Should You Buy New Tires or A New Car?

You have had your car for a long time. The tires are showing signs of wear. Is it worth buying new ones or do you need to consider a new car?

Tires can be very expensive, and you don’t want to waste money. On the other hand, buying a new car is even more expensive. Here’s what you need to know about tires to make a smart decision.

Age Matters

Even if you are conservative driver, tires must be replaced by the six year mark or they will become dangerous. In most cases, tires will be replaced about every four years. Let’s assume that yours were replaced when your car was four. By the time it is eight, you definitely need new tires. The question then becomes: do you buy the tires or buy a new car.

Mileage Considerations

Inexpensive tires may wear out at 30,000 miles. This means you will be putting new tires on every two to three years tops. The average good tire can go about 60,000 miles. More expensive tires on luxury cars may be able to promise 80,000 miles. However, keep in mind that even those tires can be worn down by bad roads or aggressive driving habits.

Road Considerations

Rough roads or off-road use will trim many miles off the life of tires. Driving up and down inclines, as you do on mountains, can also add more wear. On the way to work and back each day, your tires may be braked numerous times in busy traffic. If you drive 50 miles to work instead of 10, your tires will wear out faster naturally.

Tread Wear and Tear

Tires should be replaced when the tread depth has been worn down to 2/32 of an inch. You can learn to measure this yourself. However, every time you have any maintenance done, it is worth asking the mechanic to evaluate your tires.

Your tires may be telling you something. If they have worn out in a short period of time, that may be a red flag that things are not right with the undercarriage of your car. Uneven tread wear can tell your mechanic that the suspension is damaged, the steering is messing up or the car needs a serious realignment.

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Final Decision

If the car is over seven, it is worth adding up what your costs will be before you buy new tires. You can assume that these tires may be the last ones you put on your car. This should allow you to save money by buying less expensive tires. Why pay for 60,000 miles if you don’t expect your car to last that long.

Replacing tires often goes hand in hand with brake work. Do your brake pads need to be replaced? How much do these two maintenance items add up to? You should definitely get an alignment as well as balancing when you get your tires. Add this to your costs. Now the final factor, what is the condition of your vehicle.

The wear on your tires may have already been a warning of big repairs to come. Even if your tires have normal wear, what is the condition of your engine? You should also consider the projected longevity of the make and model you drive. Some brands can be expected to go past the ten-year mark. Others are doing well to survive to their eighth year.

Now that you have your answers to those questions, you can figure out if spending money on tires is worth it. You may decide to use that money toward a down payment on something newer. On the other hand, you may be able to look ahead and see a long life ahead for your car. If so, you can be sure that the cost of new tires will be worth it.