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Original new tire tread depth

Discussion in 'Prime Main Forum (2017-2022)' started by Peng Xiao, May 11, 2019.

  1. Peng Xiao

    Peng Xiao Junior Member

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    Anyone know the tire tread depth when it’s new. Just did 5000 miles maintenance, was told the current tread depth is 8. If the new ones are 11 or 10, the wear out is too fast.
     
  2. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    Worth noting, those numbers are (likely) 32'ths of an inch*. Typical new tires are 10/32". There's a few exceptions: Michelin Premier A/S for example, start out at 8.5/32".

    Get yourself a tread depth gauge; they're cheap as dirt, dispel the mystery.

    * Tread depth is also noted in mm's sometimes, but anywhere in North America it's typically 32'ths.
     
    #2 Mendel Leisk, May 11, 2019
    Last edited: May 11, 2019
  3. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    Not sure but the Toyo’s that came with our Prime are 300 tread wear so I don’t expect them to last long:(.

    Then I’ll put Bridgestone turanza serenities on it and get 100k miles or more out of a set(y).
     
  4. Mendel Leisk

    Mendel Leisk Senior Member

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    I've had dealership tell me tires were a 70%, then next visit, they said 85%. :rolleyes:
     
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  5. Raytheeagle

    Raytheeagle Senior Member

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    I had them say similar things about brake pads:confused:.
     
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  6. PT Guy

    PT Guy Senior Member

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    And...checking the tread depth on both shoulders and in the center will show whether you have even tread wear. If one shoulder wears more than the other, it's an alignment problem.* If the shoulders wear more than the center, you've been running low inflation pressure (which can cause excessive heat and a tire failure). If the center wears more than the shoulders, you're running high inflation pressure (which some folks like and are willing to accept the uneven wear.)

    It's somewhat personal choice how much wear is the acceptable max. 2/32nds of an inch tread depth is the summer legal minimum tread in most (all?) states. 4/32" when winter traction tires are required, at least in this state. These are too thin for me. There is no inflection point where tire tread channels deep highway water at one tread depth then hydroplanes as soon as it reaches a lesser tread depth. It's progressive. 4/32" is my personal minimum acceptable tread depth.

    *And, my old Volvo FWD 850 always wore the outside shoulders of the tread first. It was just the nature of the beast; it understeered a lot. Stiffer anti-roll bars and aftermarket front camber adjusters fixed things.
     
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  7. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    Tire Rack lists the tread depth in the specs.
     
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  8. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    What OEM tire is it? If it is Dunlop Enasave 01 A/S, the tread when new is only 8/32. My OEM Dunlop Enasave 01 A/S with 20K miles has 5/32 left. Theoretically, at this rate, I can go another 20K down to the legal limit of 2/32, but I will likely to buy a new set after this summer at around 30K miles.
     
  9. Peng Xiao

    Peng Xiao Junior Member

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    The answer is,
    • Tread Depth:9.7/32"
     
  10. benagi

    benagi Active Member

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    I was always told if you can see all of Lincoln’s head on a penny when measuring the depth, it’s time for new tires. Anyone know what depth that is?
     
  11. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    That would be less than 2/32 inches of treads.

    Posted via the PriusChat mobile app.
     
  12. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    What OEM tires are on your car?
     
  13. Peng Xiao

    Peng Xiao Junior Member

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    TOYO
    NANOENERGY A29
    P195/65R15
     
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  14. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    UTQG rating is 300AB on that tire. I would think it's tread is good for only ~30K miles.
     
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  15. Trollbait

    Trollbait It's a D&D thing

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    The 300 wear value is only good for comparison of tires within the same brand. Regulations require the manufacturer posts it, but it doesn't set a standard test to use.
     
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  16. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    Yeah, I know the problems with UTQG rating. But it gives me a good estimation of what to expect from the tires. All of the tires I have had experiences with gave me at most 100 treads wear value = 10K miles, but never more.
    https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?gclid=CjwKCAjwiN_mBRBBEiwA9N-e_hJDAiVDLaMpm49YROSrov-1PK2Xm0qLcDF3Cc59Eaqrifaw_sKnNRoCmRoQAvD_BwE&techid=48&ef_id=CjwKCAjwiN_mBRBBEiwA9N-e_hJDAiVDLaMpm49YROSrov-1PK2Xm0qLcDF3Cc59Eaqrifaw_sKnNRoCmRoQAvD_BwE:G:s&s_kwcid=AL!3756!3!254641198992!e!!g!!utqg
     
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  17. PT Guy

    PT Guy Senior Member

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    The rate of tread wear has many factors. One seldom recognized is the abrasiveness of the aggregate used to make roads in different regions of the country. Road-making gravel comes from the nearest quarry with suitable material (or the quarry owned by the road commissioner's brother-in-law). More abrasive roads wear tires faster even if the tire has the best rubber compound, correct inflation pressure and alignment, moderate driving habits, etc.

    Peng, the rate of tread wear isn't linear. Newer, deeper tread wears faster due to squirm. Shallower tread wears more slowly. The rate of tread wear is slower as the tire is used.
     
  18. Salamander_King

    Salamander_King Senior Member

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    That's very true. Our chipseal paving is so abrasive I have never got rated treadwear from tires I have put on my cars.