Tires: get more miles and pay less

Check the pressure once a month

Under-inflated tires wear faster, handle worse and waste gas: about 0.2% of your mileage for every 1 psi of drop. Tires lose air naturally, and more so when the weather turns cold.

• Use the pressure on the sticker in the driver's door jamb or in the owner's manual. The number on the tire sidewall is the maximum, not the target.
• Check when the tires are cold, before driving or after the car has sat for a few hours.
• Don't forget the spare, if you have one.
• A tire pressure warning light usually means a tire is well below spec. Check all four.

Check the tread: the penny and quarter tests

Most states set the legal minimum at 2/32 of an inch. Many tire experts suggest replacing tires at 4/32" if you drive on wet roads, because stopping distances grow as tread wears.

• Penny test: put a penny into the tread with Lincoln's head upside down. If you can see all of his head, you are at about 2/32". Replace now.
• Quarter test: do the same with a quarter. If you can see all of Washington's head, you are at about 4/32". Start shopping.
• Check several spots across each tire. Uneven wear can mean bad alignment or the wrong pressure.

Tires age even when they aren't used

Rubber breaks down over time. Find the DOT code on the sidewall: the last four digits are the week and year it was made ("2324" means the 23rd week of 2024). Many vehicle makers suggest replacing tires about six years after manufacture, whatever the tread. Check your owner's manual. When buying, ask for tires made recently.

Rotate and align

Rotating tires, often every 5,000 to 7,500 miles or as your manual says, evens out wear so all four last longer. Many shops do it free with tires they sold you, and it is easy to do at oil-change time. If the car pulls to one side or the steering wheel is off-center, get the alignment checked. Bad alignment wears out tires and wastes gas.

How to pay less for new tires

1. Compare the out-the-door price. Mounting, balancing, valve stems or TPMS service kits, disposal fees and tax can add a lot. Ask for one total.
2. Look for rebates. Tire makers run mail-in or card rebates several times a year, often around holidays.
3. Buy online, install locally. Online retailers often ship to a local installer, so you get online prices without wrestling tires into your trunk.
4. Read the UTQG treadwear rating and the mileage warranty. A slightly pricier tire that lasts 20,000 miles longer is the cheaper tire.
5. Consider low-rolling-resistance tires if you drive a lot of highway miles. They can trim fuel use.

Where to buy tires

Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them we may earn a commission, at no extra cost to you. How we make money.