Tools & materials
Tools
- Tread-depth gauge
- Flashlight
Parts / materials
No replacement parts required.
Preparation
- Park with the steering turned when needed to expose front tread.
Step by step
- 01Measure inner, center, and outer tread at several points.
- 02Inspect grooves for wear bars and embedded objects.
- 03Look for cracks, bulges, exposed cords, flat spots, and uneven wear.
- 04Read the tire date code and compare all four tires for size and condition.
What success looks like
Tread is safely above legal minimum, wear is even, and no structural damage is visible.
Common mistakes
- Checking only the outer shoulder
- Treating legal minimum as ideal wet-weather tread
- Ignoring tire age
Call a professional
Ask a tire shop to assess damage, alignment-related wear, mismatched AWD tires, or advanced age.