How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

Tire rotation is one of those important maintenance tasks that’s easy to leave off your to-do list. It’s its been a while since your last check up, you might be wondering, “how often should you rotate your tires?” Although your vehicle’s owner’s manual probably contains a model-specific recommendation, a 5,000 to 7,500-mile interval is appropriate for most FWD and RWD cars. If your vehicle is equipped with AWD, you should only go about 3,000 to 5,000 miles between rotations.

How Many Miles to Rotate Tires: FWD and RWD

Front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive vehicles both direct their engine’s power to one pair of wheels, and the tires which receive that energy are always going to wear out more quickly! Here’s what you should keep in mind when you’re rotating tires on these vehicles:

• If you decide to perform a DIY tire rotation, remember to stick to the recommended rotation pattern. In front-wheel drive cars, you’ll want to move the right rear tire to the front left, and the left rear tire to the front right. (The front tires can move straight back without switching sides.)
• Just the opposite is true for rear-wheel drive cars. In these models, you’ll swap the front tires, left for right, as you move them into the rear positions. The rear tires, in moving to the front positions, can remain on the sides they occupied before you started.

How Many Miles to Rotate Tires: AWD

As we noted above, all-wheel drive vehicles have their own recommended tire rotation intervals. Your vehicle’s manufacturer will most likely have set a guideline for your model’s unique AWD system, but since these systems all direct power to each of the tires, you’re going to need to rotate more often if you want to keep your balance.

Getting ready to do rotate your tires at home? Check your owner’s manual or contact your local Suntrup service center to get your vehicle’s rotation pattern.

How Do I Know When to Rotate Tires?

If you don’t know when your last tire rotation was, there’s an easy check you can perform to find out if it’s time for a change. Simply take a close look at your tire treads. The point of regular tire rotation is to keep your treads from wearing unevenly, so if you notice a big difference between your front and rear tires, you should definitely schedule service.

If your treads are less than 2/32 of an inch in depth, skip the rotation. Visit your local parts department to trade up for a new set of tires today.

Why Should You Rotate Your Tires?

We started this article by stating that many drivers forget how important regular tire rotation really is! In addition to extending the lifespan of your tires, regular rotation will help you enjoy superior fuel economy on the roads near St. Charles and Chesterfield. You’ll also reduce unwanted cabin noise, and because properly-rotated tires cause your vehicle to shake less, you’ll reduce the amount of stress placed on your drivetrain.

Find Your Tire Expert with the Suntrup Automotive Group!

No matter what kind of make you drive, there’s someone at a local Suntrup service center who can rotate your tires and get you back on the roads near St. Louis in no time. If you’re ready to schedule service, make sure to check out our rotating auto service coupons today.