Originally Posted By: gfh77665
In dry New Mexico, with summer months (no snow) ahead, I would run them until they failed the yearly inspection. At 3/32, you are still very legal.
No one seems to realize that worn tires actually INCREASE traction in dry conditions. I like TireRack and the other vendors too, but keep in mind their agenda is to sell you new tires.
Worn tires may, or may not, have improved dry performance. Shaved tires certainly do.
But as tires wear, they age, and as a result, the rubber compounds can harden, which causes a loss of grip. The increased block stability from a lower tread depth will improve dry traction, but if that rubber is harder, you can't say for certain that the dry traction is better.
Might be.
Might not.
And since those tires with worn treads will have significantly poorer wet traction, they really aren't as safe as new tires.
In dry New Mexico, with summer months (no snow) ahead, I would run them until they failed the yearly inspection. At 3/32, you are still very legal.
No one seems to realize that worn tires actually INCREASE traction in dry conditions. I like TireRack and the other vendors too, but keep in mind their agenda is to sell you new tires.
Worn tires may, or may not, have improved dry performance. Shaved tires certainly do.
But as tires wear, they age, and as a result, the rubber compounds can harden, which causes a loss of grip. The increased block stability from a lower tread depth will improve dry traction, but if that rubber is harder, you can't say for certain that the dry traction is better.
Might be.
Might not.
And since those tires with worn treads will have significantly poorer wet traction, they really aren't as safe as new tires.