Hello, dear motorists! Any normal driver strives to drive a car not only with the maximum level of comfort, but also safety. This criterion is directly affected by the steering and braking system, as well as the quality of car tires. And we have already discussed which tires are better to buy for the winter, talked about the advisability of buying. An important role is played by the degree of wear, in its determination a tire wear indicator can become a good helper - what it is and where you can find it, we'll talk in today's publication.
One of the key characteristics that is responsible for the handling of the vehicle and its stability on the road is the height of the tire tread. Sometimes it is not possible to objectively assess this indicator by eye. In this case, a special indicator will not come to the rescue, which is integrated into the rubber by the manufacturer. It is the tread that provides high-quality grip of the wheel with the road surface, and it is especially important to monitor its degree of wear in bad weather. During and after rain, snow, ice, the contact of the car with the road deteriorates significantly.
The rules of the road, for their part, regulate what the degree of wear should be, and clear quantitative indicators are provided for this:
- passenger cars - 1.6 mm;
- motorcycles - 0.8 mm;
- buses - 2 mm;
- trucks - 1 mm.
And in order to evaluate the tread height, we just need an indicator that indicates tire wear. It is a part of the tread, which, in its position, shape and size, differs from the rest of the tire pattern. Most often, such an indicator is voluminous and placed in a groove. Another option is a digital beacon in the form of digital signs at different depths.
Main types of indicators
The simplest is the bulk type specifier, which functions simply and clearly. In the process of erasing the tread, it begins to be compared with the height at which the beacon is located. This means that the tire must be replaced. Today, manufacturers equip tires not only with the main, but also with intermediate indicators, so that the driver can track the erasure of the pattern in advance and prepare for replacement.
The digital indicator on the tires looks somewhat different. It is a number pressed into the tire at a certain depth. The smallest number (usually 2) is at the deepest depth and vice versa. During operation, the protector will wear out, and the numbers themselves, respectively, will disappear. As soon as the last one disappears, it means that the rubber has reached a critical degree of wear. It is digital beacons that have become most widespread for the reason that they do not need to be deciphered, and even a child can understand their meaning.
Offers from well-known manufacturers
The Nokian wear indicator has its own distinctive feature: these are several numbers placed in the center of the car tread. It is with their help that it is possible to determine the change in the height of the pattern on the rubber, which is measured in millimeters. This manufacturer can additionally place a snowflake icon, which allows you to set the nature of wear in the winter season. As soon as the designation disappears, that is, it is “eaten up”, the car tires must be changed to a new one without delay, since it will no longer give the same contact on a snowy road surface. 
The bridgestone indicator is somewhat different from it. Arrows are applied in several places on the outer side of the rim. When they disappear, this means that the tread has reached its critical point, that is, its height does not exceed 1.6 mm. Winter tires have an additional indicator in the form of a ribbed ledge. It is applied in 4 places of the tire, which are equally spaced from each other.
Consider what the Michelin manufacturer offers its customers. To do this, on the side of the tire, you need to find any of the marks. This can be a brand logo, or a TWI icon, or an image of a triangle. The TWI icon tells us where to look for the indicator itself, which characterizes the degree of rubber wear. 
As soon as the height of the wheel tread pattern begins to approach a dangerous value, the driver needs to take action. If you neglect this rule, then the length of the braking distance of the car grows. And this threatens to increase the risk of accidents. Experienced drivers always pay attention to the wear determinant values.
So we tried, friends, to determine where exactly it finds the indicator that monitors the degree of wear of the tread on car tires. Do not forget to also support in the wheels of your car. Now you have all the necessary knowledge to independently determine the moment when you need to go to the auto shop for new wheels. Well, for today we will say goodbye, read the blog in the next issues and bye!
