Life Expectancy of Automotive Tires
Since the introduction of radials more than thirty years ago, the life expectancy of automotive tires has significantly increased from 20,000 to as many as 60,000 miles. Achieving maximum tire mileage depends upon several varying factors, some of which are beyond individual control. However, attention to the factors that are within your control can significantly improve the likelihood of long tire life.
Certain tire longevity factors that tend to decrease life expectancy are often beyond our control to influence. These include:
- Climate conditions- Living in areas subject to excessive heat or cold.
- Surface conditions- The roads upon which we must travel on a regular basis may be irregular, bumpy and frequented with potholes.
- Defects in manufacturing.
There are several other longevity factors, on the other hand, that are largely within our control, allowing us to play an active role in increasing the life expectancy of our tires. These include:
- Exercising responsible driving habits- Rapid starts and stops resulting in smoking rubber and skidding cause heavy and unnecessary wear to the tires.
- Checking tire pressure on a routine basis to insure they are inflated according to the manufacturer' specifications- This can be accomplished with a widely available and low-cost pressure gauge. Once every two or three weeks should be sufficient.
- Rotating the tires every six or seven thousand miles, helps to promote even wear among the treads.
- Regular driving of the vehicle- Tires under pressure for extended periods of time without movement are subject to premature wear. If a vehicle is to be stored, it should be set up on blocks.
- Regular maintenance of the other parts of the vehicle- When a vehicle is out of alignment, for example, it can cause uneven tire wear resulting in a shorter life span. The same is true for worn out shock absorbers.