During a tire inspection, how can one check for belt separation?

A thread depth gauge is a tool that measures the remaining tread depth of a tire, which is important for determining tire wear and ensuring adequate traction. However, while tread depth can indicate overall tire health, it is not specifically used to check for belt separation.

Belt separation refers to the condition where the belts that reinforce a tire begin to pull away from the tire's structure, which can lead to serious safety issues. During a tire inspection, checking for belt separation typically involves looking for bulges, unusual bumps, or visible deformation on the surface of the tire. This visual inspection helps identify early signs of failure.

The other options, such as looking for cracks on the edges, measuring tire pressure, or checking the color of the sidewall, may reveal different tire issues but do not specifically indicate belt separation. Cracks could indicate dry rot, improper pressure can affect tire performance, and color changes could suggest damage or aging, but none directly correlate to the checking of belt separation as a visual inspection does.