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Understanding Tire Tread

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Old Feb 19, 2016 | 08:46 AM
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Default Understanding Tire Tread
I'm considering buying a C5 and when I asked the seller to respond with tire tread left, I expected him to reply in 32s ("2/32s left or 4/32s or 6/32s") since that seems to be a pretty good way of estimating remaining tread (based on using a penny, right?). Instead he responded by saying his "caliphers show front has .168" and rear has .187"." Can someone translate?
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Old Feb 19, 2016 | 08:51 AM
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Originally Posted by craig_vette
I'm considering buying a C5 and when I asked the seller to respond with tire tread left, I expected him to reply in 32s ("2/32s left or 4/32s or 6/32s") since that seems to be a pretty good way of estimating remaining tread (based on using a penny, right?). Instead he responded by saying his "caliphers show front has .168" and rear has .187"." Can someone translate?
.168" is just over 5/32"
.187" is 6/32"
(Multiply decimal reading x 32)
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Old Feb 19, 2016 | 08:56 AM
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Fronts are 5/32 rears are 6/32

sorry didn't see previous post.. so just confirming.

Bill aka ET
Last edited by Evil-Twin; Feb 19, 2016 at 08:57 AM.
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Old Feb 19, 2016 | 08:59 AM
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You might also want to ask along with that how old are those tires. He can get the date codes on the sidewall.
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Old Feb 19, 2016 | 10:06 AM
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Originally Posted by ZigZag
You might also want to ask along with that how old are those tires. He can get the date codes on the sidewall.
Very good point
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Old Feb 19, 2016 | 10:21 PM
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Originally Posted by ZigZag
You might also want to ask along with that how old are those tires. He can get the date codes on the sidewall.
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Old Feb 19, 2016 | 10:38 PM
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Yep, although the treads aren't too bad, the tires are from 2002 and 2003.
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Old Feb 20, 2016 | 07:19 AM
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Originally Posted by craig_vette
Yep, although the treads aren't too bad, the tires are from 2002 and 2003.
I know the feeling... I just got a 99 that sat in the garage a Lot... Tires have 5/32 and 4/32 but are 12 years old... Figured I would need something this year but not this moment...
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Old Feb 20, 2016 | 08:11 AM
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Originally Posted by ZigZag
You might also want to ask along with that how old are those tires. He can get the date codes on the sidewall.
Originally Posted by Evil-Twin
Very good point
I never knew about this until they had a piece on the news one time last year around the same time I bought my new Sonata Hybrid. My tires were a year old
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