ABRAHAM Lincoln can help drivers have safer vehicles this winter with a simple coin test – here’s how.
Drivers must be prepared for the colder weather which can worsen driving conditions meaning cars need to be upgraded and checked for the winter.
According to the National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration, almost 11,000 vehicles crash in the US each year due to tires and around 200 people die as a result.
In order to make sure that your tires are as safe as possible, one YouTuber has shared a coin test to ensure that your tread is deep enough.
The FIX IT Home Improvement Channel posted a video showing the penny test.
According to the Youtuber, “In many states a tire is considered worn out of the tread depth is 2/32 of an inch.”
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Drivers should get a penny and place it upside down in the groove of the tire.
If all of Lincoln’s head is visible, your tire does not have enough tread and is unsafe.
According to the Laughlin Air Force Base, this means that your tire is categorized as “unsafe” for winter driving.
If you can see half of his head, you may have enough grip but drivers should be cautious.
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When Lincoln’s head disappeared into the tire, you know that you have enough tread for grip and safe driving.
Viewers rushed to their chards to check their tires, thanking the YouTuber for his handy tip.
One laughed at the idea that this test should be done once a month.
“Just go by looking. It ain’t that serious,” another said.
However, not having a safe amount of tread can make wet or slippery roads even more dangerous and increase the risk of a crash.
“Even on dry, well-maintained roads, it’s an accident waiting to happen,” according to Fix Auto USA.
The grooves in the tires work by providing the vehicle with traction to grip the road even when icy or covered in snow.
“Thanks to tire treads, you can steer on slick roads by forcing water away from the tire,” Fix Auto states.
“This enables the tire to maintain a solid grip on the road even when the rain or snow is coming down hard.
“Treads also play an important role in making sure the car travels in the direction that we steer.
“Worn tires are unable to force water away, thereby making it difficult to control the car and steer in the right direction.”
The other risks of worn-out tires include an increased risk of aquaplaning, loss of air pressure, sudden blowouts, and needing longer stopping distances.
In addition to this, it may be illegal in your state depending on how low the tread is, and overly worn tires increase costs of repair and maintenance – especially if they cause an accident.
Other ways to know if your tires are dead are to listen out for a humming noise when changing speed, any wobbling of the vehicle at low speeds, or any vibrations.
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Many vehicles are now equipped with indicator bars that are built into the tire and become visible when it wears down over time, indicating when a change needs to be made.
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