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So, how long do winter tires last? How many snowy seasons can you expect to get with winter rubber before buying a new set? We explain.
Photo: iStockIf you live in a wintry locale of America or Canada, you should sport winter tires on your vehicle to improve its on-road traction and safety credentials. While it is mandatory by law to install these tires in a majority of cold-weather countries worldwide, they are not generally mandated here in most parts of North America. Some even argue why making winter tires mandatory isn’t the best solution.
It is why most people do not equip their vehicles with winter/snow tires during the snowy season — despite the clear and influencing science of their safety benefits; and which are now more affordable, convenient, and practical than before.
According to a 2018 study by the United States Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration, Americans cover around 13,476 miles per year. On the other hand, Canadians travel an average of 20,000 to 25,000 kilometers per year, which is almost the same as Americans.
While it relies heavily on the harshness of particular winter weather and region, most car owners install winter tires in mid-November and change them with summer or all-season tires around mid-March when many take their ride out of winter storage.
We can safely say drivers use these tires for four to five months every year. If we consider the average mileage of motorists in the U.S., they will travel around 4,500 miles in four months.
We spoke with Sailun Tire — a tire brand quickly gaining recognition as a high-quality, budget-friendly option for tire shoppers — who tell us winter tire longevity/mileage ratings are normally measured by how many seasons they last; that this isn’t an exact number but, generally speaking, also agree the answer at 4-5 seasons, including their Ice Blazer WST1 product — a studdable winter tire designed for maximum traction in severe weather conditions.
But Sailun adds, “However, that depends on each driver, driving habits, and whether they are diligent with 7 degrees Celsius on/off. It is also fair to mention a winter tire replacement is when a the tire reaches 4/32 remaining tread.”
Therefore, a winter tire with a warranty of up to 6 years and 40,000 miles tread life projection could theoretically survive for about nine winter seasons.
Naturally, some people will drive more than an average driver (or much less). Whatever is the case, you should expect a winter tire to survive for at least 4 to 6 years. If you consider the expense of buying four is around $500, it takes your total cost per season to less than $75.
If they last for good eight years, the cost would be even less, of course. We believe most owners would concede that $75 is an excellent investment for additional security while motoring in winter.
Manufacturers mostly create winter tires with a much softer rubber compound than all-seasons.
Therefore, they usually have lower wear ratings than their all-season counterparts. Some tire makers mention the expected distance use to prevent consumer dispute.
The actual mileage will depend on several factors such as vehicle type and weight, driving behaviour, and road conditions. Furthermore, it will rely on your punctuality to change the winter tires in the spring and the way you store them.
Ensure you do not drive with winter tires in warm/hot weather, and always replace them with summer tires before the spring starts. Keep in mind the 7 degrees Celsius rule; when the temperature rises above this, know it is time to change your winters.
Winter in some parts of Canada and America can be really tough for drivers. However, fixing winter tires is one great way to keep your commutes safe. With tire technology advancing and winter tires becoming more affordable, the reasons to swap out for snow-rated tires are more realistic.
If you’re in the market for new snow-rated tires, here are top picks for the best winter tires.
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Tire Education
byJames Updated on
Winter tires significantly increase the traction of your vehicle during the winter season. Their special rubber components, deeper tread and unique pattern help drivers navigate through harsh road conditions safely. First used in Finland in 1934 for trucks to go great distances despite stormy weather and poor road conditions, winter tires of today have become more affordable, convenient, and practical that they are now widely used even for passenger vehicles.
However, since the grip is an important aspect for winter tires, this same quality is subject to degradation over time, so it is only natural for drivers to wonder how long do winter tires last and how to make the most mileage out of their tires’ service life.
With normal usage and proper maintenance, you can max out the lifespan of your winter tires up to four to five seasons. Some manufacturers even claim up to six. The estimate is from a general average of 12,000 to 15,000 miles per year on a four-month drive on cold, icy, and snowy road conditions.
While the serviceable life greatly depends on the severity of the climate and location, you can still make the most out of your winter tires’ value within their lifespan. In order to do so, you need to identify what makes it unique compared with regular, all-season tires, so you can apply appropriate care and maintenance specifically for these types of tires.
What Makes Winter Tires Distinct From Regular Tires?To be clear, winter tires are not only designed for driving over snow, they are purposefully built to withstand cold temperatures without hardening, and can grip over icy surfaces. Winter tires have softer rubber materials, have different tread depth and patterns, and unique edges that work best during this season compared to regular and performance tires.
Rubber, in itself, hardens when temperatures drop, which then loses its grip. Winter tires are designed specifically for these conditions. Even with lower temperatures, the rubber materials stay soft and elastic, qualities that are crucial for grip and traction. In turn, it helps for better acceleration, braking, and lane changes.
Tread Depth and StructureWinter tires have a deeper tread depth than regular tires, so it may be a common complaint that they tend to be noisy compared to the latter. However, these are designed to lessen snow buildup while improving traction when rolling over snow.
On the other hand, winter tires also have unique tread patterns or grooves, which effectively prevent your vehicle from a phenomenon called ‘hydroplaning’. The patterns are designed this way to prevent the tires from accumulating moisture, an element that causes your vehicle to lose control over wet pavement.
Zigzag and Jagged EdgesAnother distinct design of winter tires over all-season or regular tires is the unique pattern in their edges which resembles a zigzag pattern.
These are also pointed, sharp, and irregularly shaped. Just like how crampon works, these jagged grooves bite on snowy or icy surfaces, increasing your vehicle’s traction.
Despite the significant advances in technology, such as all-wheel drive and part-time 4WDs, an array of stability controls, and braking assists that help overcome challenging road conditions, how you’ll achieve better traction still boils down to what type of tires you’re using.
How To Get The Most Out of Winter Tires’ Lifespan?Though winter tires are only used during a specific season, they have lower wear ratings compared to regular tires brought by their soft rubber materials. That is why they need specific maintenance and care to extend their life expectancy.
As with regular tires, winter tires also need regular tire rotation for even wear. Winter tires must also be replaced with regular tires whenever there is an increase in recommended temperature since they are not built to withstand warmer pavements.
Also, you may opt to upgrade to more durable, LT or ‘light truck’-rated tires for an improved grip.
Winter tires should be rotated regularly based on the manufacturer’s specifications. Additionally, you must also keep track of the distance traveled on these tires for proper rotation intervals to extend the life of your tires. This is regardless of the drivetrain layout as rear tires received the same abuse as with front tires.
Replace with regular tires when temperature increasesThe very material that makes winter tires great at low temperatures is also its weakness during warm weather. The soft rubber compound will not be able to withstand temperatures when springtime comes. As a rule of thumb, when the temperature goes beyond 44 degrees Fahrenheit, it’s the cue to swap them out with regular tires.
Upgrade to Light Truck-rated snow tiresIf you find yourself always driving with a heavy load, you may consider upgrading with LT, or Light Truck-rated snow tires.
They have more robust construction and higher load capacities, with their design taking into account the weight of the vehicle for better traction.
However, its increased durability comes at a price: its stiff sidewalls sacrifice comfort, and the extra weight affects fuel economy.
When Should I Replace My Winter Tires with a New Set?Before pulling out your winter tires and swapping them over regular tires, first, make sure that they are free from any visible damage such as deep cracks on the sidewall and treads. Additionally, check if the tread depth is still enough to get you through the season. You can judge the condition yourself without the need for a gauge by just looking at the built-in wear indicators.
If anything mentioned above is present on your tires, consider replacing all of them to achieve safe and hassle-free driving during winter.
ConclusionWinter tires don’t have a set life expectancy, however, manufacturers and tire experts claim your winter tires could last up to 5 seasons.
Additionally, you can maximize the most wear and value out of them by following regular tire care and maintenance and proper handling and storage when not in use.
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How do you know when tires are completely worn out and it's time to change them? Everything is simple. For summer tires, the limit is 1.6 mm of residual tread depth, and for winter (or all-season tires used in winter) - 4 mm. Modern summer tires can travel from 40,000 to 70,000 km, depending on driving style and vehicle characteristics. An average motorist rolls such a mileage on summer tires in 2-3 seasons. Moreover, wear implies not only a decrease in tread depth. For millions of cycles of deformation, the strength of the carcass and its adhesion to the layers of the rubber compound are violated. In short, every 2-3 years you should buy a new set of tires.
In case of irreparable damage to one of the tires and a relatively high total mileage of the kit, it is also worth considering replacing it. Well, or about buying at least a pair of new tires, which, for any type of drive, should be installed on the front axle. We put two tires back - the most decent of the remaining ones.
Many motorists drive only a few thousand kilometers a year. This does not mean that the tires will serve you for several decades. According to Russian requirements (GOST 4754-97), the service life of passenger car tires is 5 years from the date of manufacture. And for example, Continental recommends that all car tires (including the spare tire) older than 10 years old should be replaced with new ones. Therefore, with small runs, you can navigate for ten years. The date of manufacture of the tire is indicated on the sidewall. Usually it is an oval with four numbers. The first two are the ordinal number of the week in the year, the last two indicate the year.
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Tires should be rotated periodically in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations - information on this can be found in the owner's manual.
We can advise you to use the tires carefully and, most importantly, to store them correctly in the off-season. First of all, during storage, it is important to exclude direct sunlight from hitting the tires, which greatly age the rubber. Tires without rims should be placed vertically, and stacked on rims.
And before installing tires on a car at the beginning of the season, evaluate their condition. There should be no cracks in the tread and sidewalls. The tire should not be dry, it should remain rubbery and not look like baked plastic.
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Winter tires have a much shorter life span.
They almost always fail due to the wear of the treadmill, because the tread of a new tire is 7–8 mm, and only 3–4 mm remain working height. If the tires are studded, then with such wear there are very few metal elements left, and the tire will not provide adequate safety when driving on a winter road. However, not only spikes, but also Velcro, with such a degree of wear, also lose most of their capabilities.
The real life of winter tires rarely exceeds 30,000 km. "Bald" winter tires without studs can be re-rolled in summer, but their grip on hot road surfaces will be very poor. This must be taken into account, especially when braking.
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So: tires that have not yet worn out along the tread (that is, up to 1.6 mm tread depth for summer tires, 4 mm for winter tires) are changed either ten years after the date of issue, or when the rubber layer cracks tires or damage.
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Driving in Zen
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Consumer disputes over the age of tires have not subsided for several seasons. Buyers are excited that the warranty period for tires is limited to 5-6 years according to GOST, and after the expiration of this period, the rubber becomes unusable.
Is this really the case, read this article.
Manufacturers of most brands for their products set a shelf life of 5 years and a service life of 5 years as well .
The shelf life of a tire is the period during which it retains its performance when properly stored.
The end of this period does not mean that the tires have become unusable . A shelf life of 5 years is given by manufacturers because, by law, they cannot set a shelf life higher than the service life. Tires over 5 years of storage cannot be called damaged or defective, their technical characteristics may be slightly reduced. American researchers argue that the period of storage of "shoes" must be at least 10 years. Experts from Germany are sure that it cannot exceed 6 years.
The expiration date of tires is the warranty period during which the manufacturer is responsible for the quality and condition of the tire if it was used for its intended purpose without violating the operating rules.
According to Russian legislation (GOST 5513, GOST 4754-97) , the service life of tires is 5 years from the date of manufacture.
How can I find out the date of manufacture of tires?
You can find out the age of tires by a special DOT code. Tires manufactured after 2000 in the DOT code contain two pairs of numbers, where the first pair indicates the week number of the year, and the second pair indicates the year. Earlier tires before 2000 have 3 numbers in their composition, where the first two digits are the week number, and the last one is the year (see the transcript in the photo).
Determination of the average shelf life of a tire according to GOST and operating conditions.
- The symbol ZR denotes tires for high-speed cars. They are recommended to be used at speeds over 240 km/h. up to 6 years
- Tires with the H symbol are used at a maximum speed of 210 km/h. within 5 years.
- The sign S symbolizes the maximum permissible speed of 180 km/h. and operational period of 4-5 years.
Most tire manufacturers do not agree that tire life is limited to 5 years. Each company has its own opinion on this matter. We analyzed several of them and the information they posted on their official websites.
Michelin
The French tire manufacturer Michelin has become famous for its active fight against the perception of the rapid aging of tires as a perishable product. Her information campaign "Tires Are Not Bananas" created a lot of noise in the automotive environment.
According to the representative office, several test trials were carried out in Saudi Arabia, South Korea and Germany. As a result of testing, no difference was found between new tires and tires stored for 3 years. They were tested for various characteristics such as rolling resistance, high speed durability, etc. Tires with a year life were approximately equal in performance to 10-year unused tyres.
Michelin focuses the attention of car owners on the fact that tires are not a perishable product, their shelf life is not as important as the service life is important, starting from the date the tires are installed on the rims. It is from this moment that the tire is subjected to all tests: pressure, temperature changes, wear, contact with uneven and sharp coatings, etc.
Continental
On the Russian official website of Continental, we found the following information on the expiration dates of tires.
“When a tire is stored in the correct position and under the recommended conditions, it will not lose its original balanced performance for 5 years from the date of manufacture of the tire.
A properly maintained, unused tire less than 5 years old can be sold as a new tire and used normally.
Continental recommends replacing all tires (including spares) with a sidewall date greater than 10 years.
Nokian
The following information is posted on the Nokian official website:
“Tire life is not defined by law, but tires can only be considered “new” if they have been manufactured within the last five years. The recommended service life of tires is six years, and the recommended maximum period is 10 years.
The opinion of our specialists, based on many years of experience, coincides with the opinion of manufacturers: the shelf life is 5 years + the service life is up to 10 years. Moreover, more "adult" tires, in our opinion, are of better quality.
To keep tires as long as possible, they are stored in compliance with all rules and recommendations. The main condition is a cool, ventilated, darkened room away from oils, paints, ozone, and heat sources.
Rubber products tend to lose their performance over the years. To prevent and slow down this process, manufacturers add polymers to the rubber compound. They prevent oxidative processes that occur due to the interaction of protectors with oxygen and ozone.
The following are the main conditions for the proper storage of tires in accordance with GOST 24779-81:
Maintaining a constant regime without sudden jumps, slight temperature fluctuations from -30°С to +35°С are allowed;
Provide a low humidity level of 50-80% in a dry, ventilated cool room;
Avoid direct sunlight, use darkened hangars, shield heat sources;
Keep away from sources of heat;
Tires should not come into contact with corrosive, copper materials.
Avoid kinking, loading or positioning on an uneven surface.
Avoid contact with oils, organic solvents, acids, alkalis, fuels and lubricants on the tire surface. It is forbidden to lay tires on a wet and dirty surface.
In the warm season, when storing tires outside, they should be covered with light-tight material and raised above ground level to ensure ventilation and prevent the occurrence of the greenhouse effect.
Storage on reflective, light and heat absorbing surfaces is prohibited.
Keep away from chemicals, oils, paints, open flames, electric motors that produce ozone.
Used tires must be washed and dried.
Tires without rims should be stored upright.
The service life depends on many factors: the load on the car, the quality of the roads, the driving style, the distance traveled, tire damage, etc.
To increase their service life, follow these rules:
Check tire pressure every 2-3 weeks. With reduced pressure, tire wear increases by the equivalent of a % reduction. For example, a 15% reduction in pressure can result in a 15% reduction in service life. Inflated tires are less scary.
The wear of the front tires is always significantly higher than the rear ones, so it is recommended to swap them after some time, carefully watching the direction of the tread pattern and the direction of rotation.
Proper alignment of tires in relation to rims. If the direction is not the same, then performance is significantly reduced.
To prevent damage to the sidewalls of tires, avoid close proximity to curbs and high ledges.
Wash off dirt from the surface of the rubber and from deep grooves with special cleaning agents.
Adhere to an even driving style without harsh brakes and quick starts.
