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Tread Wear & Tire Life

Tire Tread Depth Converter

Convert tire tread depth between 32nds of an inch, decimal inches and millimeters. Includes legal minimum and replacement thresholds.

Tread Wear & Tire Life

Convert millimeters and thirty-seconds of an inch.

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Tire Tread Depth Converter: Tire Size Inputs

Compare two tire sizes here. Use the formulas and reference tables below for this tool's specific calculation.

ISO/TRA Compliant
Baseline Tire (T1)Stock OEM
Comparison Tire (T2)Proposed Setup
Baseline OD634.3 mm24.97"
Comparison OD637.2 mm25.09"
Diameter Variance+2.9 mm+0.46%
Speed @ 60 MPH60.3 MPH-4 revs/mi

How Tire Tread Depth Converter Works?

The Tire Tread Depth Converter works by dividing 32nds by 32 to get inches and multiplying inches by 25.4 to get millimeters. The tool uses 3 steps.

  1. Pick the input unit

    Choose 32nds of an inch or millimeters.

  2. Enter the reading

    Type the gauge reading, for example 5/32 in.

  3. Read all units

    The converter returns 0.156 in and 4.0 mm, with the nearest threshold label.

Tire Tread Depth Converter Formula

The Tire Tread Depth Converter formula is mm = (n ÷ 32) × 25.4 = n × 0.79375.

32nds → mmmm = n × 0.79375
mm → 32ndsn = mm ÷ 0.79375
32nds → decimal inchin = n ÷ 32
n
Tread depth in 32nds of an inch
0.79375
Millimeters per 1/32 in

Worked example

A reading of 7/32 in equals 5.6 mm (0.219 in). A European reading of 3 mm equals 3.8/32 in, just under 4/32 in.

Tire Tread Depth Converter Conversion Table

The Tire Tread Depth Converter conversion table converts 14 tread depths from 2/32 in to 18/32 in and marks common reference points.

Tread depth in 3 units
32ndsDecimal inchMillimetersReference point
2/32 in0.0625 in1.6 mmLegal minimum (US, EU 1.6 mm)
3/32 in0.0938 in2.4 mm—
4/32 in0.1250 in3.2 mmWet-road replacement advice
5/32 in0.1562 in4.0 mm—
6/32 in0.1875 in4.8 mmSnow replacement advice
7/32 in0.2188 in5.6 mm—
8/32 in0.2500 in6.3 mm—
9/32 in0.2812 in7.1 mm—
10/32 in0.3125 in7.9 mmNew (passenger)
11/32 in0.3438 in8.7 mm—
12/32 in0.3750 in9.5 mm—
14/32 in0.4375 in11.1 mm—
16/32 in0.5000 in12.7 mmNew (light truck)
18/32 in0.5625 in14.3 mm—

What is Tire Tread Depth Converter?

A Tire Tread Depth Converter is a tool that converts tread depth between the US unit of 32nds of an inch and the metric unit of millimeters. US gauges read in 32nds, and European and Asian gauges read in millimeters.

The legal minimum in the United States (most states) and the European Union is 2/32 in or 1.6 mm. Tire makers and safety groups advise replacement at 4/32 in (3.2 mm) for wet roads and 5/32 to 6/32 in (4 to 4.8 mm) for snow.

Tread wear indicator bars molded into the grooves sit at 2/32 in (1.6 mm).

What are the uses of Tire Tread Depth Converter?

There are 4 main uses of the Tire Tread Depth Converter, including gauge reading and inspection rules.

  • Gauge reading

    Read a metric gauge in 32nds or the reverse.

  • Inspection rules

    Compare a reading with a legal limit in another unit.

  • Spec sheets

    Convert new tread depth from a data sheet.

  • Used tire listings

    Compare listings that use different units.