How Long Do Car Tires Last?

Many factors can enter into the equation of how long car tires last. Such things as weather, how often you rotate them, inflation pressure, the tires you purchase, whether you make sudden stops and overloading the vehicle can all lessen the time your tires last. Because of these variables, it is often hard to pinpoint exactly how long tires will last.

• A good set of tires have the ability to last for 80,000 miles. These tires are filled to the correct pressure, inspected regularly for problems, have not carried more than the recommended load in the vehicle and have not had wide, sudden temperature changes. They have also not sat unused for extended periods of time, which is another thing that can ruin your tires.


• There are some things that you can do to make your tires last longer. One is to invest in a tire pressure gauge. They are inexpensive and easy to use. Having your tires inflated properly can not only help your tires to last longer, it can also give you better gas mileage. You should check tire pressure when the tires are cold. A good time to check is after the car has been sitting without being driven for a few hours.


• Another tire maintenance tip to give your tires a longer life is to rotate the tires. It is recommended that tires be rotated every 8,000 miles. Rotating your tires makes the tread wear more evenly. As long as you have a jack and a jack stand and can use them, rotating tires is something that you can do yourself at home.


• To determine when it is time to replace your tires, you can perform an easy test with a penny. Insert an upside down penny into the tire tread. If you can see the top of Abraham Lincoln's head, your tire does not have enough tread and should be replaced. If you see any cracks or bubbles in your tires, you should have them checked, even if there is still adequate tread on the tire. When buying new tires, you should buy at least two at a time, either two or four, since you should not replace just one front or one back tire. It can be dangerous and cause loss of control.