I have seen drivers rack up as many as fifty thousand miles in just one year of driving full-time for Uber. If this is you and you’re looking for a complete guide on how to get the most out of your money when it comes to tires, you are in the right place.
I have over nine years of experience in the tire industry and have helped drivers just like you find the right tires and learn how to maximize their bang for the buck. In this article, you will learn everything there is to know about tires for rideshare drivers.
What Should Rideshare Drivers Look For In Tires?
When searching for your next set of tires to haul people all over the place, you might not know what you should be looking for. I have listed the three most important things you want to keep in mind when buying your next set and why they are important.
Longevity
How many miles you will receive out of your tires will determine how much time you spend in a tire shop rather than making money on the road. For rideshare drivers, time is money; every minute you waste getting new tires put on is another minute you’re not making money.
Most drivers I have helped will opt for the cheapest tire because they think there’s no point in spending more money on tires that will last longer since they will burn through them. If time is money, buying two or three sets of tires will cost you a lot more than buying one set that could last you the same amount of time.
That is why longevity is the most important factor.
Traction
You must remember that you are not the only person in your vehicle when driving, and the passengers you are carrying around trust you to keep them safe. Nobody wants to lose control of their vehicle, and going with a tire that will provide the safest traction ensures your passengers will be safe.
This is where going with the cheapest tire could cost you a lot of money because if you lose traction and get into an accident, damaging your vehicle, you’re basically out of a job until it is fixed.
Fuel Efficiency
One thing that will cost you more money than tires will be gas, and trying to find the most fuel-efficient tires possible is essential to ensure you get the miles out of a tank of gas. Tires come with a low rolling resistance rating, meaning that it takes less force to push the tires forward.
Less resistance to push the tire means your engine doesn’t have to work as hard, in turn saving precious fuel. For some vehicles like hybrids, low rolling resistance tires can save up to a maximum of fifteen percent fuel usage. Less money in gas means more in your pocket.
Where Can Rideshare Drivers Find The Best Tire Prices?
When searching for new tires, you can find low price tires almost anywhere but what you should be looking for is who has the lowest price on high-quality tires. That is what I did for you. I compared prices everywhere and found the best prices on high-quality tires.
Suppose you have a Costco membership and are looking for Michelin or Bridgestone tires. Costco very frequently runs massive instant rebates on these brand products with savings totaling up to $210 instantly!
Discount Tire does offer price matching, but that can be a pain to deal with sometimes. So if you were looking for any other brands besides Michelin or Bridgestone, they have a wide selection at low prices.
If you don’t have either of those retailers available, I recommend Amazon or TireRack. They have very comparable prices, and I found that they both offer certain tires at a lower price point than the other.
Being able to ship the tires directly to your local installers makes it much easier than bringing them in on your own. Just make sure to give the installer a heads up that you have tires being shipped to them.
Does The Tire Brand Matter For Rideshare Drivers
There are so many tire options out there, and whether it is a name brand or not will definitely have an impact on your ability to stay on the road to make more money.
Name Brand Tires
These tires are manufactured with much higher quality than their off-brand counterparts, from having thicker belt packaging to provide a smoother ride to having stronger bead packaging for increased steering response.
Name brand tires not only have better ride quality, but they also are less prone to defects. Tire defects can cause a wide range of issues, from turning your smooth ride into a bumpy one to, at the worst complete tire failure. Worrying about a tire failure should be the last thing on your mind.
The final thing name-brand tires tend to offer over off-brand is longer-lasting tread life. Going with a name-brand tire will keep you on the road longer.
Don’t end up like this!
Off Brand Tires
I would be wrong if I told you off-brand tires don’t have their place. They can be an excellent option for anyone who is in a financial pickle. The life expectancy of these tires will typically be around thirty to forty thousand miles.
If you are just starting and need new tires, they can provide you with enough tread life to make you enough money for your next set of tires. Some Uber drivers are making over a dollar per mile! So your return on investment is ridiculously high if you get a cheap set of tires.
What Are Energy Saving Tires, And Are They Worth Buying For Uber/Lyft Drivers?
Energy-saving tires are a tire that comes with a low rolling resistance rating. As I mentioned before, they will require less fuel consumption to be pushed forward. What makes a tire energy saving is also the way it is manufactured.
When manufacturing these tires, they require less raw material and produce less waste in the manufacturing process, and this means it is an eco-friendly option.
These tires may not be worth buying if you don’t own a fuel-efficient vehicle. Vehicles that see the most significant savings on gas are hybrid vehicles like a Toyota Prius or even electric vehicles. Anyone with a conventional vehicle can only expect to receive less than three percent fuel savings.
Three percent fuel savings is not enough to justify paying more for an energy-saving tire.
How Long Can Rideshare Drivers Expect Their Tires To Last?
Tire longevity is heavily dependent on a lot of factors, including how you drive, the climate, and tire maintenance. I have seen rideshare drivers burn through tires in less than fifteen thousand miles while also seeing drivers get over seventy thousand miles.
If you drive with a lead foot, you can expect to receive between twenty and thirty thousand miles, whereas an average person should expect between forty and sixty thousand miles. This will ultimately depend on the tire you decide to go with.
Tips To Make Tires Last Longer For Rideshare Drivers?
I absolutely have tons of tips to provide longer tread life, and you can see what they are below.
Tire Rotations
Rotating your tires every five to eight thousand miles is the most effective way to get long tread life. Not rotating your tires can result in wearing out your tires twice as fast.
Air Pressure
Maintaining proper tire inflation will prevent your tires from wearing unevenly. This uneven wear can make portions of your tread wear out much faster. It is recommended to check your tire pressures once a month.
Wheel Alignment
When your wheel alignment is out of spec, it creates horrible uneven wear patterns that make your tires wear uneven and wear out faster. It is recommended to have your wheel alignment checked once a year.
You will find a great video of in-depth tire maintenance below!
Discounts Available On Tires For Rideshare Drivers
- Uber: up to 15% off tires at Firestone, Meineke, and Midas
- Lyft: 20% discount at PepBoys when you show your Lyft Direct card
Final Thoughts
Anyone who currently is a rideshare driver or even anyone thinking about becoming one should follow all these tips to ensure you maximize your bang for the buck. Rideshare driving is tough on your tires, especially if you mainly do in-town pick-ups and drop-offs.
Don’t forget to take advantage of discounts available through rideshare programs.
Stop reading and get back on the road to make more money!
