How Long Do Truck Tires Last?

Factors Impacting a Tire's Lifespan

On average, truck tires last 25,000 to 60,000 miles with regular use. Several factors affect this lifespan, including tire type, vehicle weight, driving conditions, and physical damage. 

Let's dive deeper into the most notable factors affecting how long a set of tires will last on your pickup.

Tire Type

One of the most important factors impacting a tire's lifespan is the tire style, as specific styles employ technology aimed at long lifespans, while others prioritize other factors, like cold-weather traction and off-road bite. 

As a rule of thumb, highway tires grant drivers the longest lifespan (approximately 60,000 miles), featuring durable compounds and numerous sipes for improved flexibility and even wear. All-terrain tires employ many of the same features for similar lifespans, though not quite as long (approximately 30,000–50,000 miles)

The lifespan drops further as we move into more aggressive tire styles, like hybrid-terrain and mud-terrain. These tires employ larger tread blocks, wider tread voids, softer compounds, and less siping. While these characteristics may grant these tires superior off-road traction, they also reduce on-road life expectancy (approximately 20,000–40,000 miles).

Tire Age

Mileage isn't the only quantifier of a tire's lifespan—you'll also need to consider the tire's age. Most tire manufacturers recommend that tires be replaced every six years. However, this number may jump to approximately ten under ideal conditions, such as garage-kept vehicles in climate-controlled environments.

Driving Style

Next, let's cover how an individual's driving style impacts treadwear. In most cases, everyday street driving grants a tire its longest lifespan. Less abuse means less heat, torn-up tread, and longer service life. Alternatively, road racing, drifting, and heavy off-roading can dramatically reduce a tire's treadwear. If longevity is a concern, don't drive like Mario Andretti on the street or Robby Gordon in the dirt.

Physical Abuse

Aside from aggressive driving styles, physical abuse is the most sure-fire way to cut a tire's lifespan short. Physical abuse can cause irreparable damage to tire sidewalls, tread, and beads, whether resulting from striking a rock while bounding over a formidable obstacle on the trail, catching a pothole on the street, or towing/hauling outside the tire's specified limits.

Vehicle Type and Weight

Lastly, a vehicle's type and weight class directly impact a tire's lifespan. Generally, lighter vehicles experience less tire wear than heavier counterparts due to the sheer weight supported by the tire—for this reason, tire load ratings exist. Still, expect to see more extensive tire wear on a heavy-duty, hard-working RAM 3500 than a mid-size, daily-driven Toyota Tacoma.

Tips to Prolong Tire Wear

If you're looking to get the most out of your truck's tires, follow these tips and tricks for RealTruck staff. 

Get the Right Tires for the Job

While everyone loves the look of a meaty, oversized mud-terrain tire, there may be better choices for your daily-driven truck. When selecting a tire for your ride, be sure to choose the right tires for the job, accounting for your driving style. 

For instance, a vehicle driven exclusively on the street and commuted with will likely benefit from a highway tire's pleasant road manners and long lifespan. However, a truck driven predominantly off-road requires the traction of the more aggressive tread patterns found on all-terrain, hybrid-terrain, and mud-terrain tires. Doing so will ensure solid performance and suitable treadwear.

Rotation and Inflation

Believe it or not, tires are a maintenance item, requiring a certain level of servicing to ensure maximum performance and longevity. In the case of tires, inflating them to the proper PSI is crucial for longevity, ensuring even wear. Additionally, regularly rotating the tires helps to prolong the edge wear commonly encountered on front tires.

Perform Required Maintenance

Moreover, maintaining your vehicle's suspension can significantly impact tire wear. Worn suspension parts, including bushings and joints, can throw off a vehicle's alignment, resulting in camber wear, toe wear, and cupping. This uneven wear often leads to drivability issues and premature tire replacements.

When To Replace Your Tires

So, when is it time to replace your ride's tires? Watch for the following symptoms for a direct sign that your truck's tires are on their last leg: 

• Low tread depth (under 2/32") 

• Cracks on the sidewall or between tread blocks

• Age (anything older than approximately six years) 

• Sidewall bulges

• Failing to hold tire pressure

• Visible gouges or damage

• Dramatically uneven wear

• Vibration and poor performance

If one or more of these symptoms present, it's best to have your truck's tires inspected by a professional. When you're in the market for a new set of tires, check out RealTruck's extensive inventory and our tire resources, including:

• The Best All-Terrain Truck Tires

• All Terrain and Mud Terrain Tires

• The Top Off-Road Tires