Wear indicator bars on tires indicate that the tread is worn and tires should be replaced.

Wear indicator bars on tires indicate that the tread is worn and tires should be replaced.

• A. They indicate correct tire pressure
• B. The tread is worn down and tires should be replaced
• C. They indicate wheel alignment is off
• D. They indicate the tire is brand new

Answer: (B)

Wear indicator bars show when the tire’s tread has worn down to a minimum safe level. These bars are built into the tread grooves and stay higher than the tread surface as long as there’s still usable tread. When the tread wears enough that the bars become flush with the rest of the tread, there isn’t enough depth left to grip the road well, especially in rain or slick conditions, so the tires should be replaced. They’re specifically about tread depth, not tire pressure, wheel alignment, or whether a tire is brand new. For a quick check, you can use a tread depth gauge or the penny test to estimate how much tread remains; if you can see much of Lincoln’s head, the tread is likely at or below the minimum depth in many areas, indicating it’s time to replace.

Wear indicator bars show when the tire’s tread has worn down to a minimum safe level. These bars are built into the tread grooves and stay higher than the tread surface as long as there’s still usable tread. When the tread wears enough that the bars become flush with the rest of the tread, there isn’t enough depth left to grip the road well, especially in rain or slick conditions, so the tires should be replaced.

They’re specifically about tread depth, not tire pressure, wheel alignment, or whether a tire is brand new. For a quick check, you can use a tread depth gauge or the penny test to estimate how much tread remains; if you can see much of Lincoln’s head, the tread is likely at or below the minimum depth in many areas, indicating it’s time to replace.