Get An Oil Change
Your Nearest Store:
7980 S Broadway
Littleton, CO
303.515.7308
Most stores are open nights and weekends
| Day(s) | Hours |
|---|---|
| MON-FRI: | 7:00am-7:00pm |
| SAT: | 7:00am-6:00pm |
| SUN: | 9:00am-5:00pm |
| Thanksgiving: | Closed |
Schedule Service
Your Nearest Store:
7980 S Broadway
Littleton, CO
303.515.7308
Most stores are open nights and weekends
| Day(s) | Hours |
|---|---|
| MON-FRI: | 7:00am-7:00pm |
| SAT: | 7:00am-6:00pm |
| SUN: | 9:00am-5:00pm |
| Thanksgiving: | Closed |
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Alignment Service
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A COMPLETE GUIDE TO TIRE TREAD DEPTH Learn what tire tread depth can tell you about your vehicle.
WHAT IS TIRE TREAD DEPTH
Tread is the rubber part of the tire that makes contact with the road, and tire tread depth is the vertical measurement between the top of the tread rubber to the bottom of the tire’s deepest grooves. Over time, tread depth will start to wear down, affecting things like safety and performance on the road. Tire tread wear patterns can also tell you if some parts of your vehicle are performing properly and indicate when it’s time to start shopping for a new set of tires. The tread depth of new tires is usually between 10/32 and 11/32 inches, depending on the tire.
WHAT IS TREAD VOID?
Tread void is one component that helps with responsive handling, resilience and is vital to helping your tires grip the road in wet weather. The term tread void refers to the gaps between the raised tread blocks on your tire that allow the tire to flex slightly, giving it increased traction and handling. In addition, these gaps direct water, mud, or snow away from the tire, which helps prevent hydroplaning and maintains grip on the road.
TYPES OF TREAD VOID
While tread void is crucial, it is not the same depth or size on all tires. Expected road conditions and the type of vehicle you drive can change the tread depth and tread void pattern you should be looking for in a set of tires. Some tire tread void patterns can expertly handle wet, icy roads, while other tread void patterns do better on dirt roads off the beaten track.
KEEP AN EYE ON YOUR TREAD VOID
As a tire begins to wear down, so does the tread void. Over time, this can become increasingly unsafe. Keep your eyes peeled for uneven treadwear or deformations that don’t look like the rest of the tire. Some tires come with tread wear indicators that can be used to measure wear. You can also use the penny test to measure the tread wear yourself.
In addition to regular tread wear, debris from the road can also make its way into your tread void, damaging your tires in the process. While you can attempt to remove this debris yourself, we recommend leaving it to the expert technicians at your nearest Firestone Complete Auto Care location. They can evaluate the damage and safety of your tires and help you find tire replacements if needed.