Tire Tread and Stopping Distance

Blue car parked in front of traffic cones

Although a properly maintained braking system is vital, your tires also play a pretty important role when it comes to stopping your vehicle. Having enough tread depth is critical for stopping safely, especially on wet roads.

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When your tires are in contact with the road, they create friction which directly affects the handling and stopping capabilities of your vehicle. The amount of friction created can vary between different types of roads, weather conditions and the amount of tread remaining on your tires.

Most passenger car tires begin with 9 or 10/32nds of usable tread; light truck tires and winter tires may have more. The amount of tread is especially important on wet roads, as the tread grooves help your tires displace water to stay in contact with the road. You can see how treadwear impacts stopping distance illustrated below.

Infographic explaining how wet stopping distances increase as tread depth is depleted. 11/32 inch of tread allows an average wet stopping distance of 160 feet. 5/32 inch of tread allows an average wet stopping distance of 195 feet. For your safety, we warn to replace your tires at 4/32 inch of tread, which allows an average wet stopping distance of 205 feet. 3/32 inch of tread begins a dangerous average wet stopping distance of 225 feet; even more dangerous is 2/32 inch which allows a wet stopping distance of 250 feet.

As you drive, friction slowly eats away at your tires, reducing their tread depth. As you can see, the more your tires wear, the more distance they require to come to a stop, especially in wet weather. That's one of the reasons hydroplaning becomes so much more common on worn tires. And you'll find that this effect is far more dramatic in winter weather, when snow and ice are more prevalent.

Released in 2012, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's (NHTSA) study "Tire-Related Factors in the Pre-Crash Phase" shows the direct correlation of low tread depth and an increased likelihood of being involved in an accident.

Tire performance capabilities decrease significantly once the tread depth drops to 4/32''. Tires at this tread depth are unsuitable for wet or snowy conditions.

That's why we and industry standards recommend replacing tires worn to 4/32nds and below.

By the time your tires are worn to 2/32nds, they present a serious safety risk, as their stopping distance and wet/snow traction are significantly decreased. In fact, tires with 2/32'' of tread are considered legally bald in most states.

For your safety, we won't service tires worn to 2/32nds and below.

Because tread depth plays such a pivotal role in safety and stopping distance, we recommend checking your tire tread depth at least once a month and before long road trips. While you can always perform a penny test to check your tread depth, you can also bring your vehicle to your nearest store and we'll check your tire tread depth for free!

*The Michelin Premier tire lines do not follow the stopping distance portion of the above image, as they're designed with technology for like-new performance to 2/32nds of an inch.

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If you're ready for new tires, be sure to buy and book online to wait less time in the store!

Use Treadwell, our tire buying guide, to get the same tire recommendations our employees would make in-store. Then book your appointment at the same time. We'll take care of the rest!

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If you have any questions or require any assistance, stop by any of our America's Tire locations and we'll get you taken care of!