The leading factor in roadside emergencies is tires. Tires can lose their footing long before they’re worn out. Tests conducted by Consumer Reports show that tread can give up a significant amount of grip when it’s still at the halfway point. Because of this, USRider reminds equestrians and others who travel with horses to check the tires on tow vehicles and trailers regularly.

"Tires are considered bald when one or more of their grooves reaches 2/32 of an inch deep, compared with about 10/32 of an inch for new tires," said Bill Riss, general manager for USRider, the national provider of roadside emergency assistance for equestrians.

Manufacturers have made bald tires easier to spot by placing a series of molded horizontal bars at the base of the grooves. The bars become flush with surrounding tread when wear reduces a groove’s depth to 2/32 of an inch.

With diminished tread comes the increased risk for an accident. As a tire wears, its ability to perform in rain and snow is reduced. Hydroplaning is more prevalent due to water standing on highways from heavy downpours. With 2/32" of remaining tread depth, resistance to hydroplaning at highway speeds is significantly reduced