Minimal tire tread wear. Driving conditions and road situations. Video tips for determining tire tread height without special tools

It is worth noting that the tread depth of summer tires is less than the same indicator on winter and all-season tires. This is due to the fact that in the cold season the wheels need additional grip with the road surface, respectively, the height of the pattern is determined by the operating conditions of the products.

The task of milestones, without exception, tires is the maximum grip with the road surface. In summer, the ambient temperature is high, so wheel manufacturers use hard rubber compounds. In summer, it does not wear out so much, and in the cold season it simply loses its properties, so changing tires in the autumn-winter period becomes necessary. Such a norm is even enshrined in legislation.

The second difference between summer wheels is their pattern, which does not have to be very embossed, but at the same time it makes it possible to avoid the effect of hydroplaning on wet pavement. In most cases, this effect can be avoided by using longitudinal stripes in the pattern. Along with fairly wide treads, there are practically no sipes here.

Along with such an indicator as the tread depth of new summer tires, it is also necessary to take into account the fact that the pattern itself can be classic symmetrical, directional and asymmetric. The first option is suitable for normal driving on almost any road surface. The second option is more suitable for driving on wet asphalt, as it helps to reduce the effect of aquaplaning. And the third option is ideal for high-speed driving.

The tread depth of new summer tires is usually around 6-8 mm, while some models may have a fairly large radius, such as SUVs. For such machines, the height sometimes reaches 17mm to ensure maximum grip even where there are absolutely no conditions for normal movement. vehicle.

By law, the permitted tread depth for summer tires is 1.6 mm. In general, this parameter has little effect on the adhesion of the tire to the road surface, but it is very important in order to maintain vehicle directional stability on wet pavement. That is why, in most cases, the height of the pattern below 2-3 mm no longer guarantees the safe movement of the car at high speeds in weather when there is a lot of precipitation.

Even if the tread is worn out by 50%, it will be possible to ride on tires designed for the hot season for a long time. But again, it all depends on the driving style and operating conditions of the car. It is worth noting that drivers have problems when they bring the wheels to a critical state. The liquid is poorly removed from the contact spot, and this entails a lot of unpleasant consequences.

Residual tread depth of summer tires

But how to evaluate that the residual tread depth of summer tires is already minimal for a particular car model? First of all, it is important to feel the car during the trip. If on wet asphalt, instead of smooth movement, a hard blow is felt, and driving becomes difficult, then you should think about buying new wheels.

When buying used tires, it is quite difficult to calculate the actual wear of the pattern. Usually sellers use a universal formula, where the rest of the height is divided by its original indicators. But the actual wear differs significantly from the results that can be obtained using this formula. Therefore, it is better to use other calculations.

In them, wear is determined by several quantities at once, including the height of the design of the new product, the actual height measured on two tires mounted on the same axle, the minimum allowable height. But all these calculations are related to the fact that the buyer wants to determine the actual tire wear, and not the seller's obligation to maintain these indicators in the normal range.

And if, nevertheless, the buyer wants to choose the best used tires with a normal degree of wear, he must have an idea of \u200b\u200bhow to measure the height of the pattern. Height is measured at a minimum of 12 different points on the four sides of the wheel. Measurements are carried out with a special meter in the center of the slope and along its side parts.

You can buy tires after measurements when the tread height in the center is higher or the wear is the same across the entire width and on two wheels that will be installed on the same axle. In all other cases, when the pattern is erased unevenly around the circumference, only the upper part of the sidewall, different wear on a pair of wheels or uneven wear across the width of one wheel - in such cases, you should not buy used tires.

The safety of driving a car depends on many factors, but one of the main ones is the condition of the tires, the height or depth of the tread. It is tires, taking into account seasonality - summer and winter, that provide excellent grip on the surface of the roadway.

Tires are very different, depending on the transport for which they are selected.

If we talk about passenger cars, then the main types are as follows:

summer;
winter (studded or Velcro);
by destination - off-road (for SUV), sports, regional, highway;
all-weather.

The depth of the tire pattern depends on the type and purpose of the wheels. We will talk about this in the article.

For an ordinary car new tire tread height is 7.5-8.5mm. Provided that you purchase tires for movement on asphalt roads for general use.

If the motorist owns an SUV or crossover and often goes off-road, the tread depth should be around 17 mm, due to the protruding cups and lugs.

Just in case, we recall that from January 1, 2015, new clauses were introduced into the rules for allowing vehicles to operate, according to which residual tread depth must not be less than 1.6 mm for passenger cars. This applies to both summer and winter tires. Although, it is advisable to install new tires when the tread has worn down to 2 mm. The court has a special badge - TWI, which determines the degree of wear.

You need to understand that there are no specific standards for the height of the tread of new rubber. If you visit a serious store, you should first of all pay attention to the manufacturer: Nokian, Michelin, Goodyear, Bridgestone and many others. These companies are famous for their high quality, therefore, by purchasing their products, you will be completely satisfied.

The tread height will be within 8 mm. It may be reduced if we are talking about tires for high-speed driving in sport mode. The depth then can be about 5-6 millimeters.

Winter tire tread height

For winter tires, tread depth is critical. If in summer you can safely drive on dry asphalt on almost “bald” tires, then in winter your safety depends on the quality of tires, especially when driving at high speeds.

Winter "shoes" for passenger cars can be divided into three types:

studded;
Scandinavian type;
frictional.

Scandinavian type and spikes are specially made for frosty and snowy winters. new tread depth winter tires- 9-10 millimeters. The Scandinavian type of tires is characterized by an asymmetric sparse pattern. Rectangular cups push through snow and ice, which are discharged through small slots - lamellae.

Studs, in principle, do the same job - break up snow and ice, providing traction.

For driving on asphalt, such rubber, of course, is suitable, but it will make a lot of noise. In addition, you risk losing all the spikes when braking hard on bare pavement.

The friction type of winter tires is ideal for driving in warm winters with little snow, in slush and mud. The tread depth here is usually about 9-11 mm. Thanks to thin slots and lugs, the adhesion surface with wet asphalt increases, and all moisture is removed through the lamellas. As a rule, friction rubber has a symmetrical tread pattern.

Good winter tires typically last 4 seasons. That is, the protector is erased much more slowly than in summer.

Tread depth by size

It is also worth noting that the tread height largely depends on the size. So, for summer tires, the depth will be:

165/70 R13 - 7-7.5 mm;
175/70 R13 - 7-9 mm.

If we talk about universal or winter tires, then the picture is as follows:

175/70 R13 - 9-11 mm;
187/70 R14 - up to 12 mm;
195-205 for 14 - 11-15 mm.

In Russia, in particular, there is a specially approved methodology, which provides the recommended parameters. Domestic manufacturers adhere to them so that the products comply with GOST.

Truck and off-road tires

Truck tires are not divided into summer and winter. They initially come with a powerful deep tread designed for a specific type of coating.

For example, the depth of our popular drawings is rhombuses, goose foot- also depends on the size:

240/260-508 (ZIL, GAZ-3307) - 16.3-18.3 mm;
280/300/320-508 (LAZ, MAZ, KAMAZ, ZIL) - up to 23 mm.

Well, for special rubber, for example, for mining dump trucks, the requirements are special and the depth can significantly exceed the indicated values.

For crossovers and SUVs with a size of 205-255 and a radius of 15-18 inches, off-road, the tread depth ranges from 12 to 17 millimeters. In principle, there is no special need to measure this parameter - height, when buying at a dealer store, since the quality and condition can be seen with the naked eye.

Why is the tread height of the new winter tires? Manufacturers recommend wearing it out not to the minimum allowable value, expressed in exact numbers, but by 50%. When buying a used tire, knowing the initial metric characteristics will help to assess the solidity of its mileage by the residual depth of the pattern.

Automobile tires are assembled from several layers of textile cord and a metal cord breaker - metal wire cord. The sidewalls of the product are covered with a thin layer of rubber, and the running part is covered with a thick one. This massive rubber layer, in fact, is the sole of the tire, and there is a tread.

With convex elements of the pattern, the tread “clings” to the road, moving the car forward, braking, turning. The grooves into which the recesses between the protrusions “merge” drain water and slush from the contact patch.

Spikes and sipes provide grip on slippery surfaces. The first crash into rolled snow, ice. A lot of narrow parallel cuts - lamellas - on the lugs of the tread play the role of a "sucker".

On a note. A tire is a tire that works in tandem with a camera - “covering” it.

The winter tread is characterized by special patterns (with a more contrasting relief, wide grooves) and a special rubber that retains maximum elasticity in cold weather.

Tread pattern of a winter car tire

The groups into which they are divided car tires depending on the type of tread pattern:

summer, or road, incompatible with slippery surfaces and deep snow (longitudinally directed pattern, with narrow grooves);
all-season (they are also universal), but in fact - off-season (the pattern is formed by equal-sized checkers of the same shape);
winter (complex patterns, from more sparse elements) - on a dry, even road they wear out quickly, make noise, spend excess fuel;
off-road, or all-terrain (an intricate pattern of separate elements of a complex shape - lugs - and wide cross grooves).

Picture winter tires may be directional. As a rule, its central zone resembles a Christmas tree. Such a tire is not indifferent in which direction to rotate. You can install it only on one of the sides of the car: on the right or on the left. Hint - arrow on the side of the product.

Such a pattern - arrows (or checkmarks), diverging at the ends from the central axis to the periphery, quickly removes liquid from the zone of contact of the tire with the road (forward and to the sides), “pulls” the car well on a slippery surface, on snow.

Asymmetrical pattern winter tread "assembled" from several longitudinal patterns different types. (For example, a track of elements resembling arrows - for stability during acceleration and braking on ice).

The tire tread pattern must not differ between wheels of the same axle. Otherwise, the movement of the car along a given trajectory is impossible, and its operation is prohibited by law. (The pattern on a pair of front wheels may differ from the pattern on a pair of rear wheels, but you will need to carry two spares with you - one for each pair).

The pattern of each strip is designed taking into account its place on the tread. Therefore, a tire with an asymmetric tread has an "outer" side and an "inner" side. And since in such a “composite” pattern there is usually at least one track with a directional pattern, such tires are divided into left and right, they are placed only on one of the two sides of the car.

The nature of the pattern divides the tread patterns into "European" and "Scandinavian"

Diagonally directed network of grooves, sipes and lugs along the tread contour (shoulder) - features pattern, advantageous when driving in mild winter conditions, on roads cleared of snow, heated from intense traffic.

A mixture of water, snow, sand, covering the asphalt, is quickly removed from the contact patch of the "European" tread, and the shoulder elements are put into operation when deep snow passes.

The complex pattern of diamonds and trapezoids is due to the good grip of the tires for snowy roads. Even in deep snow, a tire with a "Scandinavian" pattern is able to provide grip on the supporting surface, sufficient for the forward movement of the car without slipping.

On a note. Large elements in the cross-sectioned tread pattern increase the external noise of the machine at low speeds: 30 km / h - for cars, 60 - for trucks.

Permissible tread wear

If there is no pattern on the tread, its height is zero. However, the car receives the status of "faulty" much earlier.

What is the height of the tread pattern that indicates that the tire is worn out and needs to be replaced:

4 mm - on tires for snowy and icy roads, marked M + S, M & S, M S, with the image of three mountain peaks with a snowflake inside, regardless of the type of vehicle "shod" in it;
2 mm - on the tire for the bus (M2, M3);
1.6 mm - for a car and truck tire with a maximum permitted weight of up to 3.5 tons (M1, N1, O1, O2);
1 mm - for a truck tire with a GVW of more than 3.5 tons (N2, N3, O3, O4);
0.8 mm - on the tire of an ATV, moped, motorcycle (L).

These are the requirements of the Basic Provisions for the admission of vehicles for operation (Decree "On the Rules of the Road" No. 1090). The norms for trailer tires are the same as for tractors.

It is possible to reduce tread wear by swapping the rear, front tires, the "spare tire" (if it is not "compact") from time to time - according to the scheme proposed in the car's operating instructions.

Wear indicators

A high rate of abrasion of the tread of a pneumatic tire may indicate a deterioration in the technical condition of the car. Tire "beating" is fraught with wheel imbalance, wear of suspension ball joints, as well as rough, careless driving style. (Turns with a squeal of rubber, the beating of curbs, pits, rails shortens the life of tires).

Is one side of the tread worn more? Probably the wheels are not balanced. The dual tires are not equally worn, their outer diameters differ by 5 mm? The vehicle is considered defective.

Tire wear can be avoided by regular wheel balancing. The driven wheels of most cars are installed perpendicular to the plane of the road, the driving wheels are installed at an angle. If the angle is not correct, the tire will wear prematurely and unevenly.

To help drivers and inspectors - wear indicators:

protrusions at the bottom of the grooves (in the central zone of the treadmill), the height of each of which is equal to the minimum permitted tread depth;
a protruding element, the fate of which is to wear out as it wears out and, in the end, disappear, located at the level to which the rubber can be worn;
figures cut out in different layers of the tread, corresponding to its current depth (one figure is erased - the next one appears).

Pattern height of new winter tires

Manufacturers do not specify the depth of the tread of tires with zero mileage. Perhaps the reason is the difference in this value for different sizes of products. Tread height (mm) of new winter tires of some well-known brands, measured and published by customers:

Name	Model	Tread Height
bridgestone, the lineup Blizzak	VRX	8,1 - 9,2
	Revo GZ	9
	Spike-01	10
	DM-V2	10
	DM-Z3	15
Bridgestone Ice Cruiser 5000	Ice Cruiser 5000	10,1
Nokian, Hakkapeliitta range	8 SUVs	9,5
	K 2 SUV	8,5
	R2	8,4 - 8,5
	8	8,9
	5	9,3
	R	9
Michelin Latitude X-ice 2		8
Michelin X Ice range	2Xi2	8,2
	3	8,6
	North 3, North	9,4
Dunlop	Grandtrek At3	9 or more
	Sp Winter Ice02	9,7
	Sp Winter Ice02	8,8 - 9
	Winter Maxx WM01	8,8 - 9
Yokohama	ice Guard IG30	8,4
	ice Guard Stud F700Z	8,9

You can roughly determine the depth of the drawing with a coin. But it is better if the driver always has his own meters at hand:

tread depth (narrow ruler with a movable stop);
tire pressure - pressure gauge.

Tire pressure and tread wear

If the tire pressure is not correct, the car is out of order. Manufacturers set the norm: car (at the same time, the rear and front wheels can have various norms pressure) or tires. (Often it is 1.8–2.2 kg/cm).

Every new ride should start with a wheel inspection. Are they in place and all the bolts of their fastening? Are the tires flat? It is better to spend a few minutes and measure the pressure: not by eye, but with a pressure gauge.

Experienced drivers recommend this procedure before every trip.(especially if the car is driven on faulty roads, unpaved, mountainous, crushed stone, gravel, cobblestones, if it is used to work in the city, and, moreover, with increased maneuvering).

Important! Adjusting the air pressure in the chamber means extending the life of the tire. Under-inflated tires, like over-inflated ones, wear out faster.

Figures suitable for comparison with the norm will be shown by a pressure gauge measuring pressure in a cold tire:

before the start of the trip;
after the end of the movement - after 2-3 hours.

In extreme cases, you can check the pressure once a week if the car is not working, but only takes the driver to work, to the store and back along a serviceable concrete or asphalt road.

Procedure for measuring pressure:

remove the cap from the nipple;
press the rounded end of the measuring device against the valve stem;
remove the device, take readings from the scale;
repeat the same steps with the rest of the wheels, including the spare.

If the pressure is too high, the air is released from cold tire, in small portions, by pressing the pin in the center of the valve. The chamber with insufficient pressure is pumped up with a compressor at a service station or with its own pump.

A lowered wheel rolls poorly (touch spot, rolling resistance is greater), forces the driver to turn the steering wheel with great effort, and can lead the car to the side. At the same time, the length of the braking distance, the turning radius directly depend on the adhesion of the wheel to the road. (Minimum adhesion coefficient - 0.12).

One of the reasons for the deviation of the car from a given trajectory and uneven tire wear is uneven air pressure in the tires.

The "correct" winter tires for a car, as well as the work designed to prepare the car for autumn-winter operation, are individual for each model and are given in the manufacturer's instructions. It is better for all five wheels to have the same tires and the same internal air pressure. It is important for the driver to remember that prolonged work with increased load is fraught with premature wear of both car parts and tires.

The video explains the tire wear indicators:

Recently, a draft law on the establishment of uniform norms in the field of the use of tires on cars was submitted to the State Duma. Experts called the permissible tread depth for absolutely all vehicles. Autoinstructors shared with us new amendments to the requirements for tire wear.

What does the protector do?

Car tire, according to driving instructors, is considered unsuitable for use if the tread wear is at the limit value. It is also recommended to change the tires if they are damaged, there are breaks or cuts in the cords, through breakdowns, swelling of the sidewall or tread, delamination of the carcass, tearing of the beads, etc.

If you do not change your tire on time, you will endanger not only your own safety, but also the safety of those around you.

This is especially true in bad weather conditions, for example, in case of rain. The water will not be drained away from the tyre, and this usually leads to hydroplaning at high speeds. It must be said that drivers who have just completed driving training and do not yet have sufficient experience often fall into a zone of such risk.

It's all about the Gazelle

Under the new law, Gazel trucks may not change tires as long as the tread depth is at least 1.6 millimeters. For minibuses, this limit is set at 2 mm. Most likely, the whole problem lies precisely in the Gazelles. The traffic rules (permission to operate the vehicle) indicate that the residual height of the tire tread cars should be 1.6 mm, for buses this value is 2 mm, for trucks - 1 mm, for mopeds and motorcycles - 0.8.

Thus, for the Gazelle, the figure is set to 1.6, since the mass of this vehicle is not more than three and a half tons, but according to other parameters, the Gazelle is a truck that is used to transport goods, and this is category N1.

Vehicle classification

In our country, it is generally difficult to classify vehicles. For example, what are pickup trucks? In the Russian and international classification, this is N1, but they can be managed by a person with category B.

Here, the machines are already divided by functionality. Note that many pickup trucks cannot enter the city center without an appropriate pass, in particular those with a carrying capacity of more than a ton. Such cars can be driven with category C.

New rules

Today it was decided to indicate the remaining tire tread depths for each vehicle.

Category L: mopeds, motorcycles, motorbikes, scooters, quadricycles and tricycles - at least 0.8 mm.
Categories O3, O4, N2, N3: trailers and trucks (weight over 3.5 tons) - 1.0.
Categories O1, O2, M1, N1: cars, trailers and vehicles with a mass of 3.5, maximum - 1.6.
Categories M2, M3: this includes buses with more than 8 passenger seats - 2.

Changes have also been made to the operation of winter tires.

Now, the remaining tread depth on tires for winter use (for snowy or icy road surfaces) should be 4 mm, maximum.

Recall that winter tires have a sign in the form of a mountain peak with a snowflake inside and three peaks.

How to check tread depth?

Some tires have a wear indicator. If this is not the case, then measurements are taken with a caliper.

What penalties will be for insufficient tread depth is not yet known. As they say in the traffic police, first you need to introduce new requirements and norms, and then think about fines.

Video on how to check tires for wear:

Be careful on the road and don't forget about tire wear!

This article uses an image from drugasmuga.com

Every car owner knows that the wheel is one of the most important parts of the car. A vehicle wheel is a disc and a tire. Due to the force of friction, traction with the road surface and the movement of the car occur. The first tires were created in order to reduce the effort required to move loads. Today they are responsible for vehicle handling and safety on the road. The characteristics of tires depend on the chemical composition and tread pattern.

1 Types of drawings - why they are different

Rubber is the main ingredient in a tire. Carbon black, silicic acid, sulfur and other components are added to it to give tires the desired characteristics. The goal of manufacturers is to achieve maximum resistance to external influences, such as friction and elevated temperature.

For different operating conditions, tire manufacturers develop a special tread. Depending on the purpose, tires are divided into:

road - designed for driving on a hard road surface;
mud - for extreme conditions (soil, mud);
universal - used for all types of road surface.

Numerous grooves and longitudinal grooves in the tread of summer tires are designed to drain water. The behavior of the car on the road depends on the type of pattern. The asymmetry and directionality of the tread give better handling, but due to the complexity of production, such tires are more expensive. In addition, they are noisier.

2 Tread depth - what should it be

Over time, the tire wears out and the properties laid down by the manufacturer are lost. And the smaller the tread depth becomes, the stronger the changes for the worse are felt.

There is such a thing as critical tire wear, when it cannot provide normal grip on the road and its use becomes unsafe. Minimum tread height summer tires spelled out in the rules of the road. For car tiresit is 1.6 mm, and for buses - 2 mm. With a smaller balance, the operation of the vehicle is prohibited. Let's see why.

When the tread depth becomes smaller, the tire begins to drain water worse. As a result, hydroplaning occurs - partial or even complete loss of traction and, as a result, control. Since tire contact with the road surface decreases as tire wear increases, it is more difficult for a vehicle to brake even on dry surfaces. All troubles become even more noticeable at high speeds.

To keep your rides safe, the condition of your tires needs to be checked periodically. The remaining tread depth can be determined in three ways:

A caliper is the most accurate way to measure. To do this, you need to pull out the depth gauge of the device, lower it to the lowest point and lower the bar until it stops at the top point of the tread. According to the indications on the scale, the remaining rubber is determined.
Coin and ruler. To perform the measurement, insert a coin into the recess and mark the height of the tread with a marker. Now with the help of a ruler you can find out the condition of the rubber.
Pabout indicators. Almost all manufacturers apply various marks that allow you to control the degree of tire wear.

With the first and second control methods, measurements are taken in several places, since wear is uneven.

As for labels, there are several types of them:

voluminous;
digital;
drawings.

Volumetric marks are usually ribs, the height of which will serve as a signal that the tires should be changed.

Digital marks are applied in the form of numbers - from 2 to the value of the tread height of the new tire.

On the summer tires sometimes drawings are applied in the form of drops, the disappearance of which signals the danger of aquaplaning.

3 Causes of premature wear

The wear rate of a tire is affected not only by its chemical composition but also some other factors. Tire wear can be caused by:

The pressure is above or below the set value. Under normal tire pressure, the tread surface is fully in contact with the road surface. When the pressure is lower than needed, the rubber wears out at the edges. If the wheels are pumped - erasing occurs in the middle of the tread.
Incorrect wheel alignment. In this case, the rubber is "eaten" along the outer or inner edge of the wheel, depending on which way it is tilted.

In both cases, the load is distributed not evenly, but on certain areas wheels. Because of this, the rubber wears down to zero in one place, while wear remains acceptable in another.

4 Shelf life of wheels

Except allowable wear tires, the natural aging of rubber should be taken into account. Over time, it loses elasticity, becomes hard. Sometimes cracks appear on the surface of the tire, due to which air can leak in the future. There are even cases when the tire explodes.

No manufacturer gives information about how many years a tire can be used. But each tire has a label indicating the year and week of manufacture. You need to remember this point when buying new tires. It's not worth the risk, it's better to opt for fresh tires.

When buying used wheels, you should pay attention to the following points:

degree of wear;
wear uniformity;
year of issue;
visual condition (cracks, delaminations).

In addition to the described methods for determining the need to replace old tires with new ones, you should also rely on your own feelings. If the car has become worse to slow down, the grip is insufficient, or control is lost on a wet road, then you should not hesitate to replace tires.