Checking the tread pattern of a tire

Special tool: not required.

Tires of balanced wheels, if the prescribed tire pressure is conscientiously observed, with the correct installation of the wheels and the operation of the shock absorber, wear out over the entire working surface approximately evenly. In case of uneven wear, see tire troubleshooting in section «Wheels and tires». Otherwise, in general, it is impossible to draw a conclusion about the resource of tires of a certain fabrication, since various factors influence this resource:

• pavement quality
• tire inflation pressure
• driving style
• weather

First of all, a sporty driving style, quick starting and hard braking contribute to the rapid wear of tires.

Attention: In fairness, it should be said that the height of the tread pattern during wear can decrease by up to 1.6 mm, namely, the depth of the grooves of the tread pattern over the entire working surface must still be at least 1.6 mm. However, for safety reasons, it is recommended to replace tires with a tread depth of at least 2 mm.

If the tread height approaches the minimum allowable value, and the prescribed wear value of 1.6 mm is exceeded in many places along the perimeter of the tires and the pattern is no longer there, this means that such tires must be replaced.

Note: for all-wheel drive vehicles (quattro) all 4 wheels must be fitted with tires from the same manufacturer and with the same tread pattern. Otherwise, the center differential may be damaged. For safety reasons, this requirement is also recommended for vehicles with front-wheel drive.

Attention: Tires with a winter tread pattern marked M + S have sufficient grip on mud and snow only if the tread depth is at least 4 mm.

Caution: Check tires for cuts. If cuts are found, determine their depth with a small screwdriver. If the depth of the cut reaches the carcass, then the steel cord of the tire corrodes due to water penetration. Under such circumstances, the working surface lags behind the carcass, the tire begins to crack. Therefore, for deep cuts in the tread, the tires should be replaced for safety reasons.