Best Tire Depth Gauge (2026): 5 Gauges Compared
Five tire depth gauges for cars, trucks and motorcycles, compared by type, range, increments, display, pack size and warranty.
On this page
Top picks at a glance
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- 1
Best OverallGODESON Digital Gauge9.6/10View on Amazon - 2
Best DialLUMITECO Dial Gauge9.5/10View on Amazon - 3
Best PackGODESON 10-Pack Gauge9.4/10View on Amazon - 4
Best for FleetsXuhal 20-Pack Gauge9.4/10View on Amazon
A tire rotation is on the list for Saturday, and the tread on the front tires looks thin near the shoulders. This guide covers the best tire depth gauge, comparing five gauges for cars, trucks and motorcycles on type, range, increments and pack size.
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Quick picks
- Best Overall GODESON Digital Gauge: 3 modes, 0-25mm range and 0.01mm accuracy on a large LCD. Check price on Amazon
- Best Dial LUMITECO Dial Gauge: Dial with 1/128 inch resolution, reading retention and a leather pouch. Check price on Amazon
- Best Pack GODESON 10-Pack Gauge: 10 color-coded gauges with a 1 year warranty for a fleet or family. Check price on Amazon
- Best for Fleets Xuhal 20-Pack Gauge: 20 color-coded gauges for spares and sharing. Check price on Amazon
Picks for the garage
GODESON Tire Tread Depth Gauge
A digital tire tread depth gauge with 3 modes, a 0-25mm and 0-1 inch range, 0.01mm accuracy, a large LCD and a zero reset.
Pros
- 3 modes: fractional inch, decimal inch and millimeter
- Readable range of 0-25mm or 0-1 inch
- Accuracy of 0.01mm or 0.0005 inch
- Large LCD with a zero reset and auto shutoff after 5 minutes
Cons
- Warranty is listed only as 1, with no unit given
- Runs on a 1.5V SR44/LR battery
- Single gauge only; no case is listed
- No safety listing is stated
LUMITECO Tire Tread Depth Gauge
A dial tire tread depth gauge reading in 1/32 inch increments with a 14/32 inch maximum, a color-coded scale, reading retention and a leather pouch.
Pros
- Reads in 1/32 inch increments with 1/128 inch resolution
- Maximum tread depth of 14/32 inch
- Color-coded scale for a quick read
- Retains the reading on the dial and comes with a leather pouch
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- Single gauge only; no spare is included
- Dial size is not stated
- No safety listing is stated
Godeson 88702 Smart Color Coded Tire Tread Depth
A 10-pack of color-coded tire tread depth gauges calibrated from 0 to 1 inch in 1/32 inch, with a pocket clip and a 1 year warranty.
Pros
- 10 gauges in the pack for spares and sharing
- Color-coded bar: red 0-3/32, yellow 3/32-6/32, green 6/32-32/32
- Calibrated from 0 to 1 inch in 1/32 inch
- Pocket clip for easy carrying
Cons
- Pencil type with no dial or digital display
- Reads in 32nds only; no millimeter scale is stated
- No case is listed
- No safety listing is stated
SAFELIFE Tire Tread Depth Gauge
A dial tire tread depth gauge with a 2 inch dial, an acrylic lens, a zinc casting body and color zones, reading in 1/32 inch increments.
Pros
- Legible 2 inch dial with an acrylic lens
- Durable solid zinc casting body
- Color zones: red for replace, yellow for marginal, green for ample tread
- Metal probe with a cloth bag and gift box
Cons
- No warranty term is stated
- Maximum tread depth is not stated
- Single gauge only; no spare is included
- No safety listing is stated
Xuhal 20 Pack Tire Tread Depth Gauge Color Coded
A 20-pack of color-coded tire tread depth gauges reading in 32nds, about 3.35 by 1.06 inches, with a pocket clip for fleet use.
Pros
- 20 gauges in the pack for spares and sharing
- Color-coded bar: red 0-3/32, yellow 3/32-6/32, green 6/32-32/32
- Pocket clip for easy carrying
- No battery or charging needed
Cons
- Pencil type with no dial or digital display
- Reads in 32nds only; no millimeter scale is stated
- No warranty term is stated
- No case is listed
Compared on paper
| Model | Shop Score | Type | Range | Increments | Display | Pack | Warranty |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GODESON Digital Gauge | 9.6/10 | Digital | 0-25mm, 0-1 in | 0.01mm / 0.0005 in | Large LCD | 1 | Listed as 1, no unit |
| LUMITECO Dial Gauge | 9.5/10 | Dial | Max 14/32 in | 1/32 in, 1/128 in resolution | Dial, color-coded | 1 | Not stated |
| GODESON 10-Pack Gauge | 9.4/10 | Pencil, color-coded | 0-1 in | 1/32 in | Color-coded bar | 10 | 1 Years |
| SAFELIFE Dial Gauge | 9.4/10 | Dial | Not stated | 1/32 in | 2 in dial, color-coded | 1 | Not stated |
| Xuhal 20-Pack Gauge | 9.4/10 | Pencil, color-coded | 0-32/32 in | 32nds | Color-coded bar | 20 | Not stated |
Specifications are manufacturer rated, as published on each listing and collected 9 November 2026. Where a listing contradicts itself, both figures are shown.
How the points were given
Each gauge is scored out of 10 on performance, build, value, safety and warranty, with the weights published on our How We Pick page. None states a safety listing, so all score zero on safety, and only one states a clear warranty term.
| Product | Shop Score | Perf. /35 | Build /25 | Value /25 | Safety /10 | Warranty /5 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GODESON Digital Gauge | 9.6 | 33 | 22 | 22 | 0 | 0 |
| LUMITECO Dial Gauge | 9.5 | 32 | 21 | 21 | 0 | 0 |
| GODESON 10-Pack Gauge | 9.4 | 27 | 20 | 20 | 0 | 2 |
| SAFELIFE Dial Gauge | 9.4 | 29 | 21 | 20 | 0 | 0 |
| Xuhal 20-Pack Gauge | 9.4 | 28 | 20 | 21 | 0 | 0 |
Scores run from 9.2 to 9.8: each product’s point total is placed on that range, so more points always means a higher score.
What the listings tell you
We read 5 tire depth gauge listings. Only 1 stated a digital display, 2 stated a dial, and 2 stated a color-coded pencil bar. Only 1 stated a warranty term of 1 year, and 1 more listed a warranty only as 1, with no unit. None stated a safety listing.
Buying guide: choosing a best tire depth gauge
Digital, dial or pencil
The digital gauge shows the depth as a number on a large LCD in fractional inches, decimal inches or millimeters, with a zero reset and accuracy of 0.01mm or 0.0005 inch. The two dial gauges read in 1/32 inch increments on a dial face, and the LUMITECO dial holds the reading after the measurement. The two pencil gauges show a color-coded bar instead of a number, which reads at a glance but gives no exact figure.
Range and increments
Range sets how deep a gauge can measure. The digital gauge reads from 0-25mm or 0-1 inch, and the Godeson pencil gauges are calibrated from 0 to 1 inch in 1/32 inch. The LUMITECO dial lists a maximum tread depth of 14/32 inch with 1/128 inch resolution, while the SAFELIFE dial reads in 1/32 inch increments and states no maximum depth.
Color zones
Four of the five gauges use color zones. Red covers 0-3/32 and means tread is low and the tire needs replacing. Yellow covers 3/32-6/32 and means marginal tread remains. Green covers 6/32-32/32 and means the tire has ample tread. The digital gauge has no color zones; it shows only the number.
Packs and spares
Pack size matters when more than one vehicle needs checking. The Godeson pack holds 10 gauges and the Xuhal pack holds 20, both with a pocket clip for carrying. The digital gauge and both dial gauges come as single gauges, with no spare listed.
Warranty
Only the Godeson 10-pack states a clear warranty term, listed as 1 Years. The digital gauge lists a warranty only as 1, with no unit given, so the term is unclear. The other three gauges state no warranty term.
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Garage Fit Check
- Storage: the LUMITECO comes with a leather pouch, and the SAFELIFE with a cloth bag, so both tuck into a glove box or toolbox.
- Power: only the digital gauge needs a battery, a 1.5V SR44/LR, included with the gauge.
- Space: the digital gauge measures 2.35 by 0.52 by 4.5 inches, and the 10-pack pencil gauges measure 3.5 by 1.2 by 0.59 inches.
- Check the pack count on arrival: 1 gauge for the digital and both dial gauges, 10 for the Godeson pack and 20 for the Xuhal pack.
- Check the warranty on arrival: the 10-pack lists 1 year, while the digital lists only 1 with no unit.
FAQ: garage tools
How do you use a tire tread depth gauge?
Place the probe in a tread groove and read the depth the gauge shows: in 32nds on the pencil and dial gauges, or in millimeters, decimal inches or fractional inches on the digital gauge. The color-coded bars read red, yellow or green at a glance.
How does a tread depth gauge work?
It measures how deep the tread groove is. The pencil and dial gauges read the depth in 32nds of an inch, while the digital gauge shows the depth in millimeters, decimal inches or fractional inches on its large LCD.
How do you use a digital tread depth gauge?
Switch the digital gauge to fractional inch, decimal inch or millimeter mode, zero it with the zero reset, then take the reading on the large LCD. It reads from 0-25mm or 0-1 inch, and it shuts off after 5 minutes of inactivity to save the battery.
What do the red, yellow and green zones mean?
Red covers 0-3/32 and means tread is low and the tire needs replacing. Yellow covers 3/32-6/32 and means marginal tread remains. Green covers 6/32-32/32 and means the tire has ample tread.
Related: the manual tire pressure gauge guide, the tire pressure gauge how to use guide and our diagnostics and electrical hub. Also see our best lug nut tool for tire changes. Also see our best automatic tire inflator. Also see our plugs for tire repair.
