How Often Should You Change Your Tires? A Complete Guide

Tire safety is critical. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, nearly 11,000 tire-related motor vehicle crashes occur each year. Yet if you’re like most drivers, you probably only pay attention to your tires when they develop a problem – the ride is rougher than usual, perhaps, or you’re losing traction on slick roads.

Driving on tires that have exceeded their lifespan is a bad idea for multiple reasons. It not only reduces fuel efficiency – badly worn tires require more energy to rotate – but increases the chance of a blowout or skid that could cause a crash or leave you struggling to change the tire on a busy highway.Here’s a guide to tire replacement, from how often to do it to signs you may need to do it sooner than the age guidelines dictate.

Guidelines on how often to change your tires

How frequently should you change your tires? As a rule, it’s smart to do so every six years or 50,000 miles you drive, since J.D. Power reports that’s the typical tire lifetime. However, depending on your driving habits and location – and the specific tires – you may need to replace them sooner.

Factors that affect your tires’ lifespans include:

• Driving habits: The way and amount you drive affects your tires’ wear. If you cover more miles than most drivers, frequently slam the brakes, take sharp turns or accelerate quickly, you’ll likely have to replace your tires at shorter intervals.
• Weather: Areas with extreme conditions, including high heat and humidity or snow and ice, can cause the tires to deteriorate and wear out faster.
• Road conditions: If you drive on gravel roads, or live in an area with a lot of construction or potholes, tires will wear down more quickly.
• Tire type: In general, all-season tires last longer than performance tires.

4 signs you need new tires

Even if your tires are relatively young and you’ve covered less than 50,000 miles on them, you may need to consider replacement. The signs to look for include:

• Uneven wear: If one side of the tires are worn more than the other, it could indicate that there is a misalignment or that the tire is improperly inflated.
• Cracks or bulges: Cracks and bulges indicate structural damage, potentially due to weather or road conditions, which increase the risk of blowing out a tire.
• Frequent leaks: If you find that you frequently have to add air to your tires, there could be a hole or puncture. In some cases, a patch may be sufficient, but if the hole is large enough, you may need to buy a new tire.
• Vibrations or noises: Vibrations or noises can be caused by worn-out or misaligned tires.

The penny test can help you gauge whether or not you need new tires. With this easy approach, you take a penny and insert it into the tire tread with President Lincoln’s head facing down. If you can see the top of his head, the tread is too low, and you need to replace your tires.

You can also use this tire replacement guide to determine how your tires are wearing and when they need to be replaced.

How to extend the life of your tires

Tires can be expensive. Although the cost of a new tire varies significantly by size, type, and maker, most people spend about $150 to $200 per tire, plus up to about $100 for installation. Naturally, you want to prolong their lifespan as much as possible. To extend the life of your tires, follow these tips:

• Rotate your tires regularly: Tires wear differently depending on whether they’re in the front or back of the vehicle. Rotating your tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles ensures even wear.
• Check air pressure: Under-inflated tires can reduce your fuel efficiency and cause uneven wear – which in turn reduces how soon you have to replace the tires. Check your tires’ air pressure at least once a month, and before long trips, to ensure they’re at the right level.
• Get regular alignments: If you notice uneven wear or your car starts drifting to one side, you may need a wheel alignment. Misalignment can cause uneven wear, which shortens the life span of your tires. It’s a good idea, then, to have a mechanic check the alignment at least once a year or after a new tire is installed.

Tires may not be the most exciting feature of your car, but they play a critical role in your car’s performance and safety. Knowing when to change your tires and their typical lifespan can help you plan ahead and save.

Generally, you should expect to replace your tires every six years or 50,000 miles — whichever comes first — but you should check your tires for wear periodically to see if you need to replace them before you reach those benchmarks.