Blog / Car Care Tips

How Often Should You Replace Your Car Tires?

Service technician holding a tire with a smile and thumbs up

Frankly, you are not getting very far without good car tires on your vehicle. Regardless of the time of year, it’s essential to take proper care of your vehicle's tires, and know when it's time to replace them.

According to Luis Roman, Assistant Service Manager at Smart Motors Toyota, "there are several factors that may have an impact on the lifespan of your tires, including driving habits, weather, terrain, and the quality of the tires."

Luis Roman - Assistant Service Manager - Smart Motors Toyota - Madison WI
Luis Roman - Asst. Service Manager
Smart Motors Toyota

"Routine maintenance (like tire rotations) and inspections will help to ensure even tire treadwear and sustain performance," says Roman, "allowing you to get the most out of your tires."

When Do You Need to Replace Your Tires?


Keep an eye out for the following, which would indicate a tire replacement is necessary or something you should consider:

chart showing tire tread depth vs average stopping distance
  • Tire Tread Depth - Green indicates you're in good shape. Yellow means you should start planning to replace your tires in the near future. Red - time to replace your tires.
  • Tire Imperfections; cuts, tears, cracking or bulges are solid indications you need new tires.
  • Uneven treadwear
  • Tire Pressure; following the manufacturer's recommendations here. Changing outside temperature can influence tire pressure. Just a slight change in tire pressure can impact tire treadwear and impact your vehicle's fuel economy.
Young women checking her vehicle's tire pressure
Check Tire Pressure Regularly

Proper tire performance is not just essential to you and your safety, but for the safety of others on the road. If you suspect that your tires need to be replaced, we recommend visiting our local service center as soon as possible.

If your vehicle is due for a tire replacement or rotation, schedule a service appointment with us at our Madison service center. If you have any questions about your vehicle's tires or required services, be sure to contact us at Smart Motors Toyota.

About Smart Motors

Smart Motors was founded in 1908 by O.D. Smart and is one of the nation’s oldest automotive dealerships, is the mid-west’s largest hybrid dealer, Wisconsin’s largest Toyota Certified Used Vehicle dealer and one of Wisconsin’s largest volume Toyota dealers. Located at 5901 Odana Road, Smart Motors is Wisconsin’s only two-time President’s Cabinet Award recipient from Toyota Motor Sales for superior customer service & sales volume.  More information about Smart Motors.

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