At what tread depth should tires be replaced?

The best way to know if it’s time to buy new tires for your vehicle is to have them inspected by a professional, but there are ways to check them yourself. To meet legal safety standards in the U.S., a tire’s tread needs to be at least 2/32” deep. If the tires do not meet the 2/32” standard or are approaching not meeting it, you should replace your tires. When replacing tires, it’s important to select the right tire size for your vehicle. Not sure what size you need? Learn more about determining tire size.

Tires should also be free of sidewall damage and irregular wear for optimal performance and safety. It’s also a good idea to learn what types of damage can be repaired vs. replaced so that you can safely extend the life of your tires.

You can evaluate your tires on your own through a visual inspection. Start with the tread — the part of the tire that contacts the road surface. Make sure the tire tread is deep enough and worn evenly all the way around without any irregularities. All DOT-regulated tires feature built-in treadwear indicators, commonly called “wear bars”, that will help you see when the tread is getting low. These indicators can be found in various places throughout the tread and will be even with the tread surface when the tread is worn to two-thirty seconds (2/32) of an inch. You should also examine each tire’s sidewall to ensure there is no visible damage.

I just went to the mechanic to do a 60k checkup on my car. He suggested to replace my tires and said my tire tread depth was 5/32 at the front and 4/32 in the rear. I remember growing up and being told to replace at 2/32 of tread.

I declined because I thought 5/32 was too early. I even checked with a penny and Lincoln's head was still covered. Also, it's going to be summer soon so rainy weather isn't 100% concerning to me right now.

I looked online and found a few links that said at 3/32 to 4/32 you should consider replacing and 2/32 is you MUST replace but the links were from tire companies.

So my question is, is 5/32, or even 4/32 too early? Do I stick with the 2/32 rule or do we start thinking about replacing between 3/32 to 5/32?