Just go by the wear bars that are stamped on the tire.
Tire checks
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 752
Likes: 23
From: Acton, CA
Road Warrior
Joined: Oct 2007
Posts: 1,468
Likes: 4
From: South Carolina
quarter 4/32s tread is good. This is my winter (snow and wet) limit on tread depth.
Penny 2/32s. its time to replace the tire. Can get by in warm, dry weather till tires are available.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 2,272
Likes: 279
From: .
Very simple!
Place a penny into several tread grooves across the tire. If part of Lincoln's head is always covered by the tread, you have more than 2/32" of tread depth remaining.
Place a quarter into several tread grooves across the tire. If part of Washington's head is always covered by the tread, you have more than 4/32" of tread depth remaining.
Place a penny into several tread grooves across the tire. If the top of the Lincoln Memorial is always covered by the tread, you have more than 6/32" of tread depth remaining.
Place a penny into several tread grooves across the tire. If part of Lincoln's head is always covered by the tread, you have more than 2/32" of tread depth remaining.
Place a quarter into several tread grooves across the tire. If part of Washington's head is always covered by the tread, you have more than 4/32" of tread depth remaining.
Place a penny into several tread grooves across the tire. If the top of the Lincoln Memorial is always covered by the tread, you have more than 6/32" of tread depth remaining.
HD Forum Stories
The Best of Harley-Davidson for Lifelong Riders
7 Surprising Harley-Davidson Products that Are Not Motorcycles
Verdad Gallardo
8 Best Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
10 Worst Harley-Davidson Motorcycles Ever
Pouria Savadkouei
Killer Custom's Jail Break Is The Breakout That Refused to Blend In
Verdad Gallardo
Crazy Bunderbike Build Looks Amazing, But Is It Impossible to Ride?
Verdad Gallardo
Harley-Davidson Reveals Super Cool Cafe Racer Concept
Verdad Gallardo
Engraved Rebellion: Inside Bundnerbike's Glam Rock II
Verdad Gallardo
10 Motorcycles You Should Never Buy
Joe Kucinski
10 Things Harley-Davidson Needs to Fix in 2026
Verdad Gallardo
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 3,133
Likes: 504
From: Lake County, IL
I knew I shouldn't have trusted the dealer. They told me to check it with a hundred dollar bill. I hand it to the mechanic, and when I pick up the bike they tell me the tread depth.
Spend the 5 bucks and get a proper tread depth gauge.
