Check tire tread with a penny

Grab first

• A penny, handled by the adult
• A parked car with the engine off
• Paper for recording which tire needs attention

Before you start

• Park on level ground, apply the parking brake and turn the engine off. Keep the child beside you, away from traffic.
• Stay outside the vehicle's underside. If a tire is damaged or badly worn, ask a tire professional about safe next steps before driving.

The steps

1. Identify the tread

   Point to the grooves in a tire that you can reach without crawling under the car. Ask the kid to draw the pattern on paper.

2. Place the penny correctly

   Insert the penny into a tread groove, with Lincoln's head upside down and facing you. The adult holds the coin while the kid looks.

3. Read the result

   If the top of Lincoln's head is visible, NHTSA says to replace the tire. Write down which tire you checked rather than relying on memory.

4. Look beyond one spot

   Inspect other reachable parts of the tread and other tires. Look for uneven wear, cracks, cuts or bulges. A deep groove in one place does not cancel damage somewhere else.

5. Make the next decision

   Use a pressure gauge for pressure, not the penny. Take damage, abnormal wear, noise, vibration or pressure problems to a tire professional; do not call the tire safe because it passed one check.

Common mistakes

• Holding Lincoln upright instead of pointing his head into the groove.
• Checking one deep groove and ignoring visible damage.
• Using the penny as a substitute for an air-pressure check.

Practice together

Let the kid draw Lincoln's head on a paper circle and explain which way it goes. Then the adult does the actual coin check. Record the result together and put the coin away.

Sources

• NHTSA, TireWise. Supports the penny orientation, replacement result, damage inspection, pressure checks and professional advice. Checked Oct 26, 2026.

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