The Life Expectancy of Automotive Tires
Your car's tires are an extremely important aspect of its safety and performance. Even if tires appear to be in good shape, there are other factors that affect their life expectancy.
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Calender Age vs. Mileage
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Two of the main factors in determining the lifespan of your tires is the age of the tires and the amount of miles that they have. Depending on the type of tire, some can last as many as 80,000 miles while some last less then 10,000. The tire's age is another factor. Most manufacturers don't recommend using tires older than 10 years. Tires should probably be replaced if they are older than even five or six years to be safe.
Tire compound
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Another major factor in tire longevity is the compound rating of the tire. High-performance tires have softer compounds for better handling but don't last as long. Tires come with a UTQG rating on the sidewall. The higher the number the longer the tire lasts, so a 400-rated tire lasts longer than one with a 200-rating.
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Driving Conditions
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Generally speaking, cars driven aggressively will go through tires more quickly than a conservatively driven car.
Tire Pressures
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Tire pressures should be checked regularly. The rubber in tires without enough air heats up and breaks down faster.
Tire Rotation and Alignment
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Tire rotation and alignment also affect their lifespan. On a rear-wheel-drive car, the rear tires wear more quickly. The front tires on a front-wheel-drive car wear quicker than the rear tires and should be rotated regularly. Proper suspension alignment is also key to a long tire life.
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