The answer to this question isn’t as simple as it might seem. There isn’t an exact number of years or miles that a particular tire will last, but there are things you can do as a driver to get the most out of your tires.
People will typically drive anywhere between 12,000 to 15,000 miles a year. With that in mind, the average high-quality all-season tire could last somewhere between three and five years, depending on maintenance, driving style, conditions, etc.
NOTE: Safer is smarter when it comes to the health of your tires, so if there is ever a question on tread wear or age, have the tires checked.
What you may already know (Worn Tires): Tires naturally wear when they are driven. The more worn your tires are, the less traction they will have compared to those with adequate tread, especially in bad weather conditions. Worn-out tires (with a remaining tread depth at or below 2/32”) should be removed from service.
What you might not know (Aged Tires): Minimally used tires, like the ones on recreational vehicles, collectible cars, or even spare tires, tend to experience aging instead of wearing, due to a lack of driving. An aged tire might have a substantial amount of tread, however, the structural integrity of the tire is weaker because the tire needs to be driven for the chemicals in the rubber to remain effective.
Hitting curbs or driving on roads in poor condition can cause misalignment and suspension damage that affects tire wear. If your daily drive includes any of these challenges:
- Potholes - Broken pavement - Poorly graded railroad crossings - Unpaved roads - Shoulder drop-off - Water pooling - Etc.
… be sure to schedule annual suspension, alignment, and tire checks.
Schedule your service with Wonderland Tire.
Driving in poor weather conditions (like ice, snow, and rain) can cause tires to wear faster because they have to work harder to maintain traction. Purchasing tires that are specifically engineered to perform in adverse weather conditions can provide drivers with an extra measure of traction and control while driving.
Learn more about the best winter tires for your vehicle.
Poor driving habits like hard cornering, quick acceleration, and sudden braking can increase the stress on tires tremendously, causing them to wear quickly.
You can extend the life of your tires significantly by avoiding these harsh habits.
It’s important to regularly check your tires for damage, maintain air pressure levels, and keep tires aligned and rotated. Without proper maintenance, tire life can be reduced by as much as half - even more, in some cases.
For maintenance tips and tricks, click here. To schedule service with Wonderland Tire, click here.
Tread loss is a tried and true sign that a tire needs to be replaced. However, depending on the part of the tire that is wearing, there may be other problems with the vehicle you may want to look into.
- Pronounced inner or outer shoulder wear: tires are misaligned - Edge of the shoulder wear: tires are under-inflated, need to be rotated, or both. - Center wear: tires may be overinflated or have been subjected to extremely hard acceleration. - Cupped wear: the vehicle is experiencing suspension problems
Learn more about uneven tire wear.
All tires have tread wear indicators built-in, but if the tread looks low take time to do the penny test:
If a penny — or a quarter to be even safer — is placed head down in the tread rows and you can still see the president’s head fully, the tire is too worn.
If you’re experiencing a sudden vibration or high levels of tire noise it may be a sign your tires are out of balance, not wearing properly, or have a structural issue. This could affect your safety, so we recommend having your tires checked by a qualified professional as soon as possible.
Learn more about road noise.
The U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) number on the tire’s sidewall is another way to help keep track of when your tires need to be replaced. The Tire Date Code is included in the series of numbers. This code can be used to determine the manufacture date of your tires and register new tires with the manufacturer.
The Tire Date Code is easy to identify. Just look for the letters “DOT” followed by eleven, twelve, or thirteen (for newer tires) letters and numbers. On tires made after the year 2000, the final four digits signify the week and year of manufacture. So, a tire with “2419” at the end would have been made in the 24th week of 2019.
NOTE: If your tire has a 3-digit week-and-year code, that means the tire was made before the year 2000 and should be replaced due to age.
Extending the tread life on your tires comes down to two important things: good maintenance and driving habits that help keep you safe on the road.
1. Make sure you keep your tires properly inflated. Regularly check the air pressure and inflate them as needed. 2. Regularly rotate your tires to avoid excessive wear on your tires. Rotating your tires every 5,000 miles is a good rule of thumb. 3. Balance your tires when you notice an odd shake or bounce when driving. Keeping your tires balanced will eliminate abnormal wear patterns. 4. Check your tire alignment. The smallest misalignment can reduce fuel efficiency, and increase tread wear. Take your car in for a check every six months, or whenever you think something is wrong. 5. Build good driving habits:
- Start and stop gradually to avoid excessive tire wear. - Avoid turning the steering wheel when the vehicle is not in motion. That tends to grind down the tire surface prematurely. - Take turns at slower speeds. - Watch your speed. Speeding can cause more heat to build up in the rubber, breaking down the tire more quickly.
6. Schedule regular tire inspections and maintenance at your nearest Wonderland Tire.
It may be tentative, but tires do have an expiration date. There is a general consensus that most tires should be inspected, if not replaced, at about five years or earlier, depending on maintenance, driving style, conditions, etc.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) and official manufacturers suggest a tire is only 100% safe to use until it turns 5-6 years old.
For the most part, new tires are expected to last at least three to five years. Of course, all tires are made differently. However, it is a good idea to remind yourself to do regular checks for any issues stated above if you are beyond that five-year mark.
In most cases, new tires from the original equipment manufacturer or high-quality replacement tires can be expected to last around 50,000 miles. While this is a good answer to the question, you’ll want to keep your eye out for signs your tires need to be replaced beyond a mileage interval.
On average, people drive between 12,000 to 15,000 miles a year, which means the average good quality all-season tire will last somewhere between three and five years.
On All-Wheel Drive and Four-Wheel Drive
It’s very important to get all of the tires on your AWD or 4WD vehicle replaced at the same time to ensure you’re not over-wearing or under-wearing some tires in comparison to others. When you replace all of the tires on your vehicle at the same time with tires of the appropriate type and size, all of your tires will rotate precisely at the same speed. In contrast, if your tires are In contrast, mismatched, some will spin faster than others and incorrectly distribute less engine power when driving.
Learn more about replacing AWD and 4WD tires.
On Two-Wheel Drive
It’s ideal to replace in at least pairs (tires on the same axle). While 2WD vehicles won’t necessarily be damaged by differing tread depths, you’ll still get much more even tread wear and more predictable handling and traction if each axle has matching tires. Of course, the ideal situation would be to replace all tires together, but if that’s not possible, consider replacing them in pairs.
Driving at slower speeds does affect the tire tread wear, ultimately helping your tread last just a bit longer. Higher driving speeds cause more heat to build up in the rubber, breaking down the tire more quickly than at slower speeds. Similarly, taking turns at slower speeds and avoiding skidding on turns also helps the tire last longer.
Not driving your car can still take a toll on your tires. While an aged, unused tire might have a substantial amount of tread, the structural integrity of the tire could be weaker because the tire needs to be driven for the chemicals in the rubber to remain effective.
Unused tires last anywhere between 6-10 years, depending on the storage and environmental conditions. Overall, the time limits for stored tires are much the same as for tires that are being used.
Your tires contribute to your vehicle’s performance. Tire maintenance can protect your investment by extending the life of your tires. Checking tire pressure, rotating your tires, balancing your tires, and choosing the right set of replacement tires based on safety will all contribute to consistent performance.
At Wonderland Tire, we want our customers to remain on top when it comes to tire performance. Let us help you adhere to the maintenance schedules outlined in your owner’s manual.
Find us at one of our many Michigan locations or in Calumet City, IL, Rensselaer, IN, and Newport, KY.
Find your nearest Wonderland tire to set up an appointment today!
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