JACO TreadPro Tire Tread Depth Gauge, Dial Type (Reads in 1/32")

Why it's worth it

A pocket-size dial gauge that reads tread in 32nds against a green-yellow-red scale, so you get a number and a verdict at the same time. It needs no battery, it fits in a shirt pocket, and the needle stays put after you pull it out of the groove.

The color scale is what makes this the one to buy. Numbers alone put the work on you: is 5/32 fine? Is 3/32 urgent? The TreadPro answers that on the face of the dial. Green means you're good, yellow means start shopping, red means stop putting it off. You still get the exact 32nds reading if you want it, but you don't have to remember any thresholds to use the tool correctly. That's the difference between a gauge you buy and a gauge you actually use.

It also holds the reading. You press the probe into the groove, pull it out, and the needle stays where it landed — so you can read it at eye level instead of crouching next to a wheel well squinting at a dial in the dark. If you're checking four tires and four grooves each, that's sixteen readings, and being able to stand up between them makes the whole job less annoying. Owners who check tires on motorcycles mention the same thing.

From our review of 8 tire tread depth gauges, by Ben Carter, Tech Editor

What we like

• +The color scale is what makes this the one to buy
• +It also holds the reading
• +There's no battery, which quietly matters more than it sounds
• +The specification that separates it from the other dial gauges here is resolution

What to know

• –The scale tops out at 14/32 inch
• –A dial is a mechanical instrument, and owners note it isn't drop-proof