How to Check Your Tyre Tread Depth at Home

Your tyre tread depth directly affects how well your car stops, corners, and handles wet roads. South African law requires a minimum of 1 mm of tread, but safety experts recommend replacing tyres well before that. Here are three ways to check yours right now.

Method 1: The 2-Rand Coin Test

This is the simplest check that any South African driver can do instantly. Take a 2-rand coin and insert it into the tread groove. If you can see the gold outer ring of the coin, your tread depth is at or below approximately 2 mm — time to book a replacement. If the gold ring disappears into the groove, you have adequate tread remaining.

Method 2: Tread Wear Indicators

Every modern tyre has built-in tread wear indicators — small raised rubber bridges moulded into the bottom of the tread grooves. Look for triangular arrow markers or the letters 'TWI' on the tyre sidewall to locate them. When the tread surface is level with these indicators, the tyre has reached its legal minimum (approximately 1.6 mm) and must be replaced immediately.

Important: The legal minimum is not the safe minimum. In wet conditions, braking distances increase dramatically below 3 mm of tread.

Method 3: A Tread Depth Gauge

A dedicated tread depth gauge costs around R50–R80 from a motoring accessory shop and gives you an exact measurement in millimetres. Insert the probe into the tread groove and press the shoulder against the tread surface for an accurate reading. Check at least three positions across the width of the tyre — uneven readings across the width indicate a wheel alignment problem.

Where to Check

Check tread depth at multiple points across the tyre — inside edge, centre, and outside edge. Also check at multiple points around the circumference. Uneven wear patterns tell you something important:

• Worn in the centre, good on edges → over-inflated tyre
• Good in the centre, worn on both edges → under-inflated tyre
• Worn on one edge only → wheel alignment problem
• Worn in patches or scalloped → worn shock absorbers

What to Do If Your Tread Is Low

If your tread depth is at or below 2 mm, don't delay — book a tyre replacement soon. If it's at or below 1.6 mm (the legal limit), stop driving on those tyres and contact Value Tyre immediately. Our three Cape Town branches can fit replacement tyres the same day in most cases.