tire thread

**pob579** · 12-04-2016, 10:19 PM

Hi,
I am in Montreal (QC).
Today switched to winter RFlat tires(Continental 225 45 17).
The guy told that my tires are not good and told they are about ended.
For some reason I don't see the tread depth in the paper work. Usually, it was always there.
I have to drive 2 winters before lease end. So kind of don't want to spend money... From the other hand if necessary I will do it.
I do about 4000KM per winter season and 60% of it in the slow city traffic.

I have a Milton tread gauge meter. Please see the pic and tell if I can still use the tires if let say all of them are in this state. I will properly mesure all 4 in 3 threads if somebody will give a positive answer for using them in above conditions.
Also, I am not sure in what units my tool works (mm or inches. Not marked). Sorry, for luck of knowledge in this topic.

Here is what I found in Canada safety regulations...
Winter tires
7.162 (1) A winter tire under section 208 of the Act must have at least 3.5 mm of tread depth.

Thanks for advise.

**Loose}{Cannon** · 12-05-2016, 06:06 PM

Hey, your gauge is in 32nds fraction of an inch. Your reading about 5/32 which converts to 3.96mm. So you barely have legal tread depth. Hope this helps.

**pob579** · 12-05-2016, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by Loose}{Cannon

Hey, your gauge is in 32nds fraction of an inch. Your reading about 5/32 which converts to 3.96mm. So you barely have legal tread depth. Hope this helps.

Could you please to give me a lesson. Sorry, I studied metric system. Even I am leaving 21 years in Canada and generally understand imperial system,
I have a difficulty to interpret Milton gauge tool results. How for god sake you "see" these 32 seconds?
It shows half of number 4, a bit above 5 and next not on the pic on the mark below 6.

If the explanation is not time consuming

plz try to explain. I am a quick learner ...
And sure I will start to look for tiers.

Thanks.

**Loose}{Cannon** · 12-05-2016, 07:15 PM

1 inch is typically divided into smaller fractions of half, quarter, 8ths, 16ths, and 32nds.

1 inch split 32 times = 32nds of an inch. Your gauge is showing closest to the 5/32 of an inch mark. 5/32 converts to 3.96mm.