Tires shot at 19,000 miles Driving for Dollars by Terry Jackson • Bankrate.com

Dear Terry,
How long should a set of tires on a new car last? The tires on my 2005 Honda Accord coupe are worn out after just 19,000 miles. The dealer says this is normal wear.
-- Cynthia

Dear Cynthia,
Tire wear varies greatly from vehicle to vehicle, driver to driver and tire to tire. It's affected by whether the tires are properly inflated at all times, whether the car is properly aligned, whether the driver is aggressive in turning and acceleration.

That said, your Honda Accord coupe probably came from the factory with low-profile, all-weather tires that are by their nature softer than perhaps some other tires. The softer rubber improves the car's handling, but the trade-off is the tires wear more quickly.

While I would have expected to get at least 25,000 miles from your Accord's tires, your wear is not that far out of whack.

This week

• Driving for Dollars: Few can afford new car prices • How many miles should a set of tires last? • What happens if I just stop making my car payments? • Is the maintenance schedule from the dealer right?

If you have a question for Terry, e-mail him at Driving for Dollars.