How long do tires last? Miles, years and age limits
Short answer: about 40,000 to 70,000 miles for most all season tires, roughly 3 to 6 years of average driving. Replace by age at 6 to 10 years depending on the maker, even with tread left.
Last updated: October 14, 2026
Jump to: Miles · Years and age limits · Estimator · What wears tires faster · Make tires last longer · Signs to replace now
Short answer: most all season car tires last about 40,000 to 70,000 miles, which at average US driving is roughly 3 to 6 years. Truck and SUV tires often run about 50,000 to 75,000 miles (Goodyear figures). Age sets an upper limit no matter how much tread is left: Goodyear recommends replacing tires in service 6 years or more, and Michelin and Continental say replace by 10 years from the manufacture date. Tread depth, damage and wear patterns can end a tire’s life sooner.
How many miles do tires last?
| Tire type | Typical miles | Typical years of driving |
|---|---|---|
| All season car tires | About 40,000 to 70,000 | About 3 to 6 |
| Truck and SUV tires | About 50,000 to 75,000 | About 4 to 6 |
| Temporary spare (donut) | Short term use only, at reduced speed | Age limits still apply |
Ranges from Goodyear’s tire life guide. They are typical figures, not a promise for any specific tire.
Goodyear cites a Federal Highway Administration average of 13,476 miles driven a year. At that pace, 40,000 miles takes about 3 years and 70,000 miles about 5.2 years. Drive half that and the same tread could last twice as long in calendar time, which is when the age limits below start to matter.
How many years do tires last? Age limits
Rubber compounds age with time, heat and sunlight even when the tread looks fine. Makers set different caps:
- Goodyear: replace any tire that has been in service 6 years or more, including the spare, even if it looks serviceable. If you do not know when it went into service, count 6 years from the DOT date code.
- Michelin: after five years of use, have tires inspected by a professional at least once a year, and replace them ten years after the date of manufacture regardless of tread.
- Continental: replace all tires over 10 years old, as shown on the date stamp.
- NHTSA: notes that some vehicle and tire manufacturers recommend replacement between six and 10 years.
Your vehicle’s owner’s manual may set its own interval. Find the age of any tire with our DOT date code decoder, and read the background in DOT date codes and tire age.
Quick tire life estimator
Rough math only. Enter how far you drive and a typical tread life for your tire type. It runs in your browser and stores nothing.
Estimate only. Real wear depends on the tire, the vehicle, roads, climate and maintenance. Tread depth and condition always override the math.
What wears tires out faster
- Low pressure: underinflation adds heat and wears the shoulders. Check cold PSI against the door placard, not the sidewall maximum. See cold tire pressure.
- Skipped rotations: front tires on most cars wear faster. See tire rotation patterns.
- Alignment and suspension problems: cause feathering, cupping or one edge wearing out early.
- Driving style and loads: hard launches, braking and cornering, towing and carrying near the load index limit.
- Heat, sun and roads: hot climates, rough or gravel roads, and long outdoor parking age and wear rubber faster.
- Tire type and season: tread life differs by model, so treat the maker’s treadwear warranty and the UTQG treadwear grade as rough guides only. For when to swap a winter set on and off, see our winter tires guide.
How to make tires last longer
- Check cold pressure monthly, spare included, and set it to the placard.
- Rotate on the schedule in your owner’s manual, or about every 5,000 to 8,000 miles per USTMA when the manual is silent.
- Have alignment checked after a hard pothole or curb hit, or when you see uneven wear or the car pulls.
- Store an off season set clean, cool and out of sunlight. See seasonal tire storage.
- Look across the full tread width each month. See how to check tread depth.
Signs you need tires now, whatever the age
- Tread worn level with the built in wear bars, which mark 2/32 inch.
- Bulges, blisters, cuts or cracks in the sidewall or tread.
- Persistent vibration, or noticeably worse wet grip.
- Repeated pressure loss, or a puncture outside the repairable tread area.
Our when to replace tires guide covers each signal. If you only need two, read can you mix tires / replace 2 or 4 first.
Informational only, not professional or safety advice. Your tire maker, vehicle manual and a licensed installer take priority over this page.
FAQ
How many miles do tires last?
Goodyear puts typical all season car tires at about 40,000 to 70,000 miles and truck and SUV tires at about 50,000 to 75,000 miles. Your result depends on the tire model, driving style, roads, climate, inflation, alignment and rotation.
How many years do tires last?
At average driving of about 13,500 miles a year, most tires wear out in roughly 3 to 6 years. If you drive little, age becomes the limit: Goodyear recommends replacing tires in service 6 years or more, and Michelin and Continental say replace at 10 years from the manufacture date regardless of tread.
Should I replace tires at 6 years or 10 years?
Makers differ. NHTSA notes that some vehicle and tire manufacturers recommend replacement between six and 10 years. Goodyear uses 6 years in service. Michelin recommends a yearly professional inspection after five years and replacement by ten years from manufacture. Follow your tire maker and vehicle manual, and replace sooner if tread, damage or cracking says so.
Do tires expire if they are not used?
Rubber ages even on the shelf. Continental says a properly stored, unused tire up to 5 years old can still be sold as new, and its 10 year replacement guidance counts from the date stamp. Read the DOT date code before buying or fitting any tire, including a spare.
What makes tires wear out faster?
Low inflation, poor alignment, skipping rotations, hard braking and cornering, heavy loads, hot climates and rough roads all shorten tread life. Checking cold pressure monthly against the door placard and rotating about every 5,000 to 8,000 miles (per USTMA when the manual is silent) help tires last longer.
Does a treadwear warranty tell me how long my tires will last?
It is a guide, not a promise of your result. Goodyear notes a warranty starts on the purchase date, not the manufacture date, and coverage usually requires proper maintenance such as rotation. The UTQG treadwear grade is a relative comparison within one brand, not a mileage figure.
Sources
Outbound links to public references. We paraphrase; visit the source for full wording and updates.
- Goodyear, How Long Do Tires Last? — typical all season car tires about 40,000 to 70,000 miles and 3 to 6 years, truck and SUV tires about 50,000 to 75,000 miles; cites FHWA average of 13,476 miles a year; Goodyear recommends replacing any tire in service 6 years or more, spare included, or 6 years from the DOT date if the in service date is unknown
- Michelin USA, When do I need new tires? — after five years of service, have tires inspected at least once a year by a professional; replace tires ten years after the date of manufacture regardless of tread or apparent condition
- Continental Tires, Tire age — recommends replacing all tires over 10 years old as shown on the date stamp; a properly stored unused tire up to 5 years old can be sold as new
- NHTSA, Tires (TireWise) — some vehicle and tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires that are six to 10 years old, regardless of treadwear; the last four digits of the TIN give the week and year
- USTMA, Care and Service of Passenger and Light Truck Tires — if no rotation period is specified, rotate every 5,000 to 8,000 miles or at any sign of uneven wear; directional, asymmetrical and different front and rear sizes have restrictions; never include a temporary spare