There is more to car tires that meet the eye. They are intricate and sophisticated components to nearly every type of vehicle in the world. Without properly functioning and maintained wheels, a vehicle cannot perform to its best ability. There are several facets involved in tire performance, such as wear indicators, revolutions, pressure, tread, and more.

Learning about these topics can be an excellent way to better understand the importance of routine tire maintenance and care. Continue reading to do just that!

Tire Pressure and RPMs

There is in fact a link between tire pressure and the number of revolutions they take per mile. Proper pressure can affect gas mileage and the integrity of tires as a whole. Properly inflated wheels allows a vehicle to get the most mileage out of their tires, all while saving fuel. When they are not inflated properly, they can cause the tires to unevenly wear down. This, in turn, affects the number of tire revolutions per mile.

Drive axels and more are at risk of damage due to over-inflated or under-inflated car tires. To combat this potential issue, be sure to check your vehicle’s tire pressure on a routine basis. Also, be sure to take your vehicle to a licensed auto shop for routine balancing and tire rotation services.

Tire Wear Indicator

Many people are unaware that tires have an indicator that “indicates” the degree of tire tread wear. These look like little nodules inside the grooves of your vehicle’s tire tread. Using mechanics, these indicators accurately gauge tread levels.

Tire tread indicators are not blatantly visible on all vehicle tires. They may only be visible once the tread has worn out some. A tread depth tester tool is used in most mechanic shops to measure tire tread and assess the degree of wear and tear. This tool will indicate whether or not tires need to be replaced, and when. Keep in mind that front tires wear more quickly than rear ones do.

How to Measure the Depth of Tire Tread

For those who wish to measure the depth of their vehicles tires on their own without a tread tester tool, they have the option of trying the tire tread penny trick. Most states command that all vehicular tires must retain a tread depth of at least 2/32 of an inch thick.

This state-mandated depth is measured from the top of the tire tread indicator to the top of the tire’s tread. The interesting part about this is that a copper Lincoln penny measures exactly at 2/32 of an inch tall! This makes it so easy to test whether or not your vehicle’s tires are at a legally depth.

Simply place the penny on top of the indicator, with Abraham Lincoln upside down, and observe whether or not you can see the letters on the penny. If you cannot see the letters, your tire tread is still legal and in a good place. If you can see the letters, your tread depth is too low and your tires will need to be replaced.