What does this cost in your state?
California is the costliest state and Arkansas the cheapest; each square shows that state's midpoint of the estimate.
Lower-cost states ($816)MiddleHigher-cost states ($1,039)
What it shows: CA is the highest at $1,039 and AR the lowest at $816, across 51 states.
Counts below are complaints filed with NHTSA, not failure rates: a longer bar means more owners reported it.
Is your car affected?
What it shows: The most common band for complaints about this repair is under 50,000 (96%), against 60% for all complaints: the biggest difference between the two.
What it shows: The most common band for complaints about this repair is under 3 years old (68%), against 40% for all complaints: the biggest difference between the two.
Is it urgent, and what do owners notice first?
125 owner complaints name this part.
Owners say the dealer could not fix or repeat the problem. If it comes back after a repair, ask what was tested before you pay again.
How fast were owners driving when it happened?
55 mph or faster leads at 55%.
Owners reported it most often at highway speed. Tell the shop what speed it happens at, because that narrows the diagnosis.
How serious did it get for owners?
Among the 125 owner complaints naming this part, being towed is the outcome owners report most often.
Outcomes owners reported in complaints about this part. Towed: 6; Crash reported: 4; Injury reported: 2.
Which model years show up most in the complaints?
Among the 99 owner complaints naming this part that state a model year, complaints cluster in a few model years instead of spreading evenly.
What it shows: 2017 is the largest at 18 (18%), followed by 2015 at 10 (10%); the smallest shown is 2025 at 1 (1%).
Have prices for this kind of repair been rising faster than other car costs?
In the BLS consumer price index for U.S. cities, prices for tires are up 26.9% since December 2019, against 74.2% for motor vehicle repair and 55.2% for maintenance and repair overall (latest reading 2026-08).
Consumer prices since December 2019: tires against motor vehicle repair. Tires: +26.9%; Motor vehicle repair: +74.2%; Motor vehicle maintenance and repair: +55.2%.
How long do tires last and how well do they grip, by the government grades?
Among 3,031 tire lines in NHTSA's tire grading database, the median treadwear grade is 420, and 88.9% earn wet traction grade A or better.
| Treadwear grade | Tire lines | Share of lines |
|---|---|---|
| 0 to 199 | 159 | 5.2% |
| 200 to 299 | 413 | 13.6% |
| 300 to 399 | 727 | 24.0% |
| 400 to 499 | 773 | 25.5% |
| 500 to 599 | 540 | 17.8% |
| 600 to 699 | 294 | 9.7% |
| 700 or more | 125 | 4.1% |
How much do households spend on tires a year?
In the BLS Consumer Expenditure Survey, U.S. households spent an average of $217 on tires in 2024, from $80 in the lowest-income fifth to $372 in the highest.
What it shows: Highest fifth is the largest at $372, followed by Lowest fifth at $80; the smallest shown is Lowest fifth at $80.
Are the parts for this repair getting more expensive, or only the labor?
The federal producer price index for new passenger car tires rose 34.1% from December 2019 to August 2026, while the consumer price index for motor vehicle repair, labor and parts together, rose 55.2% (BLS, national).
Prices of new passenger car tires, as shops buy them from makers, since December 2019, against consumer prices for motor vehicle repair. New passenger car tires: +34.1%; All motor vehicle parts: +17.4%; Motor vehicle repair, labor and parts together: +55.2%.
Has this part been recalled abroad on cars that may share it?
Manufacturers filed 3 foreign recall campaigns that name run flat with NHTSA since 2015 (matched by the filing text); the latest, from Nissan North America in 2020-02.
| Filed | Manufacturer | Foreign recall no. | What the filing says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020-02 | Nissan. | 036 | More specifically, certain GCC countries require a spare tire be included for all vehicle tires except run-flat tires. |
| 2019-05 | Mercedes-Benz | 105 | Identification of Vehicles Make Line Model Year Inclusive Dates of Manufacture Mercedes-Benz May 2016 � current production E-Class (213 platform) 2017, 2018, 2019 Total Number of Vehicles Potentially Affected Approximately 44,977 Model Year ("MY") 2017-2019. |
| 2019-02 | Toyota Motor Corporation | 043 | Foreign Safety Recall / Other Safety Campaign Report Certain Lexus Vehicles Date: February 27, 2019 Foreign Safety Recall / Other Safety Campaign Report Subject: Run-flat tire issue on certain Lexus vehicles 1. |
Was my tire a known defect, and which tire lines has NHTSA recalled?
NHTSA lists 49 tire recall campaigns filed since 2015 (tire recalls that name air loss, bead or sidewall), covering 1,030,223 tires; the largest, Cooper Discoverer At3 4s in 2021, covered 430,298.
What it shows: Cooper Discoverer At3 4s is the largest at 430,298, followed by Primewell Valera Touring Ii at 394,378; the smallest shown is Yokohama 504c at 6,992.
Does vehicle age change how underinflated tires are?
NHTSA's 2001 measurement of 11,530 vehicles found 8% of tires on cars 3 years old or newer underinflated by 8 psi or more against 15% on cars over 6 years old, and 12% against 24% on pickups, SUVs and vans.
Share of tires deviating 8 psi or more from the maker's pressure, by vehicle age, measured in 2001. 3 years or newer, pickups and SUVs: 12%; 3 to 6 years, pickups and SUVs: 15%; Over 6 years, pickups and SUVs: 24%.
How many potholes do big-city drivers report each year?
New Yorkers filed 30,624 to 49,909 pothole requests a year to 311 from 2020 to 2024, and Chicagoans filed 43,237 to 132,939 a year from 2012 to 2018; these are requests in two cities, not a national count.
What it shows: Chicago 2014 is the largest at 132,939, followed by NYC 2020 at 30,624; the smallest shown is NYC 2020 at 30,624.
Where are the roughest state highways in Colorado?
Colorado DOT's 2018 pavement survey puts 20.0% of its 11,345 state highway miles in the LOW drivability-life class, with the share highest in Lincoln County (46.4%), Morgan (42.3%) and Jackson (40.1%); this is one state, not a national figure.
What it shows: Lincoln is the largest at 46.4%, followed by Morgan at 42.3%; the smallest shown is Moffat at 30.5%.
Which metro areas drive the most miles per resident?
FHWA's 2022 urbanized-area table shows the most driving per resident in Nashville-Davidson, TN (41.9 vehicle miles a day), Knoxville, TN and Birmingham, AL, against a median of 21.3 across 493 urbanized areas.
What it shows: Nashville-Davidson, TN is the largest at 41.9, followed by Knoxville, TN at 33.0; the smallest shown is San Antonio, TX at 28.0.
How old is this tire? Read the date code.
Under federal rule 49 CFR 574.5 every tire carries a DOT identification number whose final four digits are its date code, two digits for the week and two for the year it was made, so a code of 3524 means week 35 of 2024 and tire age can be read before you buy.
Reading the DOT date code on a tire (49 CFR 574.5). Last four digits of the DOT number: the date code: two digits for the week, two for the year of manufacture what (3524 = made in week 35 of 2024); First two of the four digits: week of the year; 01 is the first full calendar week (Sunday to Saturday) what (35 = the 35th week); Last two of the four digits: year of manufacture what (24 = 2024).
Does my state add a scrap-tire fee to the tire bill?
36 of 50 U.S. states charge a scrap-tire fee on new tires and 14 do not, with flat fees from $0.25 to $5.00 per tire, so four tires add up to $20.00 at the highest flat fee against $0 in states with no fee.
| State | Fee per new tire (as published) | On four tires | Share of $939 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $1.00 | $4.00 | 0.4% |
| Alaska | $2.50 / passenger tire extra $5.00 / studded tire | varies | |
| Arizona | 2% or $2.00 max | varies | |
| Arkansas | $2.00 / new passenger tire extra $3.00 / new truck tire (>20" rim) | varies | |
| California | $1.75 | $7.00 | 0.7% |
| Colorado | $1.25 | $5.00 | 0.5% |
| Connecticut | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Delaware | $2.00 | $8.00 | 0.9% |
| Florida | $1.00 | $4.00 | 0.4% |
| Georgia | $1.00 | $4.00 | 0.4% |
| Hawaii | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Idaho | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Illinois | $2.50 | $10.00 | 1.1% |
| Indiana | $0.25 | $1.00 | 0.1% |
| Iowa | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Kansas | $0.25 | $1.00 | 0.1% |
| Kentucky | $2.00 | $8.00 | 0.9% |
| Louisiana | $1.25 / recapped or retreaded tire, $2.25 / passenger tire, $5.00 / medium truck tire, $10.00 / off-road tire | varies | |
| Maine | $1.00 | $4.00 | 0.4% |
| Maryland | $0.80 | $3.20 | 0.3% |
| Massachusetts | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Michigan | $1.50 per vehicle title transfer | varies | |
| Minnesota | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Mississippi | $1.00 or $2.00 based on size | varies | |
| Missouri | $0.50 | $2.00 | 0.2% |
| Montana | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Nebraska | $1.00 | $4.00 | 0.4% |
| Nevada | $1.00 | $4.00 | 0.4% |
| New Hampshire | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| New Jersey | $1.50 | $6.00 | 0.6% |
| New Mexico | $1.50 | $6.00 | 0.6% |
| New York | $2.50 | $10.00 | 1.1% |
| North Carolina | 1% on or 2% based on size | varies | |
| North Dakota | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Ohio | $1.00 | $4.00 | 0.4% |
| Oklahoma | $2.90 or $5.50 or more based on size | varies | |
| Oregon | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Pennsylvania | $1.00 | $4.00 | 0.4% |
| Rhode Island | $5.00 | $20.00 | 2.1% |
| South Carolina | $2.00 | $8.00 | 0.9% |
| South Dakota | $0.25 | $1.00 | 0.1% |
| Tennessee | $1.35 | $5.40 | 0.6% |
| Texas | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| This page's calculator midpoint | run-flat tire replacement | $939 | |
| Utah | $1.00 | $4.00 | 0.4% |
| Vermont | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Virginia | $0.50 | $2.00 | 0.2% |
| Washington | $1.00 | $4.00 | 0.4% |
| West Virginia | $10 / vehicle title transfer | varies | |
| Wisconsin | No state fee | $0.00 | |
| Wyoming | No state fee | $0.00 |
How many miles a year does my kind of vehicle really drive?
In the 2022 National Household Travel Survey, Van owners report driving an average 15,194 miles a year against 13,298 for Pickup owners, and 24.5% of Van owners drive 15,000 miles or more (reported mileage, survey-weighted).
| Vehicle type | Average miles per year | Share driven 15,000 miles or more | Vehicles surveyed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Van | 15,194 | 24.5% | 648 |
| Car | 14,950 | 20.6% | 6,232 |
| SUV | 14,351 | 21.5% | 4,479 |
| Pickup | 13,298 | 22% | 2,331 |
How do tires fail, and which failure do owners report most?
Blowout leads at 8.
Owners most often describe the failure as "blowout". Use the same wording when you describe a problem to a tire shop.
Which tire on the car fails most often?
Driver-side front leads at 14.
Check that tire first, but look at all four: every position is in the reports.
How old were the tires when owners reported the problem?
2 to 3 years leads at 6.
Age of the tire when the owner reported the problem, from the date code molded into the sidewall. 2 to 3 years: 6; 4 to 5 years: 2; 8 to 9 years: 1.
A tire's age is printed on its sidewall as a four-digit date code (week and year): check yours.
Has the maker published a fix?
A bulletin is a repair procedure a maker sends its dealers, not a safety defect: if your maker is listed, ask the dealer whether one covers your car and quote its number.
| Maker | Vehicles | Bulletin number | Date | What it says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BMW | X1 SAV 2017 | B360317 | Dec 1, 2017 | DELIVERY STOP: REPLACE TIRES: Vehicles were not assembled with Runflat tires as. |
| Nissan | Pathfinder 2015; GT-R 2015–2016 and 18 more | NTB15060 | Jul 6, 2015 | SERVICE INFORMATION When servicing run flat tires or low profile tires: - Special equipment and procedures are required to avoid damage. |
What do owners say?
3 complaints quoted word for word, each with its NHTSA number.
Tech stated tire (23000 miles) could not be repaired because of a safety issue due to sidewall seperation defect with no sign of impact or run flat damage.
235/40/19 xl run flat: At 20,750 miles, Sudden Extreme Vibration at Interstate Speed.
3 run flat bridgestone tires blown up while driving for no reason or road hazards in less than 21,000 miles and within 4 weeks.
Check your car
Run flat tire replacement costs $534–$1,344 for two tires, parts and labor, at a shop charging about $120 an hour. Tire size, brand tier and shop type move that range most, and each extra tire adds roughly half of it again.
What does the estimate cover, and what does it leave out?
The estimate is for run-flat tires only, supplied and installed: the tire itself plus shop labor to mount and balance it. It assumes the default brand tier and an average shop.
It leaves out alignment, new tire pressure sensors or sensor service, and any wheel repair. Run-flats are usually fitted to cars with a tire pressure monitor, and a shop may charge extra to reset or replace a sensor when the tire comes off. Ask for those lines separately.
How much does each choice change the price?
Four choices move the number: how many tires, wheel size, brand tier and shop type. Each row changes one setting from the default of two tires.
| Setting | Estimate |
|---|---|
| Default: two tires, mid-range brand, average shop | $534–$1,344 |
| One tire | $267–$672 |
| Three tires | $801–$2,016 |
| Four tires | $1,068–$2,688 |
| 15–17 inch wheels | $451–$1,123 |
| 20 inch and larger wheels | $741–$1,896 |
| Budget brand (Firestone, Falken) | $410–$1,013 |
| Premium brand (Pirelli, Continental, Yokohama) | $741–$1,896 |
| Independent shop (about $100/hr) | $514–$1,304 |
| Dealership (about $175/hr) | $589–$1,454 |
The tire is the bigger part of the bill. Shop type moves the total far less than wheel size or brand tier does.
Can you repair a run-flat, or must you replace it?
Plan on replacing it. A run-flat that has been driven while low on air can be damaged inside the sidewall where you cannot see it, and many shops will not patch one for that reason. Ask the shop what they found and whether they inspected the inside of the tire.
A small tread puncture on a tire that never ran flat may be repairable at some shops. Get that answer before you approve a new tire, and ask them to put the reason in writing on the quote.
How do you tell it is the tire, and how urgent is it?
Suspect the tire if the pressure warning comes on, the car pulls or vibrates at speed, or you notice a bulge or a cut in the sidewall. A run-flat can hide a puncture because the car still drives normally, so a pressure warning is the main clue.
Treat a warning as urgent. A run-flat is built to carry the car a limited distance at reduced speed, not to be driven on for days. Check the pressure, look for damage, and go to a shop.
How do you get a fair quote?
Ask for an itemized quote: tire brand and model, size, mounting and balancing, sensor service, disposal fees and tax. Make sure it names run-flat tires, since a standard tire of the same size is a different, cheaper part.
Run your own tire count, wheel size and shop type through the calculator. A quote under $514 or over $1,454 for the default two-tire job, as an independent shop and a dealership would price it, is worth a second call.
What do owners ask about this repair?
Can I replace just one run-flat? You can, but a new tire next to a worn one can change handling, so many shops suggest replacing in pairs on the same axle. Our default prices two tires for that reason.
Can I swap run-flats for standard tires? Often yes, but the car may have no spare and no jack, and the stiffer sidewall was part of how the suspension was tuned. Ask the shop about both before you switch.
Sources
Data shown on this page
- NHTSA owner complaint file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA service bulletin file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- CalcScrape calculator model scaled by BEA Regional Price Parities data from 2024
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), U.S. city average file downloaded 2026-08
- NHTSA Uniform Tire Quality Grading System (UTQGS) ratings file downloaded 2026-10-05
- U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Consumer Expenditure Survey, item 480110 Tires - purchased, replaced, and installed data from 2024
- BLS Producer Price Index, commodity data for motor vehicle parts (series WPU07120104); BLS Consumer Price Index item SETD for the repair row file downloaded August 2026
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, Foreign Campaigns (filings under 49 CFR 579.11, public API) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall flat file (tire recalls, report type T) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA National Center for Statistics and Analysis, Tire Pressure Special Study: Vehicle Observation Data (DOT HS 809 317) data from 2001
- NYC Open Data 311 Service Requests (erm2-nwe9, descriptor Pothole) and City of Chicago 311 Service Requests - Pot Holes Reported - Historical (7as2-ds3y) data from 2025
- Colorado DOT, Highway Quality in Colorado 2018 (data.colorado.gov skxn-j975), cond field (drivability life class) data from 2018
- FHWA Highway Statistics 2022, Table HM-72 (urbanized areas: daily vehicle miles per capita) data from 2022
- eCFR, 49 CFR 574.5 Tire identification requirements (NHTSA) data from 2025
- U.S. Tire Manufacturers Association (compiling state statutes), State End-of-Life Tire Legislation Summary, October 2024 file data from 2024
- FHWA, 2022 NextGen National Household Travel Survey, vehicle file file downloaded 2026-10
Terms: US government data, public domain.
Observed: records as filed; owner reports are unverified and are not failure rates. Modeled: our estimate, not a quote. Reported: figures as reported by the publisher, not independently verified. Rule: a published legal rule, not a measurement; whether it covers a given repair depends on the car and the facts.
What is our own estimate
The price range comes from our calculator's formula. Its parts prices, labor hours per job and shop-rate tiers are CalcScrape estimates, not a published price dataset. Not independently checked: no established price guide publishes a general range for this exact job (looked 2026-10-06), so the default has no outside comparison. Methodology