If you’re trying to determine whether or not summer tires are for you or considering replacing your current summer tires, knowing how long these specialty tires last is essential for your budget.
Summer tires are not known for lasting very long, though they are still useful in certain situations. In this article, we’ll take a look at exactly how long these tires last. Keep reading to find out!
How Long Do Summer Tires Last?
Summer tires last between 20,000 to 40,000 miles (32,186 – 74,080 KM), depending on your driving habits and summer weather conditions. If you commute the national average of 13,500 miles a year, these tires will last about 3 to 6 seasons. Top-rated summer tires usually last around 35,000 to 40,000 miles.
Continue reading below to learn about the factors that affect summer tires’ longevity, when to replace them, and whether budget summer tires are worth it!
How Many Years Can Summer Tires Last?
Summer tires last about 1.5 – 3 years if you use them constantly. One thing to note is that this number assumes you’re driving around 13,500 miles per year, which is the average for drivers in America.
Of course, people generally don’t use their summer tires all year around. So, if you only use them six months out of the year, you can expect them to last about 3 to 6 seasons.
Furthermore, how you drive also matters. For example, faster driving can have a negative effect on your tire’s lifespan, such as excessive acceleration and braking, which increases tire wear significantly.
Additionally, even if you aren’t trying to drive sporty, regularly getting stuck in stop-and-go traffic can have the same effect.
To combat this, keeping the tires’ pressure at an optimal level is essential to make the most out of their longevity. You can locate this optimal level by checking the tires itself or your vehicle’s user manual. Usually, it’s between 32 to 35 PSI for passenger vehicles.
Otherwise, they’ll wear down very quickly – and possibly be a safety hazard.
Do Summer Tires Wear Out Faster?
Summer tires do wear out faster compared to other types of tires.
For instance, the average, all-season tire can last about 60,000 miles. Conversely, winter tires last for up to six seasons of winter driving.
As you can see, summer and winter tires generally last a similar period. However, all-season tires do provide the most driving time.
With that said, just because you purchase a set of winter tires for snowy conditions does not mean you have to purchase a set of summer tires as well. Often, you’ll get more use out of all-season tires.
However, summer tires do get more grip in dry conditions. They have less thread than both winter and all-season tires, making them very suited to hot, dry summers.
Furthermore, summer tires are also a bit sticky when compared to other sorts of tires. This feature helps with the performance aspect of the tire, but it can cause them to wear down faster.
In the end, summer tires are mostly about performance – not longevity. If you’re primarily concerned with getting tires that last long, then summer tires probably aren’t the best option for you.
When Should I Take Off My Summer Tires?
Summer tires should be placed on vehicles whenever it reaches over 7°C reliably (44.6°F). Often, this is well past the beginning of spring. However, it does depend on your location.
Generally, people usually switch on their summer tires in late March or early April. However, where you live matters. If you live closer to the equator, you’ll likely put them on sooner.
For those in colder environments, you may need to wait until it gets later into the year. Similarly, you may also find that your summer tires last through more seasons, simply because you use them fewer months out of the year.
Most of the time, you should replace your summer tires at least every six seasons, though they will probably need it more than that.
Plus, summer tires have very low tread anyway, so it is essential to keep an eye on it. For instance, overusing your summer tires can make driving in wet or rainy conditions dangerous.
On top of this, keep an eye on the manufacturing date on the tire wall. All tires have a maximum lifespan put on them by their manufacturer that you should adhere to.
Do Summer Tires Last Longer Than a Season?
Yes, Summer tires typically last longer than a season. Specifically, most will get you around for at least three seasons, though it does depend on how you drive.
Specifically, the average summer tires will last for anywhere from three to six seasons – or approximately 20,000 to 40,000 miles.
Of course, this does assume that you replace your summer tires with all-season or winter tires at a reasonable time. Driving summer tires into the winter can be dangerous and result in over wear.
Obviously, if you continue to drive them, they likely won’t be suitable for the next summer.
Are 7-year-old Summer Tires Still Good?
No, we do not recommend using summer tires that are over six years old. Generally, most summer tires are not made to last more than six seasons, which would make seven-year-old tires unusable.
Even if a 7-year-old summer tire otherwise looks fine, the older the tire is, the more likely it is to suddenly separate or explode. It doesn’t matter what the tread depth is or how much driving you’ve done on the tire.
Plus, you should carefully follow manufacturer guidelines – which should not encourage you to use a tire that is this old.
How Many Miles Should a Budget Summer Tire Last?
Budget summer tires don’t always make it to the average range of 20,000 to 40,000 miles we’ve mentioned throughout this article.
This is because there is a significant difference between the materials and quality of construction between budget and expensive tires.
Oftentimes, you get what you pay for. As you would imagine, most people don’t need the most expensive summer tires on the market, but you probably don’t want to purchase the cheapest options either.
As you’d expect, budget summer tires will often wear down faster than more expensive options. For instance, they may only last one or two seasons. As you’d expect, you’ll likely need to replace them sooner, which will lead to you spending even more money on the tires.
Because of this, you may actually save more money by spending extra on premium summer tires – though you will be spending them more upfront.
Do Summer Tires Last Longer Than All-Season?
No, not usually. The average all-season tire will last about 60,000 miles. On the other hand, summer tires only last from 20,000 to 40,000 miles – even if you use them in the summer.
Generally, all-season tires are going to have more longevity than summer tires.
The main purpose of summer tires comes in with their performance – not longevity.
For instance, they have better grip than all-season tires, allowing them to steer, brake, and corner better. But you are sacrificing a significant amount of longevity for better performance.
With that said, just because they don’t last as long doesn’t mean you should avoid summer tires. In the end, it mostly depends on what you’re looking for in a tire.
If you are looking to learn more about how long tires will last, you can also see our posts on how long do winter tires last, blown-out tires, and how long do spare tires last.
Conclusion
You can expect summer tires to last between 20,000 to 40,000 miles. Typically, this works out to approximately four to six seasons.
With that said, there are many factors that affect a summer tire’s longevity – including how you drive, the weather conditions, and tire care all affect how long summer tires will last.
Because of this average lifespan, you should never drive summer tires for more than six years. At this point, they can be prone to sudden eruption, making them dangerous and unstable.