Dumb tire depth question

I asked an Instructor that very question and his answer was it is easier to remember 4/32 and 2/32 as to 1/8 and 1/16.

I replied it sounded kindergartenish and in any other industry they would laugh you out of the building for talking like that.

 

Tire manufacturers spec out tread depth in 32nd's. That's why. It is the industry standard unit of measure.

 

You'll see what I mean here.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec....tirePageLocQty=%26partnum=245VR7LM25RFTXL

Any tires you search for will tell you the tread depth, when new, in 32nd's.

 

Why do they have all of those extra markings on a foot ruler? Why not just put the inches and leave all of those other useless markings off? That way you could say that it is some where between 1 to 2 inches instead of 1 1/2 or 1 5/16 of a inch. If it was left up to truckers we could make this world so much simpler to live in, don't you think.

 

No hes was making a desperate attempt at feeling superior over you, but it just made him appear that he had no ability to understand why reduce to the lowest common denominator. Comprehension is a problem in our industry. We would rather ridicule another driver instead of helping them. This is just a prime example.

There are multiple trade that do not choose to reduce.
Back in the day (as they say) I used to hang and finish drywall, all of our measurements were called out in 8th's, this was simply close enough for cut ins, and the taper would make it fit tight past there. Were as the finish carpenters would use 16th just because is hard to touch up later, thus requiring a more precise unit of measure. When it comes to tread depth 1/32 more or less is just close enough. So it became the industry unit of measure. You may notice that tire depth gauges are marked in 32nds.

If you don't know the answer its not a stupid question. But it maybe a stupid answer.