How Long Can Car Tires Be Used?

[AlexaDella]

Car tires can be used for 3 years or 60,000 kilometers. Car tires are one of the important components of a vehicle, directly contacting the road surface and working together with the suspension system to mitigate the impact during driving. They ensure good ride comfort and smooth driving, maintain excellent adhesion between the wheels and the road, improve traction, braking, and off-road capability, and bear the weight of the car. The maintenance methods for car tires include: 1. Monthly tire pressure checks; 2. Always pay attention to tire wear indicators; 3. Be mindful of the tire's expiration date; 4. Prioritize the timing of four-wheel rotation.

[GiaDella]

You know what, I've realized there's no universal standard for tire lifespan. When I replaced the tires on my SUV at 60,000 kilometers, the mechanic shook his head at the cracks on the tread. He said besides mileage, these three factors matter most: replace when tread depth drops to 1.6mm, sidewalls covered in cracks like mine could blow anytime, and tires over 5 years old harden like sun-baked clay even with little use. Once I met a ride-hailing driver who checks tires every 3 months - his 400km daily mileage wears tires three times faster than regular cars. Remember, never replace just one tire unless you enjoy steering wheel vibrations.

[LaBella]

As a seasoned veteran with ten years of car modification experience, I must remind everyone that after installing wider tires, their lifespan is directly reduced by 30%. Last week, while helping a fellow car enthusiast with an inspection, I discovered that the inner side of his 255-wide tires had worn into a beveled surface—a classic sign of misaligned four-wheel positioning. In reality, the three biggest killers of tire longevity are: insufficient tire pressure, which causes tires to wear out like kneaded dough; driving frequently on gravel roads, which wears tires 40% faster than asphalt; and prolonged exposure to sunlight, which accelerates rubber oxidation, aging the tires two years earlier than if stored in a garage. I’ve developed a habit of inserting a coin into the tire tread—when the Queen’s head is fully visible, it’s time to replace the tire. And for tires that have been patched more than three times, driving at high speeds is essentially playing Russian roulette.

[EdenDella]

Last time I went on a self-driving trip to the northwest, I truly witnessed how temperature affects tires. The ground temperature reached 60°C during the day—hot enough to fry an egg—and then plummeted to 10°C at night, causing the tire rubber to repeatedly expand and contract. An experienced off-roader in our group mentioned that under such conditions, tires last at most three seasons, which is two years less than those used in urban areas. A truck driver I met at a service area was even more amusing; he pointed at his tires and said, 'These twenty wheels of mine go through a monthly check-up like they're queuing for a physical.' Indeed, for every 10% increase in load, tire lifespan decreases by 15%. On the way back, I paid special attention to the tire's birthdate label—like '3521,' which means the 35th week of 2021. The rubber's freshness period is basically five years.