How low do you all generally let your tread get?

I know everybody and their sister talks about the penny/lincolns head tread depth but I'm wondering in the real world how low do you all generally let your tread get before replacing tires? I keep going back and forth, mine are at 5/32's.

I don't have a set of dedicated snow tires so whatever I have on is on year round. They are michelin defenders that are about 3 years old now with about 40,000 miles on them. I wish I'd kept better records because IMO and based on Michelins warranty they should be lasting longer than this but I don't have a record of tire rotation for every interval so they won't honor the warranty.

I drive about 200-300 miles per week so by december they'll be about 8000 miles more worn than they are now which would put the total mileage around 50,000.

So, what do you generally do? Lincoln's head? The wear bars on the tire? Some other gauge of replacement?

 

Kingston, here is some information you may find helpful:

Measuring Tread Depth | Discount Tire direct

Know Your Numbers | Discount Tire Direct

Please let us know if we can help.

 

Thanks for that but I’d already read that. I was just wondering what people really do, if they do as recommended or if they wait longer or shorter?

 

Until it hydroplanes or spins bad taking off normally from stop in wet or when it won't pass inspection.....mostly the slippy in rain thing. Just got inspected this month and must have had barely enough tread left to pass. New set of skins since then all fresh and lovely. Also tires get loud and can make you think your wheel bearings may be having issue when that low on tread. I even took my fresh bolt-on ready hubs from bamaguy to the tire store with me and had them check bearings too. They said all good and with new skins, no weird road noises so I just took the hub/bearing assemblies back home with me to wait it out some more, lol.

 

I go based on feel, if I start to feel any slip in wet weather during the summer it's time for replacement. Having driven cars on slicks in the rain, I know how little it takes to get into a nasty situation. And if I know that I'm driving on questionable rubber, I drive like such.

 

2/32 is worth a ticket in NC if it was pushed. I worked with tires for a while and you would be amazed at what would come in! Bald.Steel showing.Dry rot-you name it! People wanted cracked-dry rotted tires repaired!
So basically stop worrying about everyone else, not your problem unless they wreck you. Between 4/32 and 3/32 you probably should start shopping for tires unless you have other damage that needs immediate attention!

 

I change them if they get too old, if the tread is wearing unevenly or getting worn down, if they’re loud, if they start to loose grip in wet conditions or if the rubber starts to show rot. I’ve even replaced tires cause I liked or wanted something new/different.

 

I change mine when they're about 3/8 to 7/16 but it's only because they won't grip in the mud like a new tire.
And because I like to throw big chunks not little pieces of mud everywhere

 

I go by feel as well. When the rain traction gets noticeably sketchy, where I'd feel hesitant about letting someone I care about borrow my truck, it's time for a new set. I'm pretty religious about checking tire pressure and keeping up on rotations, so i generally get pretty good wear out of a set. As much as I cringe every time I see a newish crossover or small car with bald, obviously-never-rotated tires, you have way more margin for error in a FWD car. I've had enough scary encounters with bald tires in RWD vehicles for a lifetime and don't f*ck around anymore. Always remember: Number one safety feature in your vehicle is you, the driver. 2nd is the only part of the car that actually touches the road.