Guide
Tire cost per mile: compare tires by miles, not by price
A cheap tire that wears out early is not cheap. You only see it if you log where each tire started and where it ended.
In short
- Cost per 1,000 miles = (price + mounting + repairs) / miles at removal x 1,000.
- Log the odometer at install and at removal. Without both, the number is a guess.
- Compare two tires only on the same position, same load type and similar roads.
- Our example is invented. Your tires, roads and loads will give different numbers.
Hook. In the example, the tire that cost $55 less to buy costs $1.29 more per 1,000 miles. Fewer miles and one repair erased the saving.
The price tag is the start of the cost
Tire spend is one line in your cost per mile: "maintenance and tires". Splitting it out shows which tire earns its place.
The figure compares two invented tires. Tire A cost more to buy and lasted longer. Its bar is shorter, so it costs less per 1,000 miles. Shorter is better here.
Track repairs against the tire that needed them. A plug or a patch is part of that tire's cost.
Track a tire in five steps
Tag it
Give each tire an ID and write its position.
Log the start
Date, odometer, price and mounting cost.
Log the events
Repairs and the cost of each, tied to the tire ID.
Log the end
Odometer at removal and the reason.
Compute
Total cost / miles x 1,000. Compare tires in the same position.
What to log and why
| Column | Example entry | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tire ID and position | T14, drive 2 | You compare like with like |
| Odometer in and out | 412,000 and 507,000 | Gives the miles |
| Price and mounting | $410 and $35 | The start of the cost |
| Repairs | Plug, $40 | Belongs to this tire |
| Reason removed | Worn to limit | Tells you if it is wear or damage |
Log the reason for removal every time. "Worn out" and "sidewall damage" tell different stories. A tire that is pulled early for damage says little about the brand and a lot about the road, the pressure or the driver. Keep the two groups apart when you compare.
Do the same for retreads and casings. A casing that takes 2 retreads has 3 lives. Add the cost of the casing and each retread, add the miles of each life, and divide. That is the fairest way to compare a premium casing with a budget one, and it works with a simple sheet.
Worked example EXAMPLE VALUES
Example data. Two invented tires in the same position. Tire A was removed at 95,000 miles. Tire B was removed at 72,000 miles after one $40 repair.
| Line | Tire A | Tire B |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | $410 | $355 |
| Mount and balance | $35 | $35 |
| Repairs | $0 | $40 |
| Total cost | $445 | $430 |
| Miles at removal | 95,000 | 72,000 |
| Cost per 1,000 miles | $4.68 | $5.97 |
Tire A: $445 / 95,000 x 1,000 = $4.68. Tire B: $430 / 72,000 x 1,000 = $5.97. The gap is $1.29 per 1,000 miles.
Scale that gap to your fleet only with your own tire counts and miles. We do not extrapolate from two invented tires.
Where it goes wrong
- Comparing across positions. Steer and drive tires wear differently. Compare within a position.
- Ignoring early removals. A tire pulled for damage is data too. Log the reason.
- Forgetting the repair. A repair raises that tire's cost. Leave it out and the number looks better than it is.
- Judging on one tire. Use several tires before you change a brand.
The formulas
Retreads: log the casing cost and each retread as separate lines and sum them.
Your numbers decide
The numbers are invented. Tire life depends on roads, loads, pressure and alignment. We give no guidance on tire safety or legal limits. Follow the maker and your shop.
We do not give legal, tax or financial advice. Your contracts come first.
Questions
Do I need software?
No. A sheet with the five columns above works.
What about retreads?
Count the casing and each retread as costs of the same casing, and add the miles from each life.
Can I compare brands?
Yes, if position and load type match. A few tires per brand beat one.
Where does this go in my cost per mile?
Into the maintenance and tires line. See maintenance reserve per mile.
Related: maintenance reserve, downtime cost, true RPM, month end close, cost per mile tool, all guides.
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