How Long Do Summer Tires Last? (Checked)

Most drivers rarely think about how long their summer tires would last. Some can’t even tell the difference between summer and an all-season tire.
Yet, they always expect their cars to perform optimally on the road.

Are you one of those drivers? Perhaps you are unsure if your summer tires will last longer?
This guide answers that question and more.

How many miles do summer tires last?

Summer tires typically last 60,000-80,000 miles or 6-8 years when not used much. A quick way to determine this is to check the warranty of your tires. Then the date when you had replaced those tires, and then you’ll know the exact number.

From there, you will get a good idea of how your summer tire will last. Generally, summer tires can last you between 20,000 to 40,000 miles. Of course, that will depend on your driving habits and weather conditions.

Premium tires such as Bridgestone offer up to an 80,000-mile treadwear warranty. Use that kind of information to estimate your summer tire’s time.

Remember, taking good care of your summer tires contributes to how long they will last. That includes maintaining pressure on your tires. Also, check your summer tires regularly.

Especially before you travel for long vacations.

When you leave your summer tires underinflated, not only will they have heavy rolling resistance. But they will cause low fuel efficiency, too. Furthermore, your summer tires will wear more rapidly.

Summer tires usually provide fewer miles than all-season tires.

So when you use all-season, you should expect the best mileage. On the flip side, summer tires offer more traction and a comfortable driving experience.

Take a good look at your summer tires. You will notice that they have shallow tread depths. Other than that, summer tires have wide circumferential grooves. They are there to evacuate water to resist hydroplaning.

How many years do summer tires last when not used much?

If you don’t use your summer tires much, they can last you 6 to 8 years. But that will depend on two things: One, on where you store the summer tires. Two, on the weather conditions of your region.

Remember, summer tires don’t come cheap. You pay a lot to replace or even to repair them. So storing them in proper storage is essential.

Use the following tips to store your summer tires properly to last you longer:

• Clean your summer tires before storing them.
  Avoid using abrasive tire cleaners. Instead, use only soap and warm water to clean your summer tires.
• Keep your summer tires out of the sun.
  Direct sunlight may cause premature deterioration. So if you want your summer tires to last longer, at least store them indoors. Preferably away from windows.
• Consider using tire covers.
  There are covers that you can use to cover your tires.
• Store your summer tires in dry conditions.
  Use a cool and dry environment to keep your tires safe. A basement can serve this purpose very well.

You can’t use the same summer tires for more than ten years. Once they are over ten years, you should replace them. For the most part, your summer tires are expected not to last more than three years.

Still, it is far better to replace them early than to put your life at risk.

Do summer tires last longer than other types?

Some car owners believe summer tires last more than other tires. Nothing could be further than the truth. Summer tires have shallower treads and fewer grooves, so they tend to wear pretty fast.

Summer tires will wear faster if you are a fast driver. Or if you don’t take good care of them. They are suitable for supercars such as McLaren, Porsche, and Bentley. When you use summer tires in temperatures below 45 degrees, they perform well. The average temperatures allow supercars to be super quick.

In a nutshell, summer tires will wear faster than other tires.

Why?

Because summer tires were designed not to last years.

While summer tires provide traction and good wear in summer, they are not necessarily suitable for winter. In winter, the rubber of summer tires tends to become harder.

Hence, in winter, they wear out ever quite faster.

Summer tires offer optimum performance on wet and dry surfaces. For example, Ultra-High-Performance tires deliver exceptional traction on dry and wet roads. Still, Ultra-High-Performance summer tires don’t last longer than other types of tires.

Use the following tips to check your summer tires:

• When your treads are 6/32 inches, your tire tread is sufficient.
• If your tire tread is 5/32 inch, your summer tire won’t handle slippery roads.
• It will help if you replace your tires when the tread is between 4/32″ to 3/32″.
• When your tires have 2/32″ tread, they need urgent replacement.
• If you see abrasions, you should consider replacing your tires, too.

Are summer tires better than all-season tires?

Overall, summer tires perform better than all-season tires. Thanks to the rubber compound in summer tires, they perform better in wet conditions. The compound also helps them withstand hot conditions.

Summer tires have an impressive rating of 186 mph. In comparison, all-season tires have a modest 149 mph rating. Now you understand why summer tires wear faster than all-season tires.

They are performance tires that improve the speed of your car. But in snow or freezing weather conditions, you can’t count on summer tires.

All-season tires will be the best option for those weather conditions.

Not all summer tires will be suitable for the climate you live in. Or the kind of car that you drive. It is always advisable to research the tire brand before buying it.

We recommend that you always balance all your four summer tires. If you are unsure about this, ask your tire technicians to check them for you. They will ensure all your vehicle’s tires meet the manufacturer’s recommended size, speed, load capacity, and rating.

And they will tell you if you need to replace your summer tires.

Are summer tires better on the highway?

Most tire manufacturers optimize summer tires for excellent performance on the highway. Hence, summer tires outperform other tires on the road. The only drawback is that they don’t offer much traction in winter.

If you live in a region that has 44°F temperatures, summer tires will be a perfect choice. They are also well-suited for open roads and highways. Or just any road that allows you to put your foot on the accelerator.

Most car owners struggle to choose the right summer tire. But knowing which summer tires to choose is crucial. Summer tires that stand above the rest when it comes to outstanding performance on the highway include the following:

• The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S
  is arguably one of the best high-performance summer tires. They offer exceptional steering precision and stability on the highway.
• Bridgestone Potenza RE-11
  is another excellent summer tire that performs well on the highway. It is hydroplaning resistant. Therefore, it increases wet surface traction.

All-in-all, most summer tires provide better handling on the highway. Regardless of weather conditions. What’s more, they are quieter than all-season tires.

‘This is because they have fewer treads than all-season tires.

Final Thoughts

Keep this in mind; old summer tires are dangerous for you and other drivers. It would help if you always replace them, regardless of tread depth.

If your car needs new summer tires, don’t settle for old tires just because “they are affordable.” Buy brand-new tires; you’ll have peace of mind.

A good high-profile example of how dangerous old tires can be is the accident of the talented actor Paul Walker. Investigations into his accident found that his Porsche Carrera GT had 9-year-old tires.

Signs that your summer tires are old include cracks and bulges, frequent air pressure issues, and discomfort when you try to accelerate. Once you notice any of those signs, don’t waste time.

Take your vehicle to a wheel expert to look at your tires.

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