you determine how much % tire thread is left?
 

In all the ads for tires, how does one come up with the percent tire thread is remaining? Is it just a rough visual estimation or is there some method to this? I'll be sellng my rims/tires soon so I want to figure this out... TIA

Re: How do you determine how much % tire thread is left? (Pat)
 

You can physically measure the depth of the TREAD (http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emwink.gif)and compare that to the depth on a new tire (same tire, of course!)

Re: How do you determine how much % tire thread is left? (MrBite)
 

hehe whoops http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emsmileo.gif thanks for the spellcheck MrBite http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emthup.gif

Re: How do you determine how much % tire thread is left? (Pat)
 

i think most people just guESsTIMATE how much tread is left when they put their rims/tires is ads.. but you can look up the tread depth of a new tire of your size/model and then measure yours and calculate the percentage left.. but seriously i think most people just guess..

much like how a lot of ads say "small scratch you have to be really close up to see" then you roll up and the first thing you see (from far away) is the curb marks...

its always funny to see typo's on thepartstrader where people say they have "80% READ left"


[Modified by GSRaCeRbOI, 2:16 PM 2/5/2002]

Re: How do you determine how much % tire thread is left? (GSRaCeRbOI)
 

ive always heard that you take a penny and set it on your tread. if the tread is above the top of abe's head, then it's still good....don't know about exact percentage though...

Re: How do you determine how much % tire thread is left? (fuzznuts)
 

Actually CS http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/emsmileo.gif

Re: How do you determine how much % tire thread is left? (LMU 97 LS)
 

yeah the penny trick is to determine if their in need of replacement.. you turn the penny over (upside down).. so the top of his head is facing the surface of the tire.. if the tread height is at or below his head/hair.. its time for replacement..

this wont tell you the percentage tho.. most ppl are just guessing cuz their trying to sell it.. you could get the tread depth when new and then measure what u have now and calculate.. it wont be dead on accurate.. but it'll be better than guesstimating..

Re: How do you determine how much % tire thread is left? (Pat)
 

You can buy a tire tread depth gauge which will tell you how many inches in 1/32 increments you have remaining on your tires. I think brand new street tires come with 6/32.

Re: How do you determine how much % tire thread is left? (APEXKING)
 

I believe it is mandatory that all tires now come with tread depth indicators,
which may be found in the parallel traction grooves of the tire, as a set of raised rubber bars.

Re: How do you determine how much % tire thread is left? (bps2799)
 

percentage comes straight from the owner's arse. http://images.zeroforum.com/smile/embeer.gif

Re: How do you determine how much % tire thread is left? (boroDC2)
 

I'm guessing it's mandatory for all the tire manufacturers to make a visible marking in the tread so you can visually see the condition of the tread.

Basically what bps2799 said. If you follow the tread lines with your fingers, you should come up to a little bump. If the tread's height is equal to that bump, it's time to replace it.

People usually come up with xx% tread left by determining how many miles they put on the tires.
For example: Lets say an average tire lasts for 30k miles. If the owner had the tires on for 3k miles, he used up 10% of the tires.