Just An Observation . . .

Going through the CDL Training again . . . I see this reminder a lot:

It is very important to memorize the proper tread depth for tires. Steer tires must have at least 4/32-inch of tread depth in every major groove and all other tires must have at least 2/32-inch tread depth in every major groove.

I thought you were supposed to reduce fractions to the lowest . . .isn't 4/32 the same as 1/8?

Does stating the depth in 32nds of an inch better convey the depth? I can imaging 1/8th of inch much quicker than 1/32nd and then imagining 2 of them or 4 of them. Just wondering why the Techospeak of the DOT people makes them talk in 32nds of an inch . . . I mean I still get the answer correct, there's no problem there . . .

(AHHHRRRGGGG I missed ONE - I even had the right answer - just clicked on the wrong answer by mistake . . . no way I'm gonna start over again just to get 100% . . . dang me, dang me, they otta take a rope and hang me - anyone 'member that tune from the 60's? What, I'm the only old fart in there parts??)

Jopa

Maybe it's because the tire depth gauge is marked off in 32nd inch notches?

I don't know. I see a lot of silliness out there. One of them that got me yesterday was at a conway yard. The sign read, "Please turn off your engine and hand your keys to the guard. Maintain a speed limit of 10 mph."

For you youngin's out there, the artist's name was Roger Miller and he was a country singer AND one of the funniest humans I ever saw on TV (as a teenager in the 60's) Had his own show for a while, too. He died young. Not all of his songs were funny, he was a master song write with potent lyrics that country USED to have before it became so "POP"

"Dang Me" is a 1964 song by Roger Miller, and that year's Grammy Award winner for Best Country & Western ...

Just saying . . .

Jopa

Roger singing "Dang me"

I have no idea what you're talking about besides the tire tread depth! I never heard of that music you're referring to.

And saying 4/32 and 2/32 is just how you do it. That's how it's taught and written so that's what you're supposed to say. I don't get it either but it is what it is.

I have no idea what you're talking about besides the tire tread depth! I never heard of that music you're referring to.

And saying 4/32 and 2/32 is just how you do it. That's how it's taught and written so that's what you're supposed to say. I don't get it either but it is what it is.

I'll back you on that one Jopa. Daniel B. and most other youngins' out there probably never heard of Roger Miller's "King of the Road." I was born in '77, so I'm still a youngin, at least I like to think so, but I know Miller's music from gigging w/ my dad. We did a lot of standard jazz tunes and broadway hits. All the geezers like Miller

Correction: what I meant to say is that most youngins might ONLY know Miller by "King of the Road." And that might be pushing it for some.

Tire companies dont measure in 1/2's and 1/8 and 1/4's. They measure in the hundredths.

Tire companies dont measure in 1/2's and 1/8 and 1/4's. They measure in the hundredths.

So, how does hundredths relate to 1/32 of an inch? I think Mistelle and Tim's answer probably hit the nail on the head:

Maybe it's because the tire depth gauge is marked off in 32nd inch notches?

If the gauge is marked off in 1/32 increments, than sticking the gauge into the tread and counting the marks is relatively easy. For some reason, I was picturing a standard tape measure which wouldn't work anyway because of the metal "hook" on the end. Works great on a 2"X4" but lousy as a tire tread groove measure'er . . . ya think?

Jopa

Tire depth gauges are marked in milometers and hundredths. Why they don't use these measurements instead of 1/2 and 1/4 and 1/8th i have not a clue. Maybe its to make it sound more official. But I tend to believe it has more to do with the way the tire making process goes than anything else. Just make sure you have a tire depth gauge on the truck with you and you know how to use it. While its not illegal if you don't have one but if during an inspection the officer ask if you checked the tread depth during your inspection and you don't have a tire depth gauge he will not give you a ticket but he will know that you did not do your pretrip inspection correctly which will give him cause to look deeper and find more excuses to write you up for something else.