How Many Years Can Car Tires Last?
3 Answers
Car tires can typically last for about 3 years. Their functions include: 1. Ensuring good ride comfort and driving smoothness; 2. Maintaining excellent adhesion between the wheels and the road surface, enhancing the vehicle's traction, braking, and passability; 3. Transmitting driving force, braking force, and steering force through the tires to achieve vehicle control; 4. Supporting the vehicle load; 5. Reducing and absorbing vibrations and impacts during driving. Tire maintenance methods: 1. Regularly check tire pressure; 2. Remove debris from tire treads; 3. Inspect tire wear and replace them promptly based on wear conditions; 4. Perform tire rotation—when the vehicle pulls to one side or exhibits abnormal steering, rotate the tires promptly to avoid excessive wear.
The lifespan of tires depends on multiple factors. Rubber aging is the fundamental issue - even if unused, tiny cracks will appear on tire sidewalls after 5 years. My colleague learned this the hard way when his seemingly good-condition tires with decent tread blew out on the highway. For regular city driving, about 5 years is typical, but for frequent mountain roads or construction sites, inspect and replace every 3 years. Immediately replace if sidewalls bulge from curb impacts or tread depth falls below 1.6mm. Pro tip: Check the 4-digit code on tire sidewalls (e.g. '2523' means 25th week of 2023). Avoid new tires with over 3 years of shelf storage.
Tire lifespan should be evaluated from two aspects: time and mileage. Under normal driving conditions, 5 to 6 years is the maximum, but vehicles frequently used for long-distance travel may wear out their tires in less than 5 years. After my self-drive trip along the Qinghai-Tibet route, I noticed the tread in the middle of the tires was worn unusually flat, and later learned it was due to overinflation. It's advisable to check tire pressure and look for cracks monthly, especially for cars parked outdoors under the scorching summer sun. Additionally, front tires wear out much faster than rear ones; rotating them every 10,000 kilometers can extend their lifespan. Tires that have been patched three times or more are not recommended for highway use. Remember to perform wheel balancing when installing new tires, otherwise, you may experience steering wheel vibration.
