SVC 05 / INSPECTION
Tire inspection in Montclair
Not sure what your car needs? Start here. We look at all four tires, tell you what we see, and you decide what happens next.
About tire inspection
A tire inspection is the honest starting point when something feels off or you just don't know where your tires stand. Tread depth, pressure, age and condition, on every tire.
Tread depth is measured in 32nds of an inch. New passenger tires usually start around 10/32 to 11/32. The wear bars molded into the grooves sit at 2/32, and when the tread is flush with them, the tire is done. Many drivers replace at 4/32, because wet-road grip drops off well before the bars show.
Age matters too. Rubber hardens over time even when the tread looks fine. The last four digits of the DOT code on the sidewall are the week and year the tire was made. 2219 means the 22nd week of 2019.
Book an inspection if
- You don't know how old your tires are
- The car feels different: noisier, a little floaty, or less sure in the rain
- A tire keeps losing air
- You see cracks, bulges or bubbles on a sidewall
- You're buying a used car or heading out on a long drive
- Someone else told you that you need tires and you want a second look
What happens in the bay
Tread depth on every tire
Measured at several points across each tire. Uneven readings tell us about alignment and pressure, not just wear.
Pressure and age
Pressures set to your door-placard spec. DOT dates read on every tire.
Sidewalls and damage
We look for bulges, cracking, cuts, plugs, embedded objects and signs of being driven low.
Straight answer
You get what we found, what's urgent, and what can wait. No work happens unless you say yes.
What you get
- Tread, all four
- Depth in 32nds at the inside, middle and outside of each tire, so uneven wear shows up as a number, not a hunch.
- Age
- The DOT date on every tire, read off the sidewall. You'll know which week and year each one was made.
- Pressure
- Each tire set to the number on your door placard, not the maximum printed on the sidewall.
- Condition
- Bulges, cracking, cuts, old plugs, anything stuck in the tread, and signs the tire has been run low.
- What's urgent, what can wait
- A straight answer per tire: fine for now, plan on it soon, or don't drive on it. No work happens unless you say yes.
Book tire inspection in Montclair.
Book online in a minute, or call (909) 321-2191. 5483 Moreno Street, Montclair.
Tire inspection questions
How do I check my own tread?
Put a penny into a groove with Lincoln's head upside down. If you can see the top of his head, you're near 2/32 and due for tires. A quarter does the same test at about 4/32 using Washington's head.
How old is too old for a tire?
Tire and vehicle makers' guidance varies. Many say to have tires inspected every year after five years, and to replace them at around ten no matter how much tread is left. Heat speeds up aging, and the Inland Empire has plenty of it.
Is a bulge in the sidewall dangerous?
Yes. A bulge means the internal cords are broken, usually from a pothole or curb hit. The tire can fail without warning. Replace it.
