These days properly maintaining a vehicle can cost a pretty penny, whether it’s oil change, a routine repair, or paying your insurance premiums. The bills add up quickly.
New tires are among the more expensive routine maintenance requirements, in part because you’re typically not just buying one, but four. When it came time for this woman to replace the tires on her Subaru Ascent, she was surprised by how much the cost has gone up since the ‘90s.
So how much should you actually expect to spend on a set of tires?
What Did The Mechanic Say About Her Tires?
In a TikTok with more than 124,000 views, content creator Kris (@kris103567) shared her astonishment at how much the tires for her 2025 Subaru Ascent would cost.
“So maybe I'm stuck in, like, 1999, but could you tell me how much you think four tires would be for a 2025 Subaru Ascent?” she asks.
Kris explains that she brought her car in for routine maintenance, including an oil change, air-filter service, and tire rotation. She also needed to get it inspected.
To her surprise, the car failed the inspection because her tires weren’t up to par. She was doubly confused because she hasn’t had the car that long.
"I've had this car for one year. One year. It's 14 months," she says.
While she admits she drove about 4,000 miles beyond the recommended point for a tire rotation, she was still shocked that the tires could be so worn after only 14 months.
"My tires are bad in one year. Really? In one year?" she asks.
She says she’s driven the car about 24,000 miles since she bought it, nearly double the roughly 12,000 miles the average person drives in a year, according to Kelley Blue Book.
Gallery: 2023 Subaru Ascent
Should She Need New Tires?
Many commenters were similarly flabbergasted that Kris needs new tires with just 24,000 miles on it since she bought it. Several said they’ve driven upwards of 50,000 miles on the same set without needing replacements.
It depends on multiple factors, including the conditions you drive in, your driving habits, the type of tires, and the age of the tires. But generally speaking, all-season tires are expected to last roughly twice as many miles as Kris says she drove. High-performance tires, on the other hand, may need replacing at far fewer than 24,000 miles.
She doesn’t say what type of tires her Ascent has.
Sticker Shock At The Price
The shop employee said they had tires in stock, but Kris was flabbergasted by the price. "No. Absolutely not," she recalls thinking of the price. She didn’t say how much the tires cost.
She says she asked whether the shop had tires for roughly half what they were quoting her; or better yet, even less. Kris also wonders whether the tires should be covered under warranty despite the missed rotation.
"Maybe I'm delusional," she wrote in the caption.
Why Do Tires Need To Be Rotated?
Tires don’t wear at the same rate in every position. Front tires, for example, may absorb more of the friction involved in turning, braking, and accelerating. Moving the tires to different positions distributes that wear, so one doesn’t wear out too much faster than the others, Bridgestone explains.
On all-wheel-drive vehicles, keeping the tires evenly worn can also reduce stress on expensive drivetrain components. Regular rotations may also be required to preserve a warranty on tires.
So, how often should drivers rotate their tires? While your car’s owner's manual is king, here are Bridgestone’s general guidelines:
- Most vehicles: Every 5,000 to 8,000 miles or six months
- SUVs and crossovers: Every 5,000 to 7,500 miles or six months
- All-wheel-drive and four-wheel-drive vehicles: Every 5,000 miles or less, especially when towing, hauling, or driving off-road
How Much Do New Tires Cost?
There is no single going rate for tires, because prices vary widely by size, type, and brand. Here are America's Tire’s estimates per tire:
- Small 12- to 15-inch tires: $80 to $150 for all-season tires and $100 to $150 for winter tires
- Medium 16- to 20-inch tires: $100 to $250 for all-season tires, $200 to $400 for winter tires, $150 to $250 for all-terrain tires, and $100 to $750 for performance tires
- Large 18- to 26-inch tires: $140 to $170 for all-season tires, $200 to $500 for all-terrain tires, and $200 to $1,000 for performance tires
In a survey, Consumer Reports found that members paid an average of $212 for each tire. And the median cost of installation, for those who paid for it, was another $31 per tire. More than half reported that they got free installation.
How To Save Money on Tires
Consumer Reports recommends beginning your search for new tires when the tread reaches 4/32 of an inch. Tires must be replaced at 2/32 of an inch, so beginning the search then gives drivers time to research tires, compare retailers, and wait for a rebate rather than buying whatever happens to be in stock.
Buying four tires at once is generally the most cost-effective option. Sets often qualify for rebates or buy-three-get-one promotions. If a rebate is not available, it may be worth waiting until the beginning of the next month, when many businesses often roll out new offers or promotions.
There may also be room to negotiate if you have time. Although just 14% of surveyed Consumer Reports members tried, 63% of those shoppers said they got a better price. Their reported median savings was $37 per tire, and more than half said they saved at least $100 overall. Shoppers can also ask a local retailer to match a lower price offered elsewhere.
Take note that the sticker price isn’t the only number that matters. Free installation, mounting, balancing, rotations, tire checks, and flat repairs can make a more expensive set actually cost less in the long-term. A pricier tire may also cost less per mile if it lasts significantly longer than the cheaper alternative.
Motor1 reached out to Kris via TikTok direct message and comment. We'll be sure to update this if she responds.
