At some point, every car requires new tires. Since you want to budget accordingly, it’s important to know how much does it cost to replace your tires?
In this guide, we cover the varying factors that influence the new tire price. We also give you a few tips that may help you save some money.
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How Much Do New Tires Cost?A new set of four tires will usually cost you between $400 and $1500, depending on the type of tire, vehicle, quality and where you get them installed. If you choose cheap tires, you may be able to spend $50 each, but on some vehicle types, you can easily spend $1500 or more on a new set of tires.
Now that we have the quick answer to the general cost of new tires, let’s take a closer look at the factors that affect the cost.
Factors Affecting Cost to Replace Your Tires1.The biggest factor affecting your expense will be the size of the tire you need. You can find tires in all sizes, meant for a multitude of purposes. If you have a compact car, you will have the cheapest tires available, maybe even $50 each.
Of course, high-performance cars, large pickup trucks, specialty off-road vehicles, and SUVs will naturally cost more. A good rule of thumb is that the larger the tire is, the more you can expect to pay for it.
2. BrandThere are just as many tire brands as there are sizes. Many tire shops specialize in one budget brand and carry a multitude of name brands.
You will spend far less to go with the no-name brand, but you need to think about the quality. After all, if you save money today by choosing this brand, does it really pay off if you have to replace the tires again prematurely? You may also get a much longer mileage warranty with quality tires, than with inexpensive tires.
If you choose a premium tire brand such as Michelin, Continental, Goodyear, Bridgestone, you will of course pay much more, but you know that you will get quality tires that last a long time and keep your vehicle on the road.
RELATED: 6 Worst Tire Brands to Avoid Buying
3. Installation CostMost tire shops do not make a lot of money on the tire installation. The job itself doesn’t take long and the price can often be included with the cost of the tires.
On average, you can expect most shops to tack on about $20-$40 per tire for the installation. However, if you visit a warehouse club, that expense could be even less.
4. Tire DisposalYou don’t get to leave your old tires with the shop without paying a price. These shops must pay to have them recycled, so that cost gets passed down to you.
On average, the tire disposal fees will be between $2 and $10 per tire to dispose of them. If you would rather save this money, you can get rid of them yourself.
5. Road Hazard/Warranty ProtectionOn top of the regular price paid for your tires, you may choose to add some extra warranty protection. With road hazard protection, you are covered if your tires get a hole or blow out.
However, you must be careful who you choose to get road hazard through. Not all companies are going to follow through on the agreement, leaving you paying for protection that doesn’t matter when something actually goes wrong.
6. Wheel AlignmentWhen your new tires are installed, you will need to get a wheel alignment. Having properly aligned tires ensures that they last as long as possible.
You might pay between $75 and $200 to have the wheels aligned, depending on how many need to be done. However, this money can be seen as an investment, ensuring that your tires continue to provide reliable transportation.
How to Save Money on Tires1. Shop AroundThe most important factor is shopping around. You can call one location and get a price on a particular set of tires and the cost is completely different somewhere else, even though they are the same tires.
When you are shopping around, keep a couple of costs in mind.
You will have the cost of the tires, the cost of installation and any fees that the company charges. Ask for the “out the door” price, so you can compare it apples-to-apples.
RELATED: How Much Do Rims Cost?
2. Watch for SalesYou can get a great deal if you shop during a sale. Of course, it’s not always convenient to wait for the next sale, but if you have some time before the tires need to be changed, this is a great way to save.
Throughout the year, tire shops will offer various sales. You can take advantage of a Buy 3, Get 1 Free deal or enjoy a certain percentage off. Most tire sales correspond with holidays, so you can tell when one might be around the corner.
3. Take Advantage of RebatesTire shops don’t often make a whole lot on the tire, so discounts can be limited. However, the manufacturers are happy to offer rebates throughout the year.
Most of the rebates are through the mail but can be found online.
Additionally, the tire shops have the inside scoop on what’s available, so be sure to ask.
It’s not always wise to purchase used tires, but the takeoff is something entirely different. These tires were installed brand-new and only used for a couple of days before the customer decided they didn’t want them.
It could be that the client didn’t appreciate the ride or simply decided they wanted something better. Either way, the tire shop will offer the replacement tires at a discounted price, so be sure to ask what’s available, especially if you use a popular tire size.
5. Use All-Season TiresIf you live in a cold climate where a lot of snow falls, you might have two sets of tires. Most people in these regions use summer and winter tires. With two sets of tires, you have a lot more money out, especially every time you need to have them switched.
If you aren’t actually driving in the snow, it might be better to use all-season tires throughout the year.
While these aren’t going to get you through deep snow, there’s no sense spending more for something you don’t need. Evaluate your options and see if you can stick to using one set all year long.
RELATED: 10 Best All-Season Tires – Review & Buyer’s Guide
The lifespan of a tire will depend on the type of tire, the type of driving you do, and the climate. Generally, tires last between 50,000 and 80,000 miles and 6 years. If you drive a lot in city traffic and brake a lot or live in a hot climate, your tires may wear out sooner. If you often drive around with low tire pressure or a bad wheel alignment, they may also wear down sooner.
If your tire tread depth is close to 2/32” or under, it’s definitely time to replace them.
Most tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires every 6 years, regardless of the number of miles driven. This is because tire rubber degrades over time, even if the tires are not used. Tires that are more than 6 years old should be inspected by a professional to determine if they are safe to use.
If your car is two-wheel-drive, it’s fine to replace two tires on the same axle instead of four, although you need to consider that your car will handle differently with two new tires than with four. If you are replacing two tires, it is best to put the new or best tires on the rear axle, as this will improve traction and stability.
On many 4WD and AWD cars, however, the diameter of the tires must match, otherwise, you can damage the transmission or the differential. Therefore, it is recommended to replace all four tires on 4WD cars, and it’s a requirement for many car brands like BMW and Audi.
You need to read the tire dimensions on your old tires and take them to the tire shop.
You can also call your authorized dealer or check your owner’s manual if the wheels are stock.
Most people get nervous when it’s time to get a new set of tires. You know tires aren’t cheap, but just how much can they cost? And it doesn’t stop here: there are additional service costs, tire disposal fees, installation costs, and road hazard warranty, all of which can make a significant dent in your wallet.
The average cost of tires and installation for economy and sedan cars ranges from $50 to about $75. For sports cars and SUVs, the price jumps significantly to somewhere between $100 and $300 a piece and can even go higher sometimes.
I’ll take you through the process of tire change, balancing, and installation in the next segment of this article. This will help you better understand what goes into a tire change and why professionals charge so much for the service.
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The price for new tires and installation has changed over the years.
Tires have become more complicated, and the automotive industry regulations are changing rapidly. The discontinuation of lead wheel weights, the adoption of improved tire pressure monitoring systems, and the craving for larger stylish rims have made the process even more complicated and pricey.
You can’t install economy or sedan car tires on a sports vehicle, nor can you install SUV tires in a pick-up truck. Based on a car’s rim size, suspension system, and volume, you’ll have to look for specifically sized tires. Moreover, manufacturers recommend specific tire sizes and types, and you should stick to their recommendations if you want to avoid causing severe damage to your car. Remember, each tire size and type has its price tag.
Your best bet in estimating how much the tires and installation will cost would be to contact your mechanic with your exact tire size and type for a price estimate. But what entails the entire tire installation service? And how much does each process cost?
Once you’ve determined that it’s time for new tires, you’ll want to know the correct tire size for your car.
You can check your car’s door jamb for tire size information in the car’s manual. Ensuring your tire replacements match the manufacturer’s instructions requires your understanding of how tire size works. The string of numbers you rarely pay attention to on your tires contains tire size information.
Assume the string of numbers and letters on your tire walls is P 225/70R16 91S. Each of these numbers and letters stand for the following:
R stands for radial. Others include D and B for Diagonal and Bias Ply, respectively, but Radial construction is the most common in the US.If you want to change your tire size and type, consult an expert for advice. As you’ve already seen, different tire options have varying load capacities and require different rim widths and diameters.
Of course, I don’t want to delve deeper into the science of tires, so I’ll only focus on the cost aspect: different tire sizes and types will be priced differently.
Below is a table giving cost estimates of the different tire types and sizes:
| Wheel size | All-Season (Average Price) | All-Terrain (Average Price) |
| Small (12”-15”) | $50-$150 a piece | _ |
| Medium (16”-20”) | $100-$250) a piece | $150-$250 |
| Large (18”-26”) | $150-$400 a piece | $200-$1000 |
Regular tire mounting cost is no different across various automotive repair shops.
A professional tire installation service entails professional mounting, installation, and wheel balancing. Proper wheel balancing guarantees optimum tire life and your car’s safety. Incorrectly balanced tires cause unpleasant vibrations and make your tires and suspension wear prematurely.
You may also like to check: How Much Does Walmart Charge for Tire Installation?
When you take your car into an auto repair shop, the mechanic starts by unscrewing the wheels from your car. At this point, the mechanic can quickly inspect your brake and suspension systems, but this shouldn’t replace full brakes and suspension system inspections.
The technician should also inspect the condition of the wheel studs and lug nuts to ensure that the wheel is secured safely and firmly. You shouldn’t pay for this; it’s part of the installation.
Once the technician removes the wheel, the next step should be to remove the tire from the wheel (rim). Specialized equipment is needed. The process isn’t for the hands of your regular home mechanic.
First, the technician removes balancing weights and the valve system to deflate the tires. Next, the mounting machine presses the tire out of the wheel, and the mechanic pulls and pries at the tire to carefully detach it from the rim.
The mechanic inspects the wheel for potential damage and cleans it of dirt and debris. Defects to the wheel may affect how well it bonds with the tire and how it will balance when mounted back to the car. The mechanic should also thoroughly clean bead areas where the tire touches the rim.
Newer car models feature a tire pressure monitoring system to keep tabs on air pressure in the tires. The technician should inspect and service the TPMS sensors with new seals for smooth operation. Check whether the TPMS serving cost is included in the installation fee. If not, the TPMS service kit should cost $5-$10 per wheel.
Sometimes the sensors will be faulty and will need replacing. In most cases, TPMS sensor replacement cost isn’t included in the installation fee. TPMS pressure sensors’ cost ranges from $50-$250, depending on your car model.
The technician will then use a tire mounting machine to press the tire bead over the rim, replace the valves, inflate the tire, and check for leaks.
The technician should be careful not to damage the TPMS sensors.
Imbalanced wheels impact your driving experience by causing excessive vibrations, accelerating tire wear, and causing possible damage to the undertrain or suspension system.
The next (and one of the most important steps) is wheel balancing. The technician will use a tire assembly balancing machine to spin the assembly at high speed to detect heavy spots. The machine will pause the spin at the exact spot where weights are needed to balance the wheel. The mechanic will repeat the process until the whole tire assembly is balanced.
Again you should check whether the wheel balancing cost is included in the installation fee. Some repair shops offer a complete package, which is higher than the standard wheel installation cost, and some don’t. Depending on your location and car, you can expect to pay between $40 and $75 for balancing all four wheels.
The technician will then mount each wheel assembly back to the car and torque the lug nuts to the correct tightness.
This process is naturally included in the service fee, and you shouldn’t be expected to pay anything extra. While still on the service bay lift, you can request wheel alignment.
The technician may also recommend an alignment. Wheel alignment, also known as breaking or tracking, is standard automobile maintenance that involves adjusting the vehicle’s wheel angles back to the automaker’s specifications. Wheels’ alignment angle refers to the wheel’s angle to each other and the vehicle’s body.
Misaligned wheels cause unnecessary wear to the steering, brakes, tires, and suspension. Aligning your wheels will improve the vehicle’s stability, maximize tire life, and improve car handling performance.
It would be best to have your wheels aligned every 6000 miles (10,000 km) or when you start feeling changes in the driving experience or ability to handle the car.
If you lost track of your alignment schedule, make sure you align your wheels if you experience the following:
If wheel alignment isn’t part of the installation package, you can request for the same or if the mechanic sees it fit.
The cost of front-end alignment, which typically involves the two front wheels only, can cost anywhere from $50 to $75. All-wheel alignment costs more, typically from $100 to $150. You can expect to dig your pockets deeper if you own a luxury car.
This Youtube video explains the difference between wheel balancing, rotation, and alignment.
After rechecking everything, the mechanic will lower your car from the lift. Once on the ground, the technician can use a torque wrench to recheck the lug nuts’ tightness to ensure the wheels are stable and firmly fixed as they should be.
Moreover, the tire pressure should be set to correct levels as recommended by the manufacturer on the tires’ placard.
Tire retailers offer a road-hazard warranty to cover you with prorated discounts if your tire is damaged. The warranty comes for a small fee, which might or might not be included in the installation cost.
On the other hand, tire manufacturers offer mileage warranties to guarantee that you won’t have to replace the tires before a specific mileage. Typical mile range is 20,000-80,000 miles.
In return, you must align your wheels regularly and perform rotational maintenance so that the tires don’t wear out prematurely. High-mileage warranty will cost more but will be beneficial if you drive a lot. However, not all tire makers offer mileage warranties, so you’ll want to ask about this when choosing the make of your tire replacement.
Tires are hazardous waste, and disposing of your worn-out tires will cost you anywhere from $2 to $6. The cost varies depending on whether you dump them off at a recycling facility or pay a tire dealer to dump them for you.
You can also generously donate them to someone who needs them.
Your busy schedules shouldn’t stop you from checking your tires thoroughly for wear and damage. But how would you know they need replacing?
You can try this Steelman Digital Tire Tread Gauge available on Amazon.com. It reads tread depths from 0-25mm or 0-1 inch.
A lot goes into maintaining a car, and taking care of your tires is an essential part of the process. They are the components that carry the vehicle and are thus prone to wear and damage.
Replacing tires costs money, as does maintaining your car’s suspension system. The cost of replacing and installing new tires will depend on your car’s tire size and type. And, of course, your car model matters too.
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The portal specialists studied the database of ads for the sale of tires for passenger cars in 2021.
According to the results of the study, over the course of 9 months, the prices for new tires were constantly rising, and in September the increase was 28% compared to January.
Summer tires have risen in price the most - by 40%. A sharp rise in prices was expectedly recorded on the eve of the warm season. In April, their cost increased by 6% compared to March, and the rise in price continued until the summer. In June, prices fell slightly, by 1%, and in September they rose by a record 6.2% for the year (relative to August). Slightly less added to the price of winter tires: since the beginning of the year - plus 31%. At the same time, in February 2021, analysts noted a slight decrease in prices (minus 1.5%). Throughout the year, winter tires rose in price by an average of 3-4% per month, but on the eve of the winter season there was a jump: in September, the price tags were immediately raised by 8% (relative to August).
All-season tires have risen in price the least since the beginning of the year - by 14%.
In September, there was the most noticeable growth - by 4%. You should not expect that with the end of the summer or winter season, new tires will become noticeably more affordable, experts warn. The constant rise in prices covers small discounts. As for used tires, the prices for summer and all-season tires have not changed much over 9 months, although in June the cost of summer tires decreased - by an average of 10%.
In the middle of summer, winter tires fell sharply in price: in August, the price fell by 17% compared to July, and in September - by another 7%. These jumps, as in the case of summer tires, were accompanied by an increase in the number of advertisements for the sale of such tires.
If we talk about the dynamics of offers during this year, then for 9 months the number of offers for the sale of new tires has increased by one and a half times. There were a quarter more ads with summer tires in September than in January. There was a sharp jump in April - there were plus 53% relative to winter.
The high "season" of summer offers persisted until mid-summer - plus 58% in June - and then predictably began to decline.
At the same time, the number of offers for the winter has sharply increased: since June, the number of ads has increased one and a half times compared to January, and in August a significant increase in ads was recorded - by 15%.
The number of offers with used winter tires has been decreasing since February, that is, since the end of the cold season, and by May it turned out to be minimal - minus 40% compared to January. Announcements began to appear only in August, apparently, when motorists began to prepare for the cold. In September there were already 15% more offers than in January.
Since January, the number of advertisements for the sale of summer tires has been growing and peaked in April - 1.5 times more than at the beginning of the year.
"It turns out that it is best to look for tires on the" secondary "either in the appropriate season (summer - in summer, winter - in winter), or in the" off-season "when there are the most offers.
During such periods you can find the most profitable options. But also demand the maximum is also in the "off-season". Peak user activity occurs in the middle of spring and autumn, and directly in summer and winter, the number of ad views drops by 3-4 times relative to the maximum indicators," the portal's specialists noted.
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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 cover 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 carefully use the tires 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.
