iGaging 0-4" Electronic Digital Depth Gauge SnapDepth 0.0005" Inch/Metric/Fractions Tire Tread Gage

This works well and seems to be accurate. It's also very easy to use. It has several attachments for various types of measurements which is nice. I sent it back because it wasn't going to work for my specific situation, but it's still a good product.

I am giving it a 5 star rating because it works fine. I know I did not purchase a top of the edge measurement device but it works fine. The plastic housing gives you the impression of a fragile item, time will tell. So far it works fine. Good purchase, good price.

I bought this gauge to check the height of the frets on my guitar and it worked like a champ for that application, but it doesn't have the flexibility to work as a general depth measurement tool. The baseplate is large, so it won't work in tight spaces or on uneven surfaces, but for jobs where lateral clearance is not an issue, it works well. I checked the accuracy against a quality caliper, and the readings matched. For the money it's a great addition to the toolbox, but don't expect it to take the place of an electronic or dial type manual depth gauge.

Metallic plastic, some metal parts. Okay.

Okay, things do go wrong so I get why there are some negative reviews but overall this thing is really a great deal. I have found it to be accurate and repeatable with good features. First, the battery is easy to put in. Slide open the cover, remove the little rubber insert, insert the battery, put back the rubber insert (look where the little tab goes), and replace the cover. It's harder to get the battery out but you can do it with a pick or small knife. The spring force is very similar to my traditional Starrett dial indicator and you can you can retract the shaft with the little "D" handle at the top. If you have trouble unscrewing the tip, hold the shaft (not the body) with something that will not mar the shaft, just like any other indicator. Two things that I really like are it auto-powers down after about 5 minutes and it remembers your zero when it's off. The extension shafts are really nice to have too. Yes, it is mostly plastic but it's also only $16. It came with 2 batteries which is good because the one installed was dead but it was dated 2005. The other also dated 2005 was okay. That's the only negative I have with it.

This device is essentially a digital indicator and is much more precise than needed for a tire tread gauge. If you're familiar with the common digital calipers, these operate and have a display that is identical to those with one exception. This tool also has a "Hold" button to keep the measured value in the display even after the spindle has moved, useful for measuring in places where you can't easily see the display. Resolution is 0.001", 0.01 mm and 1/64.There is an extra battery included and two additional spindle rods for extending the measurement range.

Works as intended

Tried replacing the battery multiple times. Unfortunately you get what you pay for. There are no quality depth gauges available at a reasonable price. I can't recommend something that stops working after 3 uses.