How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

How often should you rotate your tires? It’s a good idea to get your tires rotated once every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, or every 3,000 to 5,000 miles if your vehicle uses AWD. Although exact guidelines for when to rotate tires will vary from model to model, having a general estimate of how many miles to rotate tires for can still be beneficial. Two to four rotations per year should help you maximize the value of your current set of tires.

How Do I Know if I’m Due?

So, maybe you don’t always remember when to rotate your tires. Maybe you forgot to make a note of when your last rotation occurred. How often should you rotate your tires if you don’t remember when your last service visit was?

Tire rotation service is designed to minimize the variance between the tread depths of your tires, and checking that variance can be a good indicator of when you need to schedule service. Use a ruler or a specialized tool in order to measure each tread. If there’s a difference of more than 2/32 of an inch between your tires, it’s time to pay us a visit.

How often should you rotate tires if you engage in a lot of heavy work? If you frequently spend time towing, off-roading, or running on the race track, it’s smart to add more tire rotations to your maintenance schedule.

What Benefits Come with Knowing When to Rotate Tires?

When you know exactly how many miles to rotate tires for, you’ll start to experience significant benefits right away. Getting all of your rotations ensures that your tires last longer, because wear will be spread out more evenly. Other benefits include:

• Improved handling on the roads of Kentucky
• Less cabin noise and reduced vibration
• Less stress on the drivetrain
• Lower risk of blowouts and flat tires

Remember, no matter how often you rotate tires, they’re eventually going to need to be replaced! Although tires can last up to six to ten years when they’re properly maintained, you should know the signs that it’s time to trade up.

Know Your Rotation Pattern: FWD/RWD vs. AWD/4WD

You know how often you should be rotating your tires, but what if you want to save on service? If you’re going to perform a tire rotation at home, you’ll need to know you’re rotation pattern.

• In any rotation, you’ll move the front tires to the back of the vehicle, and the rear tires to the front.
• For a FWD car, you’ll also swap the sides of the rear tires as you move them to the front. So, the back left tire goes to the front right location, and vice versa.
• With RWD, you’ll do just the opposite. Move the front left tire to the back right location, and move the front right tire to the back left.
• With AWD, it’s a good idea to check your owner’s manual for a rotation pattern. All systems are different, and it’s important to understand where yours produces the most wear.

Move Forward with the Don Franklin Auto

If you’re due for a change, find your local Don Franklin Auto service center in Kentucky and schedule a visit today! Still have questions about when to rotate tires? You can always contact our service team for more advice and information, or reach out by calling 859-263-5020.
Want to enjoy superior traction in the winter? Explore the benefits of sand and rock salt today! We can also tell you about the benefits of using low gear.