Expected Life of Brake Pads

If someone asks, “How long should my brake pads last?” the best answer is, “It depends!” Let’s help set your expectations about when you should install new brake pads.  Simply stated, when to change your brakes depends on your vehicle type and how you drive your car.  

Race Cars

The range of usage for brake pads runs from about 250 miles to 60,000 miles or more.

In Formula 1 racing, a typical race is about 250 miles. Brakes are replaced after every race.

NASCAR races run between 300 and 600 miles. Again, brakes are replaced after every race.

The Indianapolis 500 is, obviously, 500 miles, so the brakes have to be replaced after that race. What’s different with the Indy 500 is that brakes are mainly used when the cars enter the pits. The race cars are designed so the driver never has to apply the brakes during the race, even though there are 2,000 corners to turn.

Passenger Vehicles

So, if you drive and brake like a race car driver, your car’s brake pads are not going to last very long. But, under normal driving conditions, a reasonable expectation for new brake pads is around 40,000 miles.

If you take long trips by car, the brake pads will last longer, as much as 60,000 miles. Interstate highways are designed for steady speeds, and the brakes are not used as often.

For daily commutes in large congested cities, brakes are constantly in use. Even with this example, manufacturers want brake pads to last as long as possible.

Under regular driving conditions, brake pads can last 40,000 miles or about three years. Average car mileage ranges between 12,000 to 15,000 miles per year. So, brake pads generally last about three years.

You can extend the life of your vehicle’s brake pads by braking more gently and avoiding the hard braking that causes more wear.

You have a lot of control over the life of your car’s brake pads.

About Goodyear Brakes

Goodyear Brakes manufactures premium quality brake bundles, calipers, rotors, brake pads and all the hardware required to successfully install brakes, all backed by a national warranty, decades of production experience and one of the best-known names in automotive excellence. The brake pads are manufactured in the USA using a proprietary green production process by a company with more than 50 years of experience in friction science. The Goodyear Brakes product line is available through Goodyear Brakes at Amazon, CarID, Buy Brakes and AutoAnything.

Goodyear (and Winged Foot Design) and Blimp Design are trademarks of The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company used under license by FDP Virginia Inc., 1076 Airport Road, Tappahannock, VA 22560, USA. Copyright 2020 The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. Goodyear Brakes and FDP Virginia are not responsible for its products when they are subjected to improper applications, installation, or accident.