Checking tiers tread

[davetroke]

Hello there,

I am here because i have noticed my Europa doesn't grip as it used too (mainly when turning corners). I think the tread maybe low however it doesn't look bald.

But, i would like to check it.

What cheap gauges would do this job well?



Thanks.

[mikealdren]

How old are your tyres, tyres are past their best after about 6 years.

[SENC]

The cheapest gauge I know of is a US penny. Hold the penny with Lincoln's head upside down and insert into the tread. If you can see his entire head, you need new tires.

[mbell]

Also check pressures etc.

You can get a ok 175/70r13 tires that I think the europa uses for not very much money. As tires are the most important thing on a car if in doubt or unknown history on them replace them. It's a lot less money to replace the tires than the CO pay on the car or your medical insurance.

[Andy8421]

All other things being equal, less tread will improve the handling of the car in the dry. There are firms which will shave a new treaded tyre to improve performance on the track:

https://www.demon-tweeks.com/uk/demon-tweeks-tyre-shaving-service-146137/

Taken to the limit, as long as the tyre is undamaged, having no tread would give most grip in the dry. The grooves are there to manage water ejection from the contact patch in the wet.

Having said this, most 'bald' tyres are clapped out for a variety of other reasons, predominantly age, but also usage and may well perform worse than a new tyre of the same type with more tread.

[davetroke]

Thanks for the replies.

I ended up buying this depth gauge
https://digitalmicrometers.co.uk/dml-30 ... uge-ddg100

It turns out @mikealdren was right. The tyres were old and even though they wasn't bald they lost their stickiness.

So i replaced them anyway which is a real shame really.