Michelin is one of the leading tire brands offering a wide range of tires. But there is a common question I always get about Michelin tires. How long do Michelin tires last? That’s what this article is about.
Now, there is no specific answer to this question. Here is why – the lifespan of Michelin tires depends on a wide range of factors.
Let’s get deeper…
First Michelin has several types of tires. These tires are made for different vehicles and hence they are designed and constructed differently. The different categories of Michelin tires include
- Luxury performance tires
- Passenger car tires
- SUV Crossover tires
- Performance Sport tires
- Light truck tires
Apart from being made for different vehicles, they are also for different seasons like summer, winter, and all-season.
But there is something common about these tires – they all have different mileage warranties.
For instance, the Defender T+H, a standard touring all-season tire comes with an 80,000-mileage treadwear warranty. On the other hand, the Pilot Exalto PE2, an ultra-high-performance Summer tire has a 25,000 miles warranty for 6 years.
Michelin Tires Lifespan According to Mileage
The most accurate way to determine how long your Michelin tires will last is first determining the mileage you drive per year and then comparing that with the mileage warranty provided by Michelin.
According to Federal Highway Administration, most Americans drive between 14,000 and 15,000 miles a year. However, this is for the average motorist. Some drive 30,000 to 50,000 miles a year.
So if you have a Defender T+H standard touring tire and take proper care and maintenance the tire should last up to 6 years. That is if you drive an average of 15,000 miles per year. 15000 multiplied by 5 years, that is 75,000 miles.
If you drive less than 15,000 miles, the tires will last longer, but if you drive more than 15,000 miles, the tire’s lifespan will be lesser.
Here is a table with different tires and their respective mileage warranties.
| Tire | Type | Warranty |
| PILOT SPORT A/S 3+ | Ultra High-Performance All-Season | 6 Years / 45,000 Miles |
|
PILOT SPORT A/S 3 N-SPEC |
High-Performance All-Season | 6 Years / 45,000 Miles |
| PRIMACY 3 | Grand Touring Summer | 6 Years / 35,000 Miles |
| PILOT ALPIN 5 | Performance Winter / Snow | 6 Years / 30,000 Miles |
| ENERGY LX4 | Passenger All-Season | 6 Years / 50,000 Miles |
| CROSSCLIMATE+ | Grand Touring All-Season | 6 Years / 50,000 Miles |
| DEFENDER2 | Standard Touring All-Season | 6 Years / 80,000 Miles |
| DEFENDER T+H | Standard Touring All-Season | 6 Years / 80,000 Miles |
> Have you registered your tires?
Factors that determine how long your Michelin tires will last
Pressure
To improve your tire’s lifespan check the car’s manufacturer’s recommendation on the right inflation to avoid underinflation and overinflation. For instance, overinflation accelerates wear around the center.
Balance and alignment
To get the most out of your tires’ potential mileage, the tires must be aligned and balanced properly.
Rotation
Michelin recommends rotating tires after every 6 months or after every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. Make sure to follow the right rotation pattern.
Driving habits
Your driving habits will also determine how long the tires will last. For instance speeding, and emergency braking will reduce the lifespan.
Other things that reduce the lifespan of tires include mixing tire types, using the wrong season tires, using incompatible rims and wheel sizes, and unfavorable weather conditions.
When to Retire Your Michelin Tires
According to Michelin, you should retire any Michelin tire after 10 years. So, if you have Michelin tires on your car for 10 years, retire them. Michelin further says you should retire the tires whether they look good even if the tread has not completely worn out.
Note, that the 10 years period starts from the date the tires were installed and not the tires’ manufacturing date. After 5 years, Michelin recommends an annual inspection by a professional to check the condition of the tires.
Wrapping up
The most accurate way to measure the lifespan of a tire is by mileage and not years. By the time a tire’s tread depth is worn out the tire should have hit the mileage provided in the warranty. Michelin standard touring tires have a warranty mileage of up to 80,000 miles, which can last between 5 years and 10 years. Michelin recommends retiring tires after 10 years and yearly inspection after hitting 5 years.
Sam is Automole’s editor-in-chief and classic car enthusiast. Sam is studying mechanical engineering at Cockrell School of Engineering, Austin. He also writes for many top automotive publications and appears on the Collecting Cars Podcast.
