Truck Tire Cost per Mile Calculator
Work out truck tire cost per mile for steer, drive and trailer positions, with service costs, optional retreads and a yearly tire budget.
Tires are one of a truck's larger running costs, but the bills arrive in lumps — a set of drives one month, a steer tire the next. Turning them into a cost per mile lets you price loads, compare tire brands and judge whether retreading pays. This calculator works out the cost per mile for the steer, drive and trailer positions and for the whole rig.
How to use this tool
- For each position, enter the number of tires, the price of one new tire and the miles it lasts.
- Add the per-tire cost of mounting, balancing and disposal.
- If you retread drive and trailer casings, choose how many times and enter the retread price and miles.
- Enter your yearly miles to see the annual tire budget.
Formula
Cost per tire life = New tire price + Service + Retreads × Retread price
Miles per tire life = New tread miles + Retreads × Miles per retread
Cost per mile = Σ (Tires × Cost per tire life ÷ Miles per tire life)
Each position is worked out separately because steer, drive and trailer tires wear at different rates and cost different amounts. The sum across positions is the cost of the tires for every mile the whole vehicle travels. Service is charged once for the new tire; each retread price must include its fitting/service costs. Annual casing counts are long-run budget equivalents, not a dated purchase schedule. This assumes every selected casing survives the specified retreads.
Example
A tractor-trailer has 2 steer tires at $550 lasting 120,000 miles, 8 drives at $500 lasting 250,000 miles and 8 trailer tires at $420 lasting 200,000 miles, with $40 of service per tire. The steers cost 2 × $590 ÷ 120,000 = 0.98¢ a mile, the drives 8 × $540 ÷ 250,000 = 1.73¢ and the trailer tires 8 × $460 ÷ 200,000 = 1.84¢. The total is 4.55¢ per mile, or about $5,006 a year at 110,000 miles.
Frequently asked questions
How do I find the miles a tire lasts?
Use your own records: the miles between fitting and removal at the tread depth you pull tires at. Regular tread-depth readings also let you project the miles left on tires still in service.
Do retreads lower cost per mile?
They can, when casings are in good condition, because a retread usually costs less than a new tire and adds another tread life. Compare the result with zero, one and two retreads using your own prices.
Why include service costs?
Initial service is added to the new tire price. For retreads, use an installed price that includes each repeat service cost; otherwise the comparison understates the cost of extending casing life.
Last updated: 2026-10-30