How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

You rely on your car’s tires to get from A to B around Johnsonburg. If you want to make the most out of your tires, then you’ll need to rotate them on time to ensure the treads on each tire are wearing at an even pace. How many miles to rotate tires will vary depending on your car model, drivetrain system, and your driving conditions. However, a basic rule of thumb on when to rotate tires is once every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. Of course, you should check your owner’s manual for an exact number according to the make and model of your vehicle. Find out more about this maintenance task besides when to rotate tires. 

Why Should You Rotate Tires?

Do you know why you should rotate tires? In short, routine tire rotation helps extend the life of your tires and continues to give you an optimal driving experience with:

• Reduced stress on the drivetrain
• Increased traction on slippery roads near Kersey 
• Reliable performance even during dangerous weather
• Less noise on the road

How To Rotate Tires on FWD and RWD Vehicles

If your car has a front-wheel (FWD) or rear-wheel-drive (RWD), you will rotate the tires in a particular way. In an FWD vehicle, the engine sends power to the front tires while the engine in an RWD vehicle sends it to the rear tires. So why is this distinction important? Well, the set of tires receiving the majority of the power will wear faster than the other set. Here’s what to do for both drivetrain systems when rotating tires:

Tire Rotation on FWD Car

• When moving the rear tires, switch sides. For example, the rear right tire will go on the front left. 
• However, if you are moving the front tires to the back, keep them on the same side.

Tire Rotation on RWD Car

• If you have an RWD vehicle, you will invert the process. 
• When you move the front tires to the back, flip sides. 
• However, if you are moving the rear tires forward, keep them on the same side.

Whether you have an FWD or RWD car near Ridgeway, here are some tips to remember:

• Wondering how many miles to rotate tires for your FWD or RWD car? A rough estimate would be every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, but for an exact number, take a look at your owner’s manual.
• Your driving style will impact when to rotate your tires. For example, if you often drive off the roads, you will most likely need to rotate your tires for fewer miles. 

How To Rotate Tires on AWD Vehicles

What if you have a car with all-wheel drive (AWD) in St Marys? With AWD vehicles, the engine sends power to every wheel when AWD is activated, so you will need to rotate the tires in a particular way and more often than on RWD and FWD vehicles. If you use AWD often, how many miles to rotate tires will be roughly every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Take a look at how you should rotate the tires on your AWD vehicle yourself:

1. The left rear goes to the right front spot.
2. The right rear goes to the left front spot.
3. The right front goes to the left rear spot.
4. The left front goes to the right rear spot.

Drawing a diagram and color-coding each switch can simplify the process for you. Does it sound too tedious? You can always count on Spitzer CDJR St Marys’s service technicians to do the task for you when you schedule an appointment with us!

Learn More About Auto Care From Spitzer CDJR St Marys

Tire rotation is just one of the maintenance tasks that you should be aware of. Feel free to explore our service video library for more assistance or read our tune-up guide to get ready for Spring!