Jack Williams

How worn are your tires? Here’s how to check

A penny may not be worth much these days, but as long as you've got one in your pocket, you've also got a very convenient way to check whether it's time to replace your tires.

Flip the penny over to the "heads" side with Abraham Lincoln's head showing. Flip his head upside down and insert it into one of the tread grooves on your tire.

If the tread doesn't cover part of Lincoln's head, you have less than 2/32^nd of an inch of tread remaining on your tire. 2/32^nd of an inch is the legal minimum tread depth in Pennsylvania and most other states. You need to replace that tire as soon as possible.

In addition to causing your vehicle to fail its next state vehicle inspection, tires with only 2/32^nd of an inch of tread are going to have significantly reduced performance in any kind of precipitation. Your car is going to be much more susceptible to hydroplaning, and you'll have virtually no traction in snow.