Car care guide · Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center · Elgin, IL
When to Replace Tires: Tread Depth, Age and Damage
There is no single mileage at which every tire wears out. How long tires last depends on how you drive, how well they are inflated, how far you drive and what kind of tire they are. What owner's manuals do give is two clear limits: tread worn down to the wear bars, and age. Below, using the 2026 Ram 1500 and 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee manuals as examples, is how to check both. Your own vehicle's manual and tire placard come first.
1/16 inchtread depth (1.6 mm) where the wear bars show
6 yearsreplace tires and the spare by this age, whatever the tread
4 digitsat the end of the tire ID: week and year it was made
Pairsreplace front or rear tires two at a time
The short answer
Replace a tire when the tread is worn down to the tread wear indicators, the bands that show across the tread when only 1/16 inch (1.6 mm) of tread is left. Replace tires and the spare after six years regardless of how much tread remains; the last four digits of the Tire Identification Number on the sidewall tell you the week and year the tire was made. When you replace tires, use tires equivalent to the originals in size, quality and performance, replace front or rear tires as a pair, and have the valve stems replaced too.
Check the tread: the tread wear indicators
Original equipment tires have tread wear indicators to help you decide when to replace them. They are molded into the bottom of the tread grooves, and they appear as bands across the tread when the tread depth reaches 1/16 of an inch (1.6 mm).
When the tread is worn to the tread wear indicators, the tire should be replaced.
- Look in the bottom of the tread grooves for the bands. If they show across the tread, the tire is worn to 1/16 inch.
- Check every tire. Improper cold inflation pressure can cause uneven wear patterns across the tread.
- Both manuals say tires should be inspected regularly for wear and for correct cold tire inflation pressure.
From the 2026 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual and the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Owner's Manual (Tread Wear Indicators; Life Of Tire; Replacement Tires), read October 27, 2026.
Check the age: the six-year rule and the date code
Both manuals carry the same warning: tires and the spare tire should be replaced after six years, regardless of the remaining tread. Failure to follow this warning can result in sudden tire failure and loss of control.
To find a tire's age, look for the Tire Identification Number (TIN), which starts with DOT. The TIN may be on one or both sides of the tire, but the date code may only be on one side. On black sidewall tires, look on the outboard side as mounted on the vehicle first, then the inboard side. Tires with white sidewalls have the full TIN on the white side.
The last four digits are the date code. In the Ram manual's example, DOT MA L9 ABCD 0301, the 03 means the tire was made in the 3rd week of the year, and the 01 means 2001. Before July 2000, tire makers were only required to use one number for the year, so an older three-digit code such as 031 could mean the 3rd week of 1981 or 1991.
From the 2026 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual (Tire Identification Number; Life Of Tire) and the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Owner's Manual (Life Of Tire), read October 27, 2026.
How long do tires last? What wears them out sooner
The manuals say the service life of a tire depends on factors including, but not limited to:
Driving style
How you drive affects how fast the tread wears.
Tire pressure
Improper cold tire inflation pressures can cause uneven wear patterns across the tread, which reduce tread life and mean replacing tires sooner.
Distance driven
The more miles you drive, the sooner the tread reaches the wear bars.
Tire type
Performance tires, tires with a speed rating of V or higher, and summer tires typically have a reduced tread life.
From the 2026 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual and the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Owner's Manual (Life Of Tire), read October 27, 2026. Even with plenty of tread left, the six-year limit above still applies.
Buying replacement tires: what the manuals recommend
The manufacturer strongly recommends tires equivalent to the originals in size, quality and performance. The size is on the Tire And Loading Information Placard or the Vehicle Certification Label, and the original tire's Load Index and Speed Symbol are on its sidewall.
- Replace the two front tires or the two rear tires as a pair. Replacing just one tire can seriously affect handling.
- Never use a tire with a smaller load index or capacity than the vehicle originally had; it could overload and fail.
- Do not use a tire size, load rating or speed rating other than the one specified for your vehicle. Tires of a different size may also give false speedometer and odometer readings.
- If you replace a wheel, make sure its specifications match the original wheels.
- Replace the wheel valve stems when installing new tires.
From the 2026 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual and the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Owner's Manual (Replacement Tires; Life Of Tire), read October 27, 2026.
Make your tires last: rotation
Tires on the front and rear axles carry different loads and do different steering, driving and braking work, so they wear at unequal rates. The Ram manual says timely rotation reduces this: it increases tread life, helps maintain mud, snow and wet traction, and contributes to a smooth, quiet ride. Follow the rotation interval in your vehicle's maintenance schedule; more frequent rotation is permissible.
The cause of any rapid or unusual wear should be corrected before the tires are rotated.
From the 2026 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual (Tire Rotation Recommendations), read October 27, 2026. Rotation patterns differ by vehicle, and some directional tires must not be reversed.
Tire service at Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center
We service all makes and models. When you schedule service online, you can choose tire rotation, tire balancing or a front-end alignment, and ask about your tread and tire age at the same visit.
Our service department is open Monday to Friday 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., closed Sunday. Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center is at 1200 E. Chicago St. in Elgin. Get directions.
Schedule service online, or see our service specials.
Tire replacement FAQ
At what tread depth should tires be replaced?
When the tread is worn to the tread wear indicators, which show as bands across the tread at 1/16 of an inch (1.6 mm) of tread depth.
How long do tires last?
It depends on driving style, tire pressure, distance driven and tire type; performance tires, tires rated V or higher and summer tires typically wear faster. Whatever the tread, the manuals say to replace tires and the spare after six years.
How do I tell how old my tires are?
Find the Tire Identification Number on the sidewall, starting with DOT. The last four digits are the week and year it was made: 0301 means the 3rd week of 2001.
Do I have to replace all four tires at once?
The manuals recommend replacing the two front tires or the two rear tires as a pair, because replacing just one tire can seriously affect handling.
Does the spare tire expire too?
Yes. The six-year warning covers the spare tire as well as the road tires.
Can I put a different tire size on my car?
The manuals say not to use a size, load rating or speed rating other than the one specified for your vehicle; a different size can also give false speedometer and odometer readings.
Why are my tires wearing unevenly?
Improper cold tire inflation pressure is one cause the manuals name. Have the cause of rapid or unusual wear corrected before the tires are rotated.
Time to check your tires?
Schedule service at Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center on Chicago Street in Elgin. We service all makes and models.
Sources
Tread, age and replacement guidance is from the 2026 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual and the 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Owner's Manual, read on October 27, 2026; they are examples, and your vehicle's own manual and tire placard may differ. Our services, address and hours are from our own website, checked the same day. Photo is of our dealership.
- 2026 Ram 1500 Owner's Manual (Tire Identification Number; Tread Wear Indicators; Life Of Tire; Replacement Tires; Tire Rotation Recommendations), Ram / Mopar
- 2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee Owner's Manual (Tread Wear Indicators; Life Of Tire; Replacement Tires), Jeep / Mopar
- Service and scheduling: service types, service hours, Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center
- Home page: address, all makes and models service, Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center
- Toyota tire service, Elgin Auto Sales & Service Center