A clean vehicle and a safer vehicle - Thanks to exciting new technology provided by Tire Discounters, customers of The Carriage House Car Wash in Kings Mill are getting both.  As you go through the wash bay, our safety equipment measures your tread depth and your wheel alignment.  Then an easy-to-read report is created for you. You can access your report by texting the word SAFETY to 67032 and providing your license plate number.  The results are available within one business day after you go through the car wash. 

Here’s a sample...

How to Read the Report – Tread Depth

Tire tread depth is the measurement between the top of the tire and the tire’s deepest grooves.  This section measures your tread depth in four places of each tire.  Measuring the tread on your tire is important because it can show any issues you may have with your tires and your vehicle. 

Image

A new tire should show the same tread depth across all four measurements on the tire.  Tread depth is measured in 32nds of an inch. If a tread depth says 8, that means you have 8/32 of an inch tread depth. 

Each tire’s beginning tread depth will be different.  A new passenger tire will be in the range of 7-10/32, while a larger truck tire may be in the range of 10-14/32.  A tire’s tread will wear as the vehicle is driven.  In most US states, tires are legally worn out when tread depth reaches 2/32. Many tire manufacturers recommend tire replacement when the tread is worn down to 3/32.    

How does tread depth impact me? 

Tire tread depth is important because a tire’s grooves squeeze out water, debris and snow so tread can contact the road. Tires can hit the road and keep the vehicle running smoothly.  As tires wear, tread depth decreases compromising the tire’s ability to make solid contact with the road. As tread depth decreases, the vehicle’s wet weather stopping distance increases. 

How to Read the Report – Wheel Alignment

This section measures your wheel alignment in four specific ways: Front Toe, Front Camber, Rear Toe, and Rear Camber.  Measuring the wheel alignment on your vehicle can show you any issues you may have with your tires and your vehicle.

Image

What’s an Alignment?  

You could be the best driver in the world, but during your vehicle's life, potholes are hit, sharp turns are taken, and brakes are slammed - all of which cause your components to wear down and your wheels to shift, which can pull your car in one direction.  This is natural wear and tear - but it can accelerate tire wear. Alignment returns the angles of your vehicle’s wheels to the manufacturer’s specifications.  

Proper alignment 

• Reduces tire wear and provides maximum tire life. 

• Enhances fuel economy. 

• Improves handling. 

• Increases overall driving safety. 

What is Camber, Toe, and Caster and what does it mean if this is red on my Tire Safety Report? 

Camber is the inward or outward angle of the tire when viewed from the front of the vehicle.  Too much inward or outward tilt, also known as negative and positive camber, indicates improper alignment and will need to be adjusted.   

Image

Toe is the extent to which your tires turn inward or outward when viewed from above.

Image

Caster is the angle of your steering axis when viewed from the side of your vehicle.  If you have positive caster, the steering axis will tilt toward the driver.  Negative caster means the steering axis tilts towards the front of the vehicle. 

How to Read the Report – Wet Weather Stopping Distance 

Remember when you were studying for the driver’s license test, and it asked you how many car lengths you should keep in between you and the next car?  That’s kind of what wet stopping distance is.  The Wet Stopping Distance measurement on the report says how many feet it will take your vehicle to come to a complete stop at 60 mph.  

When calculating the minimum stopping distance, the following assumptions are being made:  

• Initial velocity of 60 mph 

• Driver & vehicle reaction time is instantaneous 

• Max braking force is being applied on all 4 wheels 

• No incline or decline on road 

• Straight line stop 

• No wheel lock-ups or hydroplaning 

• Tire to road coefficient of friction is constant 

If any of these measurements are red, you should get your alignment checked by a Tire Discounters ASE certified technician.  Ignoring these signs can make your alignment problems more expensive to address down the road, can reduce the life of your tires, or cause driver assist systems to malfunction. 

The information provided in the Tire Safety Report may not reflect real-time conditions or encompass all potential issues. This report is intended for informational purposes only and does not replace professional inspection or maintenance. While every effort has been made to provide accurate and reliable information, Tire Discounters (including its affiliates, subsidiaries, and entities under common control or ownership) assumes no responsibility or liability for accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of the report and makes no warranties, express or implied.