A method includes gathering usage data of a tape drive during usage thereof and creating and/or updating a usage model based on the usage data. The method includes determining that the usage model has reached a predefined confidence level and performing an action in response to determining that the usage model has reached the predefined confidence level. A computer program product for increasing the life of tape drives includes a computer readable storage medium having program instructions embodied therewith. The computer program product includes program instructions executable by a computer. The program instructions cause the computer to perform the foregoing method.