Vehicle Milestones: What to Know About Mileage (2024)

Vehicle Milestones: What to Know About Mileage (1)

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Jack Dreyer | Friday 15th April 2022 9:30am

Vehicle Milestones: What to Know About Mileage (2)

Whether you’re buying a used vehicle or a new one straight from the dealership, its mileage will inevitably affect its condition. The more miles you put on the clock, the higher the chance of breakdown, transmission failures, and more.

Your vehicle's mileage can significantly impact its efficiency and value. So, let’s explore the most important mileage milestones you need to know and how these can affect your vehicle.

What mileage do vehicles begin to have issues at?

Most vehicles will run smoothly until the 50,000 to 80,000-mile benchmark, but this is not guaranteed. Some vehicles may experience issues with their clutch, oil, and even transmission before this point, depending on how well the vehicle is maintained.

50,000 Miles

Although 50,000 miles is generally considered low mileage, the risks of repairs and breakdowns start to rise.

If your vehicle has cheaper or part worn tyres, they may need changing here, especially if your steering suspension isn’t up to scratch. If your vehicle is using its original tyres, they may last up to 80,000 miles. If you have spare tyres to hand, we recommend inspecting them when you reach this mileage. Make sure they’re roadworthy and in good condition in case you need them.

Some brake pads may also need replacing at the 50,000-mile point, depending on the make and model of your vehicle. If you hear a grinding sound when you press your brake pedal, or you hear squeaking noises or feel a vibration, your brake pads may need changing.

60,000-70,000 Miles

At 60,000 miles, your cambelt, or car timing belt, may need replacing. Your cambelt is responsible for keeping the rotation of your camshaft and crankshaft in sync, and it doesn’t last a lifetime. If you hear strange noises from the engine, have trouble starting your car, or are experiencing oil leaks, it’s probably time for a replacement.

At this point, you may also experience issues with your engine gaskets. These issues may cause coolant to leak or prevent your engine from starting. Engine overheating and an unexplained loss of coolant are the main symptoms.

To avoid these issues, and to catch them before they develop into serious problems, book in for regular servicing with Kwik Fit.

80,000-100,000 Miles

At the 80 to 100,000-mile point, more significant issues may require your attention.

Common faults at this mileage include broken water pumps, damaged clutches, and more. Your vehicle's fluids will also begin to break down with age, so at this point, you should be changing all fluids, including brake, transmission, power steering, coolant, and oil.

Water pumps are the most common components to break down at this point. These repairs can be costly. We recommend inspecting your water pump and replacing it before any significant damage occurs. If you haven’t had your brakes inspected before this point, we recommend checking the disk brakes and rotors and rotating your tyres if necessary.

You can book in for a free brake check with Kwik Fit for this.

Vehicle mileage matters

Remember your vehicle's age, make, and model will affect its longevity. Regular maintenance and inspections are vital, too. Ensure you’re inspecting your vehicle at these milestones to detect issues early and avoid costly repairs.

If you have any questions about your vehicle’s maintenance, browse through our blog or contact the experts at your nearest Kwik Fit centre.

Tags : Everything else Vehicle mileage

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Vehicle Milestones: What to Know About Mileage (8)



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Finding Your Tyre Size

Tyre Size

Your tyre size can be found on the sidewall of your current tyre and is a sequence of numbers and letters. The most common tyre size in the UK is 205/55R16 but there are many variations so it’s important to check your existing tyre first before searching for tyres.

Tip: Take a photo of your existing tyre sidewall to make it easier to identify your tyre size using the guide below.

Vehicle Milestones: What to Know About Mileage (9)

Vehicle Milestones: What to Know About Mileage (10)

Vehicle Milestones: What to Know About Mileage (11)

Vehicle Milestones: What to Know About Mileage (12)

Vehicle Milestones: What to Know About Mileage (13)

  • Tyre Width
  • Aspect Ratio
  • Rim Diameter
  • Speed Rating
  • Load Rating
Tyre Width

The first three digits. This displays the width of the tyre in millimetres. A tyre marked 225 will measure 225mm across the tread from sidewall to sidewall.

Aspect Ratio

The fourth and fifth digits of the tyre code that immediately follow the tyre width. The aspect ratio or profile height of the tyre sidewall is expressed as a percentage of the tyre width. So an aspect ratio of 55 for example means that the profile height of the tyre is 55% of its width.

Rim Diameter

The next two digits represent the size of the wheel rim that the tyre can be fitted to. It is also the diameter of the tyre from bead to bead. So a tyre marked 16 will fit on a 16-inch wheel rim.

Speed Rating

The speed rating of a tyre is represented by a letter of the alphabet at the end of the tyre size code and indicates the maximum speed capability of the tyre. Tyres receive a speed rating based on a series of tests which measure the tyres capability to handle a set speed for a prolonged period of time.

Select your tyre speed rating to find out the maximum speed your tyres can maintain.

If you are unsure what speed rating you need, be sure to check your vehicle handbook. Choosing a lower speed rating than that recommended by your vehicle manufacturer could potentially invalidate your insurance.

Load Rating

The load index provides information on the maximum weight capability for the tyre. The load index is a numerical code that can be located just after the tyre size marking and before the speed rating.

Select your load index to find out the maximum load capability for your tyres.

Although not illegal, it is not advisable to have tyres with a lower speed rating or load index than the manufacturer recommended tyre specification for your vehicle, or to have a combination of different tyre construction types. Consult your vehicle handbook to confirm your vehicle’s tyre speed rating and load index as well as any additional requirements.

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We endeavour to ensure we are displaying the correct tyres for your vehicle. However, we recommend all customers check the tyre size printed on the side wall of their tyres before proceeding with a tyre purchase as occasionally discrepancies do occur. By selecting the tyre sizes above and clicking 'Continue', you are indicating that you have checked your tyre sizes.

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Vehicle Milestones: What to Know About Mileage (2024)

FAQs

Vehicle Milestones: What to Know About Mileage? ›

Many car manufacturers recommend a 30-60-90 schedule, which means that certain items will need to be inspected, changed or replaced at 30,000, 60,000 and 90,000 miles. Here are the mileage milestones to watch for and what to check your car for when you hit them.

What are the mileage milestones? ›

Many car manufacturers recommend a 30-60-90 schedule, which means that certain items will need to be inspected, changed or replaced at 30,000, 60,000 and 90,000 miles. Here are the mileage milestones to watch for and what to check your car for when you hit them.

What is more important vehicle age or mileage? ›

In conclusion, while it's a good idea to consider both the age of a vehicle and the mileage on the odometer, how it was maintained is the key. A 10 year old car with 100,000 miles may have received more maintenance and upkeep then a 5 year-old car with 50,000 miles.

Is it better to go by date or mileage for an oil change? ›

The best course of action for knowing when to change your oil is a “whatever comes first” approach. For vehicles that see more use and put on mileage quickly, it's important to make sure to get a timely oil change, even if it's been less than 6 months.

How do you work out if a car has good mileage? ›

To get an idea of what is considered a 'normal' mileage for a particular used car, you can divide the quoted mileage by the number of years on the road. If the result is higher than 7,500 this could be considered a high mileage car, and if the number is below, it's low mileage.

What is involved in a $50,000-mile car service? ›

Brake Fluid flush, Transmission Fluid flush, replace Aircon Pollen filter, Replace air filter element, replace Spark Plugs, Check Fan Belts, Check Rotor Discs, Replace Brake Pads, Radiator Coolant flush.

At what mileage should a car be replaced? ›

How many miles does a car last? A conventional car can last for 200,000 miles. Some well-maintained car models will reach 300,000 or more miles total.

Is it okay to go 10,000 miles with synthetic oil? ›

In general, though, modern cars can manage 5,000 to 7,500 miles between oil changes. If your vehicle calls for a blended or full synthetic oil, you can push that to 10,000 miles.

Is it okay to change oil once a year with low mileage? ›

Even if you don't drive very often and you are not nearing the recommended oil change interval in terms of mileage, it's best to get your oil changed at least every 3 to 12 months. That means at least once a year but ideally twice depending on how often you drive and the driving conditions.

How many miles is too many before an oil change? ›

It used to be normal to change the oil every 3,000 miles, but with modern lubricants most engines today have recommended oil change intervals of 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Moreover, if your car's engine requires full-synthetic motor oil, it might go as far as 15,000 miles between services!

How many miles is too high for a used car? ›

There's no rule to how many miles on a used car is too much, but by attempting to stick to the 12,000 miles per year rule is a great place to start. Find out how old the car is, multiple the number of years by 12,000, and if the number on the odometer is significantly higher than that, some concern might be warranted.

How do I make sure my car mileage is correct? ›

Look at the wear and tear on the vehicle—especially the gas, brake and clutch pedals—to be sure it seems consistent with and appropriate for the number of miles displayed on the odometer. Request a vehicle history report to check for odometer discrepancies in the vehicle's history.

Is it better to get an older car with less miles or a newer car with more miles? ›

If reliability and safety are paramount, a newer car with moderate mileage might be the ideal choice. This ensures access to the latest safety features and improved fuel efficiency while minimizing the risks associated with aging components.

How many miles per year is acceptable? ›

The average car gets in 10,000 to 12,000 miles per year, so used cars with an annual average lower than that can be considered as having good mileage. Simply divide the odometer number by the car's age in years to determine it's annual average.

What mileage do cars start having issues? ›

It can be somewhat risky to buy a vehicle that has racked up more than 100,000 miles. Even if it's well-maintained and has about 100,000 miles left in it, such a car is already past its prime. Generally, vehicles are likely to start experiencing problems after the 100,000-mile mark.

What should I put for miles driven per year? ›

Average miles driven per year broken down by state
StateAverage Miles Per Driver
Arkansas17,224
California12,524
Colorado12,899
Connecticut12,117
47 more rows
Feb 9, 2024

What should you replace every 15000 miles? ›

Every 15,000 miles, you should get a new air filter. Inspect your battery and coolant every 20,000 miles. At 25,000 miles, most manufacturer's recommend you replace your fuel filter.

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