Tractor tyre cost per hour – compare tyres properly
The cheapest tyre to buy is not always the cheapest to run. A more expensive tyre that lasts many more hours can cost less per hour, and a cheap tyre can turn out expensive if it wears quickly. Comparing tyres by cost per operating hour, and ideally per hectare, is better than comparing price alone.
The formulas
Cost per hour = tyre price ÷ operating hours
Cost per hectare = tyre price ÷ hectares worked
If the price is for a pair or a set, the hours and hectares must be for the same set. Include or exclude fitting, but treat both tyres the same.
Worked example
Two pairs of rear tyres are compared. All figures are invented and only an example. Prices are in Swedish kronor (SEK).
| Tyre A | Tyre B | |
|---|---|---|
| Price per pair | 56,000 SEK | 44,000 SEK |
| Operating hours | 3,500 h | 2,400 h |
| Cost per hour | 16.0 SEK/h | 18.3 SEK/h |
| Hectares over the tyre's life | 9,000 ha | 6,500 ha |
| Cost per hectare | 6.2 SEK/ha | 6.8 SEK/ha |
Tyre A cost 12,000 SEK more but was about 13 % cheaper per hour and about 8 % cheaper per hectare.
Where do the hours come from?
Däcktryck.se has no tyre-life data in the catalogue. Tyre life depends too much on driving style, road and field share, pressure, surface and climate for a general figure to be meaningful. Use instead:
- The hour meter at the last tyre change. Write down the hours when new tyres are fitted.
- Your own records of areas worked.
- Neighbours and contractors with similar use.
- Your dealer's experience with a given pattern.
What affects tyre life?
| Factor | Effect |
|---|---|
| Road work | Tarmac wears tyres most, especially at speed with low pressure |
| Inflation pressure | Too low on the road causes heat and wear, too high in the field causes slip. See tyre pressure |
| Front axle lead | Wrong lead adds front tyre wear. See front axle lead |
| Wheel slip | High slip under heavy draft wears tread and wastes fuel |
| Ballast | Too little causes slip, too much adds load. See axle load |
What the calculation leaves out
- Fuel: a tyre that pulls better at lower pressure may save more fuel than the difference in tyre cost.
- Soil compaction: lower pressure can mean higher yields. See soil compaction.
- Residual value of part-worn tyres.
- Downtime from damage.
Common mistakes
- Comparing a new tyre with a worn one without scaling the hours to the same wear limit.
- Comparing tyres from tractors with very different use.
- Comparing pair A with a single tyre B.
Break-even: how long must the dearer tyre last?
You can also work backwards and find how many hours the dearer tyre must last to match the cheaper one per hour:
Break-even hours = price of the dearer tyre ÷ cost per hour of the cheaper tyre
In the example: 56,000 ÷ 18.33 ≈ 3,055 hours. If tyre A lasts longer than that, it is cheaper per hour. This is useful when you only roughly know how long a new tyre usually lasts.
A simple tyre log
The hardest part is having your own figures. A simple log is enough:
| Tractor | Position | Tyre | Fitted (date, hours) | Removed (date, hours) | Price | Note |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| … | Rear | … | … | … | … | e.g. mostly road |
Also note tread depth at fitting and once a season, so you can scale to the same wear limit if one tyre was replaced early.
Seasonal tips that extend tyre life
- Before the season: check pressure, damage and tread depth, and repair small damage early.
- During the season: adjust pressure to implement and road/field. Lots of road work at field pressure wears tyres fast.
- Storage: store removed tyres cool, dark and dry, protected from sunlight and ozone, per the maker's advice.
Related questions
How many hours do tractor tyres last?
It varies widely with use. Däcktryck.se has no such data; use your own hours or ask your dealer.
Are premium tractor tyres worth it?
They are if they last long enough, or bring other benefits such as lower fuel use. Calculate the break-even with the formula above.
Should fitting be included in the cost?
It does not matter as long as you treat both options the same; fitting often costs the same for both.
Troubleshooting: causes of fast wear
| Wear pattern | Common cause |
|---|---|
| Wear in the tread centre | Pressure too high, often with a lot of road transport |
| Wear on the shoulders | Pressure too low for the load |
| Fast front tyre wear | Excessive lead or much road work with 4WD engaged, see lead |
| Saw-tooth wear on the lugs | A lot of road work on field tyres |
| Cuts and damage | Stubble, stones or sharp objects |
Checklist: comparing two tyres fairly
- Use prices with the same extras for both tyres.
- Estimate life in hours from your own experience or the supplier's estimate.
- Calculate cost per hour and break-even.
- Factor in differences in capacity and pressure, see IF and VF tyres.
- Check that both options give acceptable lead.
Cost per hour at different tyre lives
Invented example: a tyre costing SEK 60,000.
| Life | 2,000 h | 3,000 h | 4,000 h | 5,000 h |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cost per hour | SEK 30 | SEK 20 | SEK 15 | SEK 12 |
Tyre life matters as much as price. An extra 1,000 hours can be worth more than a big discount.
From cost per hour to cost per hectare
If you know your work rate: cost per hectare = cost per hour ÷ hectares per hour. Invented example: SEK 20/h at 4 ha/h is SEK 5/ha in tyre cost.
What affects tyre life?
- The share of road work, especially at high pressure or speed.
- Correct pressure for load and speed, see tractor tyre pressure.
- Correct lead on 4WD tractors.
- Wheel slip in the field, which rises with too little weight or too high pressure.
- Ground conditions such as stones and stubble.
How large the effects are varies and we have no data on it. These are general factors often cited by manufacturers.
How to do it in the app
- Open Cost /h.
- Pick tyre A and tyre B from the catalogue.
- Enter the price and the hours for each.
- Optionally enter hectares to get cost per hectare too.
The calculation is based entirely on your figures.
Open Cost /h in the appFrequently asked questions
How do you calculate tyre cost per hour?
Divide the tyre price by the operating hours it lasted. In the example, 56,000 SEK over 3,500 hours is 16 SEK per hour.
Does Däcktryck.se have tyre life data?
No. Tyre life depends on driving style, road/field share, pressure and surface, so the calculation uses your own hours.
How do I calculate the break-even between two tyres?
Divide the dearer tyre's price by the cheaper tyre's cost per hour. In the example that is about 3,055 hours.
How long do tractor tyres last?
It varies widely with use, and Däcktryck.se has no tyre-life data. Use your own hours.
Should fitting be included in the comparison?
Either way, as long as both tyres are treated the same.
Last updated 2026-10-15. General information. See disclaimer.