How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires

Making sure your tires are working properly is an important part of taking care of your vehicle. Your vehicle’s tires ensure you can get where you need to go safely and smoothly. So you need to be sure they’re getting properly serviced and maintained. And that’s done through balancing and rotations.

When it comes to when to rotate tires, most experts recommend a tire rotation schedule of 5,000 – 7,500 miles, but this should generally only be viewed as a ground rule. This average will vary on several things, including the tire type, drivetrain, and even your driving habits. Take a look below to learn more about how to best care for your vehicle’s tires.

When to Rotate Tires on FWD and RWD Vehicles 

Tire rotations will be treated differently depending on the kind of vehicle you have and whether it’s RWD or FWD. On a vehicle with FWD, power is distributed to the front tires. On a car with RWD, the power is directed to the rear tires. The tires receiving the power will naturally wear out faster than the others. So to ensure an even rate of wear across all four, tires get rotated. If you drive a vehicle with FWD or RWD in Bloomfield and Shiprock, check out these helpful tips: 

• The basic 5,000 – 7,500-mile interval applies to RWD and FWD tire rotation schedules. However, you must confirm the interval in your owner’s manual. 
• When rotating the tires on a vehicle with FWD, you must follow the correct rotation pattern: the rear right tire moves to the front left, and the rear left tire moves to the front right. The front tires can remain on the same side when moved to the back. 
• For a car with RWD, simply invert the aforementioned pattern! You’ll move the front right tire to the rear left and the front left to the rear right. Then, the rear tires will stay on the same side when moved to the front. 
• Your driving habits will also affect how many miles you need to rotate tires. For example, off-road or consistent high-mileage driving will wear your tires out faster, so you’ll want to rotate them more frequently.

How Many Miles to Rotate Tires On AWD Vehicles

So how do rotations change when your vehicle uses all-wheel drive? AWD vehicles distribute power to all four tires, so the determining factor is the driving conditions. This is why, on AWD vehicles, rotations every 3,000 – 5,000 miles are recommended.

Why is Tire Rotation Important? 

Like oil changes, tire rotation is often considered inconvenient but vitally necessary maintenance. In addition to ensuring your tires last as long as intended on Aztec roads, routine tire rotations provide the following benefits:

• Optimal traction when the roads are slick or uneven
• Less road noise
• Relief of unnecessary strain on the drivetrain

In addition to tire rotations, maintaining the right tire pressure is crucial to preventing rapid or uneven tire wear. When your TPMS warns you of low tire pressure, don’t wait too long to refill the afflicted tire(s). 

Schedule a Tire Rotation Today! 

Contact us today if you have questions about your vehicle’s tires and the proper rotation schedule. Or schedule service today and bring your vehicle to one of our knowledgeable technicians in our %di_city%% service center at Advantage Dodge Ram Chrysler Jeep FIAT.