Comparison Guide: TireBuddy vs. Drive-Over Scanners vs. Gauges
The ultimate comparison guide of tire tread scanning tools that impact the bottom line
Paula Monteiro
Marketing Communications Director
Manual gauges are cheap but light on documentation. Drive-over scanners deliver fast, structured tread metrics in a dedicated lane. TireBuddy puts a guided, camera-led inspection and shareable report on the smartphone your team already uses. No build-out required.
It’s 08:07—and the lane is already stacked
Bays are full, phones are buzzing, and a customer says, “But I just changed my tires.” In that moment, your inspection method either gives advisors clear evidence customers understand or another debate over a tread number. Most shops rely on one (or a mix) of three approaches: manual gauges, drive-over scanners, and a smartphone app like TireBuddy. Below is a practical, factual comparison to help you pick based on coverage, consistency, credibility, and total cost to operate.
This feature is part of Anyline’s tire inspection app, It gives technicians a fast, visual way to show tire wear and back up recommendations with clear data. The result? Customers understand the issue, trust your diagnosis, and approve the job with confidence.
Whether you’re using TireBuddy, our ready-to-go app for workshops, or the Anyline SDK integrated into your own mobile app, these reports make digital inspections more credible and customer-friendly.
Manual gauges: familiar, fast… thin on proof
Why shops keep them: They’re inexpensive, pocketable, and useful for quick verification.
Trade-offs: Gauges measure small points and don’t produce photos. That makes it harder to show uneven wear or sidewall issues and leaves little for a customer-facing report, especially compared with camera-led methods that capture visual evidence. (Technician training materials across the industry emphasize visual recognition of wear patterns for diagnosis and communication.)
Best fit: Backup/verification alongside a more visual, standardized process.
Drive-over scanners: throughput in a tuned lane
What they do well: In a controlled service drive, drive-over systems are fast and repeatable. Many generate 3D tread scans, color-coded reports, and heatmaps that can be reviewed with customers and used for lifecycle tracking.
Trade-offs: Expensive and bulky. You’ll need lane space, installation, and maintenance, and the system is lane-bound—harder to extend to back lot, tire hotel, or mobile work.
Best fit: high-volume sites built around a fixed lane.
TireBuddy: guided, visual inspections on a smartphone
What it is: TireBuddy is Anyline’s tire inspection app. It guides a consistent workflow, lets techs capture clear photos, and generates a customer-ready report—all on iOS or Android devices your team already uses.
Capabilities you can put to work:
- Tread Depth Warnings – Flags low or uneven tread
- Tire Age Alerts – Highlights tires nearing or past safe age limits
- Alignment Indicators – Detects irregular wear, alerting technicians to alignment issues
- Sidewall Checks – Captures DOT codes and manufacturing data
Key Benefits:
- Precise Measurements: AI-powered tread depth accuracy to 1/32 inch (0.5 mm)
- Instant Documentation: Visual, easy-to-understand reports—digital or printed
- No Manual Entry: Reduces errors and ensures data consistency
- Trust at the Bay: Helps technicians explain findings and build confidence with customers
- Higher Revenue Potential: Transparently helps boost service approvals and drive shop revenue.
Best fit: Independents, dealer groups, and enterprises that want standardized inspections and visual documentation without building an own app.
Which approach fits your operation?
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Gauges: Lowest cost; good for spot checks—but provide limited customer-facing evidence.
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Drive-over scanners: Throughput and structured tread data in a dedicated lane; requires space and is expensive and lane-dependent.
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TireBuddy: Guided, visual inspections and reports on a smartphone; tiers add depth measurement and alerts; iOS/Android support.
A practical combo that works: Many shops keep their drive-over system for fast lane-based tread metrics, then use TireBuddy to capture sidewall/exterior context and a photo-rich report customers understand, especially when the car isn’t passing over the scanner.
Limited-time offer
Reduced pricing on TireBuddy is available through August 31, 2025. If you’re ready to standardize inspections and let AI boost your bottom line before the fall rush, lock in the discount this week, contact our solutions specialists or request a quick walkthrough to secure the reduced rate.