These numbers could save your life

Bill Sunderland & Dani Siller ('Escape This Podcast') and Amelie Brodeur (The Flute Channel) face a question about a vital sequential series.
LATERAL is a weekly podcast about interesting questions and even more interesting answers, hosted by Tom Scott. For business enquiries, contestant appearances or question submissions, visit www.lateralcast.com
GUESTS:
Bill Sunderland: @consumethismedia, / escthispodcast
Dani Siller: @consumethismedia, / escthispodcast
Amelie Brodeur: @flutechannel, / theflutechannel
HOST: Tom Scott.
QUESTION PRODUCER: David Bodycombe.
RECORDED AT: Podcasts NZ Studios.
EDITED BY: Julie Hassett at The Podcast Studios, Dublin.
GRAPHICS: Chris Hanel at Support Class. Assistant: Dillon Pentz.
MUSIC: Karl-Ola Kjellholm ('Private Detective'/'Agrumes', courtesy of epidemicsound.com).
FORMAT: Pad 26 Limited/Labyrinth Games Ltd.
EXECUTIVE PRODUCERS: David Bodycombe and Tom Scott.
© Pad 26 Limited (www.pad26.com) / Labyrinth Games Ltd. 2023.

[@flutechannel]

All the questions were so much fun! ❤❤❤

[@bobb.boberson4437]

7:38 Don't be silly Tom, Americans know what he means: The Bill of The Platypus was a law that was proposed to the Australian Parliament in 1932 after the end of the Emu War, which gave every platypus the right to vote in Australian elections. The Parliament was initially not going to pass it, but the Platypus Party brought along a coalition of very threatening emus, who frightened the politicians enough to ascend it and make it law.

[@Dave_Sisson]

Except a platypus first appeared on Australian coins in 1966. Still, that is much cooler than putting the heads of politicians on coins.

[@LastElf42]

I was born and live here and I clearly need this in my "not real trivia" library, right alongside "Koalas lay eggs that act like a parasite on trees and if they get too much nutrients they hatch as drop bears"

[@munjee2]

The platypus are the only citizens of Australia for whom voting isn't mandatory

[@spacewarpphotography1667]

I'm an American, and I'm not 100% sure you're joking.

[@alveolate]

and i thought the most famous aussie bill was blinky

[@rhvette]

This is also a fun kerning trivia. They use 2/4/6/8 in reference to 2/32, 4/32, etc. instead of 1/2/3/4 as in 1/16, 2/16, etc. because the 1 would be very difficult to readily identify and read even when intact, so people wouldn’t use it accurately. The 2/4/6/8 provides more uniform width to read.

[@cinderwild]

I was hoping someone in the comments would have clarification for this. Thanks!

[@1ogic948]

Hey, I guessed this more or less! Thanks for the clarification.

[@D3nn1s]

How about using the other number than? 2 for ½, 4 for ¼ and so on? Thatd be still terrible but at least its the smallest number and you can count on it being 1 over something. Now you have to know its 32th and not 64th or whatever

[@rhvette]

@@D3nn1s because the largest size is 8/32 or 1/4. So you’d have 4/8/16/32 and then have to remember they’re reciprocals instead of 32nds.

[@meowmiaumiauw]

Or you could use metric like literally every other country...

[@MeTalkPrettyOneDay]

I once had this conversation: "How thick is this?" "Oh, I'd say 500" "500 what?" "Thousanths of an inch" "So half and inch?!?!"

[@Carhill]

I'm Aussie, so boo imperial yada yada. In your example they are speculating a measurement so it may not be directly applicable, but stating "500 thousandths of an inch" is not the same as saying "half an inch". The specific phrasing tells you the level of accuracy in the measuring device and subsequently the measurements. A seasoned machinist/fabricator may be able to guesstimate/intuit measurements from experience, but that specific language is used intentionally.

[@MeTalkPrettyOneDay]

@Carhill absolutely fair. I actually work in an industry where we do specify due to customer requirements. In this instance, the person was guessing that it was an order for 0.500" material. But now that I've worked longer, I know that both phrases are used for the same thing with the level of accuracy implied. The vast majority of people just say 'half inch' though, so I was so confused the first time.

[@jpe1]

Oh, you missed a perfect opportunity to use the interrobang glyph *‽* 😉

[@TorvicIsSanta]

I'm guessing this was in the context of machining or industrial work?

[@hens0w]

To be fair I regularly have this conversation in metric, 500 is half a meter. Except being in the UK the person I'm talking to quite compliantly uses a system of millimeters (mm) and 305mm feet so he thinks its a bit over one and a half feet

[@fakjbf3129]

For American tires most people just do the penny test, put a penny in the tread and if it touches Lincoln’s head then your tread is fine. We also do have the ridge that goes across the tread. I don’t think I’ve ever seen this 8,6,4,2 system on a tire in real life, I’ve only heard about that.

[@WyvernYT]

We don't have platypus coins here.

[@blg_guy437]

@@WyvernYTwhat does that mean

[@WyvernYT]

@@blg_guy437 The Australian version of the test uses coins with a platypus design; it's explained in the video.

[@1bootliz]

American here, I was always taught to use a penny (coin) as well. I've never even heard of this 8/6/4/2 32nds system before!

[@prva9347]

In the UK, I believe you just take your vehicle into any tyre garage and they'll check all the tyres AND TRACKING for you for free and, usually, on demand. So they also maintain your tyres or replace as needed.

[@chronozaishi]

As an American, I've never once seen or heard of the 8/6/4/2 system. My state's offical driver's manual uses the penny test, and the dealership where my car is from sells penny-sized metal discs with green, yellow and red markings to denote when to change the tire.

[@lateralcast]

They're on Goodyear tires: mustangfanclub.com/goodyear-eagle-exhilarate/goodyearweargauge/

[@AnonymousFreakYT]

@@lateralcast Huh. Just checked the Goodyear tires on one of my vehicles (appropriately for that link, it's a Mustang,) and can't find this. So I guess it isn't even on all Goodyear tires. It's definitely not on the Pirelli, Continental, or Michelin tires on the other three vehicles at my house. (And my kid caught me peering at his tires and is now very confused.) I had never heard of this. I have heard of using a depth gauge to measure tread depth in x/32 of an inch, though, in auto shop class in high school. Or the penny test.

[@jordanhelzer3306]

It's important information for the Commercial Driver's License test for heavy vehicles, but for the test most people just use a depth gauge.

[@jasonthesnow]

Tom Scott clarifying that a platypus has a duck bill for Americans like we didn’t all immediately go “Perry the Platyypus!?!”

[@JonathanMiller1]

I live in the US, and I never knew about this. All the driving manuals and courses teach us to stick a penny upside down in the tread, and if you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, it’s time to change the tire. 😂

[@DasGanon]

I've always heard a quarter, same thing. You see Washington's head, swap.

[@lemonofish869]

AFAIK the coin method is common pretty much everywhere in the world

[@simonvu9290]

and makes absolute sense, because everyday humans are terrible at estimating tiny distances. Coins are a usefull reference object, with all the fine details, and we all carry some around on a daily basis.

[@Ondrix]

The difference here is that it's commone practice in most places, while it's an officially regulated guideline in Australia.

[@bandana_girl6507]

Fun fact: there's actually multiple answers to the originally posed question. Certain dishwashers use a similar system to show the level of rinse fluid. In that circumstance, when the colored fluid is in contact with the plastic, its color is very visible while an air gap will cause it to be more white.

[@SteinGauslaaStrindhaug]

And that would actually be in the kitchen, usually! ...Hmmm... I have never seen coloured rinse fluid here in Norway, though. It's usually completely clear. I also have never found any indicator for it in our dishwasherM I just fill the chamber up until it overflows whenever I remember that it's a thing I should do 😅

[@Bobberation]

I knew this one right away, but I think I was helped a lot by the video's title implying it was a safety feature. From the in-game prompt alone I think it would have taken me longer.

[@57thorns]

Yes, the title did givet it away.

[@yoavshati]

I just saw a picture of this a few days ago so I knew it immediately too

[@garybarnes4169]

As soon as he said about them being recessed, I guessed tread on tyres straight away.

[@fisqual]

I've definitely had a stack of tires in my kitchen before, so I didn't get this even though it crossed my mind BEFORE you said "this would never be in a kitchen" hahaha.

[@Tolyuhh]

when I lived on campus at uni I knew someone who had a giant truck tire they found on the side of the street in their kitchen. It was used as either a seat or a stepping stool for reaching things on high shelves.

[@korumann]

As an American, I don't think I've ever heard anyone say 32ths. 32nds is honestly a fairly common way to measure somewhat high precision.

[@kevinmartin7760]

Here (Canada) the tire tread gauges (typically only mechanics own one) do indeed measure tread depth in 32nds of an inch. However, if you don't have the gauge there are the wear stripes, zones across the face of the tire where the tread is shallower. When the tire is too worn these show as bald stripes across the tread. My tires have never got that bad because twice a year switching between winter and summer tires, my mechanic will check the depth and nag me to replace the tires rather than putting on the ones from last year. I have never seen a system with numbers actually formed into the tread shape.

[@MarylandFarmer.]

I caught on when he said it wears away. Although I have never seen this on a tire before only wear bars. Also most new car tires start with 12/32 and you are legal with 2/32. However it may be recommend replacing sooner based on conditions.

[@sammarks9146]

I absolutely did the thing in my head where I wrote it down. (And yes, I'm American!) ... 2/32 of an inch is about 1.6mm, so that makes sense for the scale... but why they didn't just use 16ths, I have no idea.

[@iout]

They don’t use 16ths because that’s just generally not a measurement we use. Idk why, but it usually goes 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, 1/32. And often times people don’t even use eighths. It’s just convention that the 32nd is our default “small increment of an inch”

[@MNbenMN]

The numbers 3 & 5 can be difficult to discern when heavily worn, so I wonder if that has something to do with the decision to use even 32ths instead of 16ths... on the other hand a well worn 6 and 8 aren't necessarily more distinct.

[@daggern15]

@@iout Only time I've ever come across eighths as a standard measurement is specifically a 5/8ths AF spanner which roughly equates to a 16mm and can generally be used interchangeably, making a 5/8ths redundant if you have a metric set already.

[@WyvernYT]

@@MNbenMN But that's not a problem because 6 and 8 both mean "your tire is okay for now."

[@MNbenMN]

@@WyvernYT I suppose we don't even need the 8 then.

[@hairyairey]

Wear ridges make it so much easier. In the UK it was as little as 1mm across 3/4 of the tyre width. Now it's 1.6mm across the whole tyre. I try to remember to check them weekly, thanks for the reminder!

[@TheInternetHelpdeskPlays]

In the uk, the 20p coin has a border on, this border is also the legal minimum depth for tyres, so by placing a coin in the tread you can see if you're legal or not.

[@vibingwithvinyl]

Nokian Tyres have had tread depth markings in millimetres for ages now.

[@drakedbz]

In defense of the x/32 fractions, 32 is a power of 2, as are most fractional measurements we use (aside from the occasional 1/3). Why 32 instead of 16? I'm not entirely sure, but I imagine it's a carryover from an older system that would have used an odd numerator, thus not able to be simplified.

[@bipolarminddroppings]

Tom explaining things to Americans in his most British sneer is brilliant. We used to have a similar guideline for UK tires, it was with a 10p piece, if the rim of the coin is covered, you were fine. Doesn't work with the new 10p tho...

[@inrevenant]

1 mm ~= 1/32" , In this way, tire tread depth is measured in millimeters in the US as well, but they are just more sneaky about it than you expect them to be ;)

[@57thorns]

Using coins measure tread depth is of course not the official measure, but people used to have coins around and they are the right shape to easily measure the threads. It is genius!

[@MyRegardsToTheDodo]

In Europe we do that aswell. The 1-Euro coin has an outer (brass) ring that's exactly 3 mm wide, the 2-Euro coin has a silverish ring, that's 4 mm wide. The recommended minimum depth for summer tires is 3 mm, for winter tires it's 4 mm. So you can use the 1 Euro coin for summer tires and the 2 Euro coin for winter tires.

[@costie31]

Now in the digital era we will get a new rule using a credit card :))

[@prva9347]

In the UK you still need coins (and notes) if you're in a rural or remote area as many places don't have reliable internet/mobile signal or sometimes don't have any at all. Also, if it's a small shop and running it is marginal (often the case), the shopkeeper probably prefers cash. In my rural area many shops don't accept card payments and locals know to use cash as much as poss, which often catches out the tourists.

[@Goofycritter4399]

7:50 we have the same sort of thing in the US with the penny and lincoln's head (if you can see his head when he is upside down then you need new tires)

[@PurpleShift42]

When Bill stacks his hands to explain the recessed thing with the numbers around 0:47(and having being primed by the title), I knew it was a depth gauge of some sort, but _my_ association with "a depth gauge that'll save lives" is with the water depth level gauges on roads that are near rivers or otherwise flood-prone (which are around even in urban areas) because every year some idiots in Australia disregard warnings not to drive in floodwaters given their unknown/deceptive depth and get in all sorts of trouble 🌊, drowning or getting stuck or washed away or otherwise.

[@joelf1]

In Germany (and probably other European countries) we use the 1€ coins. Specifically the golden rim should fully vanish essentially, otherwise the tire should be changed.

[@XeonXR6]

40 of these now Tom - amazing!

[@ji604]

And here I am immediately going to the markings on my coffee pot, until it was quickly proven wrong. I was thinking to myself, knowing when the coffee is almost gone is low key life-saving 😂

[@tusken9669]

I just saw a picture of that on reddit not too long ago, got it basically instantly after the question was read

[@talos935]

I love those auzzie measures for tyre tread depth ❤ A common (if crude and not a legal measure) is the side of a UK 20p coin. The outer ridge of the coin is roughly the same depth as the legal minimum tread in the UK. If not most tyres I've seen have a depth bump between some treads.

[@GimpyChinaman]

Tom! Thank you for cleaning up the TV wiring in your background!

[@thebeshortedcellist8182]

Bill's story reminds me of when I was in Adelaide, Australia, during Covid-19 and the guidance was to stay at least one Kangaroo apart.

[@SalemAdams]

Also, in the US, they also suggest using a penny, and if you could see the top of Lincoln's head, if you position the top of the penny into the tread, it's time to replace the tire.

[@ajnormandgroome]

I got this right off. Yesterday my tires were checked - front at 6 and back at 4

[@walker1054]

7th one I got instantly but the title of the video gave a big hint. Tom jumping to cars makes me feel like he knew earlier too :p

[@lnxmachine]

Looks like this may just be a Goodyear brand tire thing. I've never seen these on any tires I've owned so it's definitely not a universal thing in the US.

[@ISKLEMMI]

Bill: Don't get me started on what the Americans are measuring! Also Bill: Alright, now check if the bill of the platypus lines up with...

[@VanessaCheerleader]

In Canada, we use the 25 cent piece similarly to the platypus but we use the caribous antlers

[@__Poli_]

2:10 laughed so hard at thus part lmao.

[@TakeruDavis]

I feel like YT algorythm has pulled a fast one on me here, I just watched a video about cars that merely mentioned that specific part at the end and sure, it still required me to know this little tidbit, but it put me in the exact spot to think about them the moment he said each slightly recessed

[@kristalpower292]

I now want to keep the coins in my car. To check that. I now want to see the guidelines it must be because it’s the easiest thing to get in the wheel arch to check. In all the episodes of like highway patrol and other police footage shows I’ve never seen them check tire tread with a coin.

[@10thdoctor15]

You don't have to have the spare tyre (wheel), or 'space saver', newer cars just come with a foam that fills the tyre until you can get a new one.

[@AJCham]

1:30 - I'm guessing that must have been a digital lock, because with the mechanical ones the order doesn't usually matter - you just need do have pressed the right four buttons.

[@outsideaglass]

I just love Tom having to assure us Americans in the audience that no, not all Australians wanting to check their tires will get the nearest platypus and use its bill to check their tire gauge. I love the image that gave me of every Australian with a car has a platypus best friend that just hangs out, ready to check tire gauge depth. 😂

[@rybock]

I'm in the US, never heard of this, will be checking out my tires. But, the coin things is what I was taught. Basically a US penny, with Abraham Lincoln on the face of it, you put that it with Lincoln oriented to the center of the tire (aka "up", but you may be doing this on the side), and if he's not deep enough to reach the top of his head, you need to replace your tires.

[@stevezpj]

We have the same coin system in the UK but it's a 20p you use to check the tyres.

[@zaixai9441]

Bill: They would never be in your kitchen *looks over at tyres in the corner of my kitchen.*

[@u1849ka]

We actually do a similar thing with coins in the US for checking tire wear.

[@HotelPapa100]

32nds of an inch ar in the same order of magnitude as millimeters. You could see similar numbers in metric.

[@AC-im4hi]

I'm an American I never knew this either. We just use pennies if it needs measurement

[@hexandcube]

For the first time, I somehow guessed the answer straight away

[@SteamboatW]

Interesting. In Sweden we use an old 1 kr coin and if the kings hairdo disappears, it's more than 3 mm. But we have changed currency since I learned that, and I really don't know which new coin could be used that way...

[@MyRegardsToTheDodo]

If you can get hold of one, you can use a Euro coin. On the 1 Euro coin the outer ring is 3 mm wide (perfect for summer tires), on the 2 Euro coin the outer ring is 4 mm wide (winter tires). And yes, I know Sweden doesn't have the Euro, but Germany also doesn't have the British Pound and I still ended up with a 1 Pound coin in my change (and a 5 Polish Zloty coin, which also has an outer ring of four mm).

[@AJBlue98]

The gauge is in 32^-1 inches because at 1/32 of an inch, a tire is legally "bald" and cannot be certified as legal for road use in case the car has to be inspected.

[@nikitaavdeev9681]

Most normal american mesuring unit

[@annaczgli2983]

Seriously. Oh Lordy! 😵‍💫🤷

[@markchapman6800]

I got this one straight away, and I'm not even a car person.

[@BlendyStick]

“You would never have this in your kitchen” Petrolheads with small flats: 😢

[@allanrichardson1468]

Most American tires should be replaced according to the penny test: insert a penny (technically the coin is called a cent), which has Abe Lincoln’s head on the obverse, upside down (Abe’s head facing down) into the tread. If the margin above his head is larger than the tread depth, so that no part of his head is hidden, the tire should be replaced ASAP. The more of Abe’s head is hidden, the safer the tire is.

[@markflacy7099]

American tires have that ridge as well.

[@rchandraonline]

The first thing I was thinking of is the bitting on a 4 pin lock key.

[@Jimmy-Mc]

What tires have numbers anymore? I've only ever seen the single ridge, and you can also use a penny. If you see the top of Lincoln's head, it's time to replace it.

[@erumaayuuki]

The ridges inside your tread are called TWI: tread wear indicator. And they sit at a tread depth of 1.6mm. Is that the same as 2/32"? Tbf, why would I want to know the other numbers as well?

[@arcanics1971]

I learned this one the other day on reddit.

[@aamackie]

Surprised using the band on the 20p coin wasn't mentioned.

[@YT-Observer]

FYI 2/32 or thirtysecondths of an inch is 1.5875 mm In the USA they also have a recommendation of using a coin to check the depth and its related to the top of the head on a US 1 cent/ penny coin when I was in other countries that is a common notion to use a coin to check the tread depth since most ppl would have a coin and not something that can measure that sort of depth The measurements are in 32nds of an inch because the tick marks on the tool are every 32nds of an inch (like mm) so one is just saying the number of marks rather the reducing the fraction. I would say its a bit like saying your 172cm rather than saying "1 meter 72"

[@mnchls]

shout to Bill's truly flawless American accent at 5:42

[@laurensiusfabianussteven6518]

the caption for "tyre" was dead accurate

[@isaacbobjork7053]

Wasn't there an article describing an asteroid as being the size of "half a giraffe"?

[@Programmdude]

Haha, NZ has a similar "coin" system for their tyres too. The get checked at my WoF though so I don't bother doing it myself.

[@michaelslee4336]

I know I’m late to the party, in my state of Victoria Australia you don’t have to carry a spare but if you do it needs to be on roadworthy condition. When we sell or transfer a car a roadworthy check and certificate needs to performed by a registered mechanic. If your spare is no good, leave it home for the day. Logic is, if there’s no spare you can’t put it in but if it’s unroadworthy then you could use it.

[@max-mr5xf]

Do you have something about US cable diameters?

[@phimuskapsi]

We have the same trick with the coin. if the head of Lincoln on a penny is covered by rubber in a tread, then the tires are good.

[@myladycasagrande863]

Need to dig through my spare change and check my tires...

[@phimuskapsi]

@@myladycasagrande863 From Bridgestone: "See if the top of his head disappears between the ribs. If it does, your tread is still above 2/32” , If you can see his entire head, it may be time to replace the tire because your tread is no longer deep enough." LOL. Crazy, but it works!

[@pvtbuddie]

I'm in America, and I've never seen these numbers! I'm still putting pennies in my treads and looking to see if enough of Abraham Lincoln's head is showing.

[@LightslicerGP]

4:37 I figured it out I think, the oil change numbers? Not sure but on the strip that you pull out of the oil change you have the stuff too see how high your oil level is Edit: I was wrong, but also I have never seen that on a tire, interesting!

[@Kirmo13]

Bill is so funny

[@Sam_on_YouTube]

I'm American. I didn't know about the numbers. But if you stick a dime in there, the tread should cover part of Roosevelt's head.

[@Schenkel101]

"Large boulder the size of a small boulder is completely blocking east-bound lane Highway 145 mm78 at Silverpick Rd." "A large boulder the size of a large boulder is blocking the southbound lane Hwy 145 mm28 in Stoner Creek area of Montezuma County."

[@franziphia2380]

This would make a nice math test question haha... 1/4 of 32 what? 😂😂😂 Add some km the car drove and you get a real fun headache 😂😂😂

[@hcblue]

I knew immediately what the answer was, except I had NO idea that it was in 32nds of an inch. How tf do we come up with these units omg.

[@DasGanon]

I mean US measurements are secretly metric (inch is defined as exactly 25.4mm) but most inch subdivisions are factors of 2. In architecture that's usually up to 16ths of an inch. In automotive it's 32ndths of an inch. (Although now it's intermixed US customary & metric) In machining, they think that's silly and go with thousandths of an inch (or "thou")

[@MyRegardsToTheDodo]

Because "1/12000 of a washing machine" would be too long.

[@DdlyHeadshot]

Outside rim of a 20p coin is the minimum depth in the UK

[@damientonkin]

I do prop design and I tend to use fractional inches because you can intuitively get within a couple of millimetres of what you need. Millimetres are more finiky. I rarely use 32nds unless I'm doing something very tiny but it's about 0.8mm

[@Eliska_Premyslovna]

Yes, more Bill and Dani! ❤

[@10thdoctor15]

Rule of thumb in Britain is the thickness of the border of a 20 pence piece.

[@andrewgrant6516]

Sounds like a thermostat.

[@erictaylor5462]

4:25 There is one object your car must have while it is operating. A driver.

[@R2Y2V2]

You use and keep it in 32nds so that way you can just use a tread depth gauge that goes from 1 to 32 and everything is evenly spaced apart. It would be hard to print fractions on the depth gauge so all you need to do is print 32 lines with a small number next to them. It actually is a very good system for mechanics as there is zero confusion.

[@MNbenMN]

That's a convention without a reason. It sounds like you are presenting a defense for the system, but none of that is unique to the choice of 1/32", it's essentially just tradition. You're not factually wrong, but the way it's worded is misleading.

[@R2Y2V2]

@@MNbenMN well, what would a better system be? It needs to be reliable, get different levels of wear across to somebody and easily usable.

[@grumpyoldguy4817]

As an American, watching your absolute frustration as to why we don’t use the metric system is amusing. Most of us feel the same way too. The American way to think is that we must be right and the rest of the entire world is wrong. It is maddening. The metric system is wonderful. Please send help. Keep up the great content.

[@nothanks8839]

Thank you Tom for clarifying things for us Americans :) I was wondering how Australians would obtain a platypus to measure their tires.

[@TheM750]

Totally unnecessary clarification, especially since we also can use a coin to measure tread depth. I doubt we'd feel the need to clarify for a foreigner that we're not actually using Abraham Lincoln's head to measure tread depth.

[@cvindustries]

In the US, the currency version is to use a penny and see if Lincoln's head is partially covered. If you can see it in it's entirety, it's time to change the tire.

[@philliptune]

My guess: I started thinking medication. Like slow release. But... then it would be in your stomach.... so Something that is intended to wear down over time and the numbers are like periods of time before you have to replace it.

[@paulthomas8262]

32 tooths? Thirty Seconds (32nds)

[@mulgerbill]

I'm guessing they use thirtytooths because bananas and refrigerators aren't precise enough?

[@blaidddrwg-ye9dy]

We use a penny. If Abe Lincoln's head is not below the tread you have an issue

[@jayj9278]

😂😂8:02

[@JanTuts]

I don't remember what it was about, but there was a news report where they where saying something was "several washing machines big" or something :P And there is of course the "large boulder the size of a small boulder"... :D ANYTHING other than using actual measurements.

[@dovos8572]

@@JanTuts they love to use elephants too

[@jayj9278]

@@dovos8572 and school buses

[@AnonymousFreakYT]

I thought it was going to be printed circuit boards, like used for computer motherboards. (Multi-layer PCBs usually have the number of the layer printed on them, and are transparent in the position for other layer's numbers, so you'll see "2 4 6 8" across in a row, where each higher number is deeper down. And many alternate so that the even numbers are visible from one side of the PCB, while odd numbers are visible from the other. (Although many - especially fewer-layered PCBs - will just number sequentially in one place, so "1 2 3 4".)

[@PilotA51]

I'm in the US and swap my own tires between all-seasons and winters. When I do, I measure and log the treads in mm, as I'm an unusual American who wishes everyone used metric. I've looked closely at several sets of tires over the years and never noticed or heard of the 8/6/4/2 thing, so I suspect it may not be very common. Many people (not me) use the "Lincoln's head" penny test. I do use the wear markers in the grooves to quickly check how close a tire is to replacement, usually by feeling it with my finger if it's still on the car. As for the spare tire thing, it is legal not to have a spare in the US. My car isn't designed to carry a spare in a secured and out-of-the-way location, though I can still fit a full set of 4 in the trunk as I did a couple weeks ago when I had a tire shop replace the tires on my other set of wheels.

[@nfcopier1]

I've checked many tire treads but never heard of this 2/4/6/8 thing. All the tires I've checked just have the rib. Maybe it depends on which state you're in?

[@alveolate]

bill's camera setup really needs to fix that auto-exposure thing cos it's blinking quite a bit.

[@AL4NGDROE]

Did he really say "Thirty Twoths? I know not using metric for things make it harder sometimes. But it's "Thirty 2nds" LOL.

[@derekskelton4187]

The US does have a very similar coin system it's just not official

[@electric_sway]

I agree that measuring a 32 of an inch is silly and hearing it be pronounced as a thrity-twoths was hilarious. I usually hear it being pronounced as thrity-seconds