Do you often feel like your car is not performing at its best? Maybe it’s time to check your tire tread depth. The tire tread is an essential component that helps ensure smooth braking and handling. A healthy tire tread provides optimal grip and traction on UAE roads.
In order to maintain the health of the tire, checking the tire tread depth is crucial on a monthly basis, especially in hot weather and dry roads in the UAE. Moreover, adding off-roading, long drives, and rash speedy driving may cause the tires to wear out sooner than expected. Therefore, to check if the tires are healthy, you need some techniques that we will share with you in this blog.
Before we dive into the techniques, let’s first learn about the legal requirements for tire depth set by the Road and Transport Authority (RTA) in the UAE. Also, know the apparent signs when your car tire needs replacement. That said, let’s get started!
Signs of Tire Tread Wear
Maintaining the tire tread is crucial for ensuring optimal vehicle safety and performance on the roads. The patterns and grooves on the tire tread serve different functions, such as diverting water on rainy days, gripping the road on wet or dry terrain, and facilitating smooth turns, braking, and acceleration. Any malfunction in these functions can indicate tire tread damage. Therefore, it is essential to check and maintain the tire tread regularly.
To maintain tire tread, it is essential to note that as the tire grooves wear out, they will become flush with the tread level. This indicates that the tire needs to be replaced. The deeper the rubber pattern on the tire’s surface, the better the tire’s grip and performance, resulting in maximum fuel efficiency. Additionally, any cracks, cuts, or unusual bulges on the tire are clear signs that it needs to be replaced.
Legal Tire Tread Depth in the UAE
Tires are an essential part of any vehicle, and their condition can have a significant impact on road safety. When a tire is new, the depth of its tread is usually around 8mm. However, the tread wears out over time, so it’s crucial to check it regularly. Once the tread depth reaches 3mm, it’s recommended that the tire be replaced as soon as possible.
By law, the minimum tread depth for light vehicles is 1.6mm. If a tire reaches this limit, it’s illegal to drive on the roads in the UAE, and you may face a fine. For heavy vehicles, the minimum tread depth required is between 2.5mm and 3.5mm, while for bikes, it’s 0.8mm. Driving on tires with low tread depth increases the risk of accidents and damages the tire tread. Therefore, it’s essential to check your tires regularly to prevent any unnecessary accidents.
Check Tire Tread Depth with a Coin
The most widely used method to check tire depth worldwide is the coin technique. However, if you possess a tire tread depth gauge, you can use that as well. Simply insert the gauge into the tire tread patterns and read the measurement of the tire depth. In case you don’t have a tire tread depth gauge, you can always use the simple coin technique as an alternative to determine the tire tread depth.
Follow these simple steps to measure tire tread depth using a coin effectively:
- Take one dirham coin and insert it into the grooves from different directions.
- If the pot on the coin is partially visible on the tread, then your tires are safe and don’t need replacement.
- If the pot on the coin is evident when the coin is put into the groove, then you need to change your car tires.
Importance of Checking Tire Tread Regularly
The coin technique is essential for checking the tire tread depth regularly, as it helps you to know the condition of the tire. It allows you to keep a check on potential problems and the health of a tire, such as:
- If the center of the tires shows more wear than the sides, it indicates overinflation.
- However, if the center tread is lower than the sides of the tire, it means the tire is underinflated.
- If the measurement of all four tires is uneven, it means the wheel alignment is not correct.
- Excessive tread wear on one of the tires can also be an indication of suspension problems in the vehicle.
End Note
It is essential to regularly check your car tire tread depth to ensure the safety and performance of your vehicle. Make sure your tires adhere to the RTA rules and regulations, and replace them every five years after the manufacture date. By following these steps, you can effectively determine the health of your tires and drive safely and efficiently.
Remember to drive cautiously on the roads to avoid accidents, as tires are a vital part of a vehicle and are the main reason for optimal performance. Therefore, proper care and maintenance of tires are required for their longevity and safety. Lastly, always keep a spare tire in the boot of your vehicle in case of emergencies.