Ten seconds per tire tells you more than your dashboard warning light ever will.
Call (269) 925-9573Insert a quarter into the tread groove with Washington’s head pointing down. If the tread still reaches his hairline, you’re fine. If you can clearly see the top of his head, you’re below the legal safe minimum tread depth and it’s time to replace the tire.
Don’t just check one spot — test the inside, middle, and outside of the tread on every tire. Uneven wear between those three spots usually points to an alignment or suspension issue, not just an old tire. If one tire is wearing unevenly compared to the others, that’s worth a mechanical check, not just a tire swap.
A tire pressure warning light tells you about air pressure, not tread depth. A tire can be perfectly inflated and still be dangerously worn. The quarter test takes two minutes in your driveway and catches what the dashboard can’t.
Don’t keep driving on it and hope it holds. We stock common sizes and can often get you back on the road without the wait or markup of a chain store — see our note on when a car needs a tow versus a drive to the shop.
Call (269) 925-9573 — no appointment needed, in Benton Harbor or on the road.