how do i know when i have hit the wear bar in my tires? whats it lok like, does it make any sound like when my pads wear down?

 

You need to look at the tire. There will not be any noise or anything else to warn you. Other than the car slipping around in the rain and hydro planning. There is a bar in the first groove of the tire. When the tread is equal to the tread block they are worn to 2/32 and legally worn out.

Jim

 

Also note that OEM SO2s, the rears in particular, become progressively more slippery in the rain as they wear. Thus, even though they are not worn to the wear bars, they don't handle the rain as well, so it's important to be more prudent with turns and power application.

 

On stock S02's, look at the edge of your tire where the side wall meets the tread, if you look real close, you'll see a little symbol that looks like an arrow/triangle pointing at the tread. The symbols are every few inches and are actual size about the size and shape of the "A" that I just typed.

These arrows point at where the wear bars are located within the tread of the tire. The wear bars are raised lines of rubber about a 1/4 inch wide running perpendicular to the tread, within the tread depth.

There are probably about 30 individual wear bars around the the inner and outer portion of the tread. Usually the inner tread wear bars will be exposed first because of S2000 alignment specs.

New S02 tires have ~10/32 inch of tread depth. As stated earlier the wear bars are within the last 2/32 inch of tread depth and will be level with the tread at that depth and there is no noise or anything other than your vigilance to warn you of tire wear. In fact as the tread wears, tire noise usually decreases.

It's good to replace your tires before the tread reaches the wear bars. Many have unexpectedly lost traction at the rear when within 1/32 the wear bar. In other words if you have 3/32 or less total tread depth, then for safety's sake, you should replace your tires. And in the front once you get below half tread depth you're at risk of hydoplaning on moderately wet roads. If you got more than 9000 miles out of your rears and 15,000 out of your fronts, consider yourself very lucky.

You should be able to get a tread depth gauge at your local auto parts store, or any tire shop would be happy to measure your tread depth gratis. You can also use a penny as a go/no go tread measurement tool. If the top of Lincolns head is NOT covered when you insert a penny edge-wise into the tread, then it's time for new tires.