How Many Miles Do Car Tires Last?

The amount of miles that a tire will last depends on many factors, including the type of tire, driving conditions and maintenance. Your tires should be inspected regularly and replaced if necessary.

Tire Type

Tire type is one of the main factors that determines tire life. Most vehicles are equipped with all-season and touring tires, last as many as 70,000 or 80,000 miles. These are made of harder rubber that does not heat and break down as quickly as performance tires, which are made from softer rubber that offers more grip but wear more quickly. Performance tires may last fewer than 20,000 miles.

Driving Conditions

Road conditions have a major impact on tire life. Rough roads, road salt and other factors can shorten how many miles a tire will last.

Driving Style

Aggressive driving wears down tires faster than more conservative driving. Aggressive driving includes fast acceleration, cornering near the tires limits of adhesion and frequent use of the brakes.

Tire Pressure

Proper maintenance also affects tire life. An underinflated tire heats up more quickly, and the tire's rubber compounds break down faster, resulting in more wear. Overinflated tires can wear more in the middle and negatively impact your vehicle's handling. Tire pressure should be consistently checked.

When to Replace Tires

Tires should be inspected regularly for wear. Wear marks are small rubber height indicators located between the treads. When the tire's tread is even with the wear marks or past, the tires should be replaced.

References

• The Tire Rack
• Coneslayer: Tire Life Study