Winters are cold, full of cold, with snow that arrives without warning, and very complicated roads. In the middle of this icy chaos, there is a trick that can save you from spending up to 1,157 dollars. It is the coin test, does it ring a bell? In recent weeks it has gone quite viral because it is a very quick way to know whether your car is in proper condition or not, and believe me, when there are snowstorms you need to be prepared for any problem and for any police check that may appear. If your tires are not up to the task, better not hit the road.
The coin test
A coin and ten seconds are all you need for this trick. It helps you know if the tire tread still meets the minimum required to grip wet, snowy, or icy asphalt, something that can save your life or ruin it, literally. If the tires are worn, the car can lose traction, skid on the road, and crash, putting your life and the lives of other users at risk.
How do you do the trick?
Insert the coin into the tire groove, in the tread, and look. If the tread does not reach the minimum level, that tire is no longer fit for driving, and much less in winter. Of course, you should later confirm it with a workshop, but for traveling with your vehicle in winter, when there is more humidity, more cold, and more rain, definitely not.
- Take a penny with Lincoln’s head facing down and place it in the tire tread
- If you can see the top of the head, the tire is not in good condition
- If the head is covered, you can drive
Where will it snow more?
There are states that have a higher chance of snowfall than others: Michigan, Montana, Maine, Idaho, Wisconsin, New Hampshire, or Wyoming, and they are also the ones that have intensified their inspections, so it is better to be prepared. If you cause an accident because your tires are not properly regulated, you will be fined.
Fines?
Yes, and they can reach up to 1,157 dollars, so maybe it is better not to take the risk, right? And be careful, they are not trying to raise money, even if it seems like it, but to prevent accidents.
It is not only your car
Every winter the same thing happens, the first snowfalls cause the first accidents, and winter is the season when the most fatal accidents occur. Preventing them is everyone’s responsibility.
Checking your tires is not only for you, it is for the car behind you, the family traveling ahead, the person traveling with you. It is for everyone who shares the roads with you.
The coin test does not replace professional maintenance, of course. But it can turn on the red light in time and save you a fine or worse, a scare.
Being prepared is the best option
You have probably read about what to carry in the car in case you are surprised by a snowfall on the road, but the most important thing, without a doubt, is to take your car to the appropriate checkups to verify that driving is not a danger to you or anyone else. This is simply a test you can do, but preventing is always cheaper than regretting.