How long tires last — the 5 factors

How long tires last depends on five factors

An updated version of this post is now available. Click here to see it.  Tire manufacturers use different rubber compounds, tread designs and belt construction in each of their models. The models with the longest projected tread life contain more expensive raw materials that are designed to last longer and provide better traction. So it’s almost impossible to know how long tires last without knowing the exact make and model of the tire. But I can tell you the 5 factors that determine tread life.

1) The rubber compound

In years past, tires with higher treadwear ratings were made with harder rubber compounds to resist wear. Unfortunately, harder rubber provides less traction, especially on wet and icy roads. Modern rubber designs are different. They use a softer rubber that’s filled with silica additives and other synthetic materials that provide better traction and longer life. In addition, they use the most up-to-date tread designs to increase grip, without causing extra noise and wear. They generally cost more than ones made with a softer rubber compound.

2) Pressure, alignment, and shock/strut condition

Driving with an over or under-inflated condition causes accelerated wear and greatly reduces how long tires last. Mis-alignment issues like excessive camber and toe cause uneven wear, forcing you to replace yours long before the remainder of the tread is low. Worn shocks and struts also cause accelerated wear

3) Drivetrain design is a factor

The front tires on a front-wheel-drive (FWD) car generally wear faster than the rears. That’s because they not only move the vehicle but also carry the weight of the engine and transmission in addition to performing all the steering and braking. If you own a FWD vehicle, you should rotate your tires according to the car maker’s recommendations to even out the wear on all four.

The tires on rear-wheel-drive (RWD), four-wheel-drive (4WD) and all-wheel-drive (AWD) tend to wear slightly less than the fronts on a FWD drivetrains.

4) Road conditions and terrain are a factor

Paved roads are much easier on your tires than gravel and dirt roads. Gravel tends to damage the tread blocks on your tires, causing imbalance and accelerated wear. Also, driving in hilly or mountainous areas causes accelerated wear due to the much higher traction loads on the tread while climbing and descending steep roads.

5) Your driving habits are a factor

Jackrabbit starts and heavy braking reduce tire life

How to get more miles from your tires

1)  Keep them inflated to the pressure listed on the placard located on the driver’s door or pillar. See this post for more information on tire over/under inflation. See this post for more information on why the correct pressure is critical to get more miles out of them.

2) Rotate them every 5,000 miles to even out the tire wear. For more information on why rotation is so important, see this post

3) Have your tires rebalanced and check for shock/strut wear if you notice vibration or steering wheel shake at highway speeds

See this post to learn when it’s time to buy new tires

See this post on the best places to buy new tires

©, 2020 Rick Muscoplat