Buying math · guide
How to calculate tire cost per mile
The formula
cost per mile = total installed price of the set ÷ miles until the tires are worn out. Cost per 1,000 miles is easier to read, so we use that.
What to put in
- Price: the out-the-door total for the set. Fees on a replacement can include taxes, shipping, mounting, balancing and disposal (the items Continental lists on a pro-rata replacement, Continental Tire support).
- Miles: your own estimate. A warranty figure is the maker’s limited promise, settled pro rata and conditional on rotation records and an age limit (details); treat it as a ceiling. Treadwear grades can’t be converted into miles at all (why).
- Wear-out point: tires are worn out at 2/32 inch (when to replace).
Worked example (made-up numbers)
Illustrative only. Every input below is invented to show the arithmetic. These are not real prices, not real warranties and not a recommendation of any tire.
| Made-up input | Tire A | Tire B |
|---|---|---|
| Installed price for the set | $800 | $650 |
| Miles you expect | 60,000 | 45,000 |
| Cost per 1,000 miles | $13.33 | $14.44 |
| Cost per mile | $0.0133 | $0.0144 |
| Years at a made-up 12,000 miles a year | 5.0 | 3.8 |
Here the cheaper set (B) costs more per mile, because it is assumed to last fewer miles. The result is only as good as the mileage input: if Tire A in fact wore out at 45,000 miles it would cost $17.78 per 1,000 miles, even more than B’s assumed figure. That is why the mileage estimate, not the price, is the hard part.
Two cautions
- Age can end a tire before mileage does. At the made-up 12,000 miles a year, tire A would take 5 years to wear out. NHTSA notes some vehicle and tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires six to 10 years old regardless of tread (NHTSA), and warranties can have their own age limits.
- Upkeep changes the miles. See making tires last longer.
Try your own numbers
The calculator below runs entirely in your browser and nothing is pre-filled. Size pages carry a per-row version: 225/65R17, 235/55R19.
Cost-per-mile calculator
Price and mileage data are pending a licensed feed, so nothing is pre-filled. Enter your own quote and your own mileage expectation (for example the maker's treadwear warranty from the tire's paperwork). Formula: cost per 1,000 miles = price per set ÷ (expected miles ÷ 1,000).
FAQ
How do I calculate cost per mile for tires?
Divide the total installed price of the set by the miles you expect to get. For example (made-up numbers), an $800 set expected to last 60,000 miles costs about $13.33 per 1,000 miles.
Should I use the mileage warranty as my expected miles?
Use it as a ceiling, not a forecast. Warranties are limited, usually pro-rated and conditional, and actual mileage varies with driving habits, vehicle type and road conditions.
Does the cheapest tire have the lowest cost per mile?
Not necessarily. A cheaper set that wears out sooner can cost more per mile, as the made-up example shows; the answer depends on real prices and real mileage.
Does this site show tire prices?
Not yet. We have no licensed price feed, so we don’t display prices; the calculator uses only what you enter.
Look up real ratings
- 225/65R17 tires ranked by treadwear35 graded lines
- 235/55R19 tires ranked by treadwear32 graded lines
Sources
- Mileage Warranty (support article, updated June 12, 2026), Continental Tire. Retrieved 2026-10-25.
- TireWise: Tire Safety Ratings and Awareness, NHTSA. Retrieved 2026-10-25.
- Tire Replacement, Tire Industry Association. Retrieved 2026-10-25.
NHTSA ratings are from the dataset we publish. Maker statements are the makers’ own claims. We make no price claims. Found an error? See About & corrections.
Keep reading
- Treadwear rating vs. mileage warrantyTreadwear vs. mileage
- How much do tires cost?Buying
- How to make your tires last longerMaintenance