How Long Do Tires Last?

Updated September 29, 2026

Goodyear lists 40,000 to 70,000 miles and 3 to 6 years for all-season car tires, and Bridgestone puts a good all-season tire at three to five years for a driver covering 12,000 to 15,000 miles a year. Age limits differ by maker: Goodyear says 6 years, while Michelin and Continental say 10 years from manufacture, and Bridgestone says 10 years.

No maker promises a set number of years for your tires. The sections below put the makers’ own numbers side by side so you can see where they agree and where they differ.

How long do tires last in miles and years?

Goodyear’s guide gives 40,000 to 70,000 miles and 3 to 6 years for all-season car tires, and 50,000 to 75,000 miles and 4 to 6 years for truck and SUV tires. Those are averages from one maker’s page, and the same page notes that off-road use may reduce life on truck and SUV tires.

Bridgestone frames the same question by driving distance: on average, people drive 12,000 to 15,000 miles a year, so an average good-quality all-season tire lasts between three and five years, depending on maintenance, driving style and conditions. Goodyear cites the Federal Highway Administration figure of 13,476 miles a year for the average American.

Michelin and Continental both decline to name a single number. Michelin writes that "There is no single rule that determines how long a tire will last." Continental says there is "no way to tell exactly how long a tire will last." Both point to driving habits, tire design, climate, road conditions and maintenance.

What do tire makers say about replacing tires by age?

Goodyear says replace at 6 years; Michelin and Continental say 10 years from manufacture; Bridgestone says 10 years. Michelin adds an inspection step at year five.

Goodyear’s page says it recommends that any tire in service "6 years or more be replaced even if such tire appears serviceable." Michelin’s says "As a precaution, Michelin recommends replacing tires ten years after their date of manufacture, regardless of remaining tread depth or apparent condition." Bridgestone writes that it "recommends that its Bridgestone or Firestone brand tires be removed from service after ten years regardless of their remaining tread depth."

Continental adds a caveat worth reading: it says it is "unaware of any technical data that supports a specific tire age for removal from service," and it also says vehicle manufacturers may recommend a different age, in which case Continental recommends following that instruction. Goodyear states that "no widely accepted scientific research exists to show that chronological aging alone adversely affects a tire," and reasons that the longer a tire is in service, the more chances it has to meet adverse conditions.

For most drivers, mileage settles the question first. The U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (USTMA) says most people drive enough miles that tires need replacing before age becomes an issue. It names two cases where age matters more than mileage: full-sized spare tires and ultra-low-mileage vehicles such as classic cars, sports cars and other seasonal vehicles.

How long should tires last by tire type?

The maker pages checked here list treadwear warranties from 30,000 miles on summer performance tires to 85,000 miles on a long-life all-season tire. A warranty is a maker’s coverage promise for one tire line, not a forecast for your car. Warranty mileage on Michelin pages depends on speed rating and size.

Three details change how a warranty reads. Goodyear says its select replacement tires carry treadwear warranties that run "for up to six (6) years, or the mileage indicated", whichever occurs first, and that the warranty begins on the purchase date, not the manufacture date. Michelin’s warranty exceptions say tires on split fitments (different sizes front and rear) cannot be rotated as recommended and carry reduced coverage on the rear, and that "The maximum mileage warranty for ZP tires is 30,000 miles." Michelin’s Defender2 page also states that the 80,000 miles applies to "most sizes."

At the 13,476 miles a year Goodyear cites, a 60,000-mile warranty spans roughly four and a half years of driving, so a 60,000-mile tire and a 6-year age rule are within two years of each other. At 13,476 miles a year, a 30,000-mile warranty spans about two years of driving, well inside any age limit.

Pick by how you drive. A commuter on all-season touring tires can look at the 40,000 to 70,000-mile band Goodyear gives and check the warranty on the exact line being bought. A driver who wants a summer performance tire should look at the 30,000-mile warranties Michelin lists for the Pilot Sport 4 S and Continental for the ExtremeContact Sport02, and compare tread often. A weekend or seasonal vehicle should follow the age rules above, because USTMA says tread wear will not tell you when those tires need replacing.

How do you check tread depth?

Put a penny upside down in the tread; if you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, replace the tire. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) says tires "are not safe and should be replaced when the tread is worn down to 2/32 of an inch."

1. Find the tread wear indicators. NHTSA describes them as raised sections between the tread; when the tread is level with an indicator, it is time to replace the tire.
2. Place a penny in a tread groove with Lincoln’s head upside down and facing you. NHTSA’s wording: "If you can see the top of Lincoln’s head, replace your tires."
3. Repeat in several grooves across the tire, since wear can be uneven. Bridgestone describes the same test and says seeing all of Lincoln’s head means tread under 2/32 inch.
4. Try a quarter for a wet-weather margin. Bridgestone says that if the tread reaches Washington’s head, you have at least 4/32 inch, which it calls recommended for safe driving in wet weather.
5. For snow, Bridgestone says you will want at least 5/32 inch of tread for winter traction.
6. Check monthly. NHTSA advises checking tread at least once a month, at the same time as tire pressure.

Michelin points out that tread depth is not the only trigger: cuts, cracks, bulges or blisters on the sidewall, and vibrations or a change in ride feel, can each mean a tire needs a professional look even when the tread looks fine. Michelin also says sidewall damage cannot be repaired.

How do you find a tire’s age from the DOT code?

Read the last four digits of the DOT number on the sidewall: the first two are the week, the last two the year. USTMA says the number begins with the letters "DOT" and that this format applies to tires made in 2000 or later.

Michelin gives an example: a DOT code ending in 3520 means the tire was made in the 35th week of 2020. Bridgestone’s page offers a matching one: "3618" is the 36th week of 2018.

Checking the code before you buy matters for one reason: the makers’ age clocks above start at manufacture (Michelin, Continental) or at the in-service date (Goodyear). For Michelin and Continental, a tire that sat unsold for a few years has already used part of its ten years on the shelf. Goodyear says never to buy or install used tires of any age, because the service, maintenance and storage history of a used tire is largely unknown.

What shortens tire life?

Under-inflation, missed rotations, poor alignment, hard driving and heat are the causes the sources name. Bridgestone says that without proper maintenance, tire life can be reduced by as much as half, and that routinely hard braking or fast starts can cut it by half as well. USTMA says "Probably the single most important factor is how the tire is maintained once it’s installed on a vehicle."

• Air pressure. NHTSA says proper pressure affects safety, durability and fuel consumption, and calls it the most important part of maintaining tires. It advises checking all tires, spare included, at least once a month when cold, meaning the car has not been driven for at least three hours. NHTSA also says a tire pressure monitoring system warns only when a tire is significantly underinflated, so the monthly check still applies. NHTSA states that properly inflated tires can extend the average life of a tire by 4,700 miles. If a warning light stays on, our guide to what a TPMS sensor replacement costs covers that repair.
• Rotation. NHTSA says rotation helps reduce irregular wear and, if the vehicle manufacturer recommends it, suggests rotating every 5,000 to 8,000 miles or sooner if uneven wear appears. The owner’s manual has the interval and pattern for your vehicle. For a look at the price of the service, see what a tire rotation costs.
• Alignment. Bridgestone says curbs and potholes can knock wheels out of alignment and damage suspension, leading to faster tire wear, and that pronounced inner or outer shoulder wear is a sign of misalignment. Our article on what a wheel alignment costs explains the service.
• Driving style. Bridgestone lists hard cornering, quick starts and sudden stops as causes of faster wear.
• Heat. NHTSA says sustained high temperature, for example driving long distances in hot weather, can cause a tire to deteriorate, leading to blowouts and tread separation. Continental adds that extreme temperature, direct sunlight and chemicals such as oil and grease can damage tires without obvious signs.

Bridgestone also reads wear patterns: edge-of-shoulder wear points to under-inflation or a missed rotation, center wear to over-inflation or very hard acceleration, and cupped wear to suspension problems.

When should you replace tires? A verdict by tire type

Replace on whichever comes first: tread at 2/32 inch, visible damage, or the age limit that applies to your tires.

• Everyday all-season tires on a car or SUV: expect mileage to decide, roughly the 40,000 to 70,000 miles Goodyear lists for cars and the 50,000 to 75,000 for trucks and SUVs, and start yearly professional inspections at year five (Michelin’s rule). Replace by year six if your maker follows Goodyear’s rule, or by year ten under Michelin, Continental and Bridgestone. If your vehicle maker gives a different age, Continental says to follow that instruction.
• Summer performance tires: the maker pages list warranties of 30,000 miles on the two summer lines above. That is coverage, not a forecast, so check tread often.
• Spare tires: treat them like any other tire on age. Goodyear, Michelin and Continental each include the spare in their rules.
• Seasonal or low-mileage vehicles: age matters more than mileage, because USTMA says tread wear will not tell you when those tires need replacing. Use your tire maker’s guideline and your owner’s manual.
• Replacing fewer than four: USTMA recommends replacing all four at the same time. If that is not possible, it says to fit two new tires on the rear axle, and to pair a single replacement with the tire that has the deepest tread and put both on the rear.

Common questions

Does the warranty clock start when the tire was made? No. Goodyear says a tire’s warranty begins on the purchase date, not the manufacture date.

Do unused spares wear out? They age. Michelin says a compact spare that has never been driven still ages from the date in its DOT code, and its ten-year guideline applies to spares.

Can a tire pass the penny test and still need replacing? Yes. Michelin lists sidewall damage, persistent vibration and reduced wet-weather grip as reasons to replace a tire that still has legal tread.

Do I still need a monthly pressure check with a TPMS? Yes. NHTSA says the system warns only when a tire is significantly underinflated.

How often should tires be inspected at home? Continental says tires, spares included, should be inspected routinely, at least once per month. USTMA says the same monthly check should cover inflation pressure, tread wear and tire damage.

Are tire makers’ age limits a minimum life? No. USTMA notes that a tire or vehicle maker’s recommendation is not a guarantee or indication of the minimum serviceable life of a tire.

Bottom line: Plan on 40,000 to 70,000 miles for all-season car tires, replace at 2/32 inch of tread or sooner if damaged, and check the age limit: Goodyear says 6 years in service, Michelin and Continental say 10 years from the DOT date, Bridgestone says 10 years.

Need a tire check in Rowlett?

If you are near Rowlett and want tires looked at, Accelerate Auto Repair and Collision has a tire service page with what the shop offers. You can call (469) 501-5115 or stop by 3002 Century Dr, Rowlett, TX 75088.