Car Fix Shelby Tire Safety: Washington vs. Lincoln
December 31, 2023
Welcome to the Car Fix Shelby automotive blog. Today, let's talk about the effect of tire wear.
Let's focus on stopping in wet Shelby Township conditions. In order for a tire to have good contact with the road, it has to move the water out of the way. If it can't move the water, the tire will actually ride on top of a thin film of water.
That's called hydroplaning. If it's really bad, Shelby Township drivers can actually spin out of control - endangering themselves and the other drivers around them. At best, you won't stop as fast.
So how does a tire move water? It has channels for water to flow through. Look at your vehicle tire and you'll see channels: channels that run around the tire and channels that flow across the tire. They're designed to direct water away from the tire so it can contact the road better.
And the deeper the channel, the more water it can move. A brand new Car Fix Shelby tire has very deep channels and can easily move a lot of water. As the tire wears down, the channels become shallower and can move less water. When it wears down enough, it can seriously affect your ability to stop your vehicle on wet Shelby Township roads.
So that's why it's so important for Shelby Township drivers to replace their vehicle tires when they get worn. Consumer Reports and other advocate groups call for a standard of 3/32 of an inch and they have the studies to prove it.
At Car Fix Shelby, we want our customers to know that the deeper recommended tread depth makes a big difference. Stopping distances are cut dramatically on wet Shelby Township streets. A safe stop from Michigan speeds with 4/32 of an inch of tread would result in a crash with worn out tires.
There's an easy way to tell when a tire's worn to 4/32 of an inch.
Just insert a quarter into the tread. Put it in upside down. If the tread doesn't cover George Washington's hairline, it's time to replace your vehicle tires. With a Canadian quarter, the tread should cover the numbers in the year stamp.
Many Shelby Township residents have heard of this technique using a penny and Abe Lincoln's head - the old method. That measure gives you 2/32 of an inch – half the suggested amount. Of course, vehicle tires are a major purchase. Most of us in Shelby Township want to get as many miles out of them as we can. But there's a real safety trade-off. It's your choice.
Car Fix Shelby
46870 Van Dyke Ave.
Shelby Township, Michigan 48317
(586) 739-7810
Need Service?
More articles from Car Fix Shelby

Go With the Flow (MAF Sensor Replacement)
March 30, 2025
A driver brought her vehicle into the shop the other day and told us how she was getting lousy fuel economy and that the engine was running rough. Plus, the Check Engine light was on. Our technician checked the code the engine had generated (why the Check Engine light was on) and found the prob... More

Clean Machine (Fuel and Air Induction Cleaning)
March 23, 2025
As your vehicle ages, its performance isnt quite what it used to be, but many of us never notice the change because its gradual. So here are a few questions to ask yourself. Does your vehicle feel like it doesnt have the pep that it used to? Have you noticed your fuel economy isnt quite as good... More

Prepare Your Windshield for Winter (Wiper Blades and Fluid for Freezing Temperatures)
March 16, 2025
Winter and freezing temperatures present challenges for different parts of your vehicles. For example, winter tires give you better traction on snow. But some parts of your vehicle that may need special attention for winter are your windshield wipers. You may have found yourself in the middle o... More