How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

If you’re a safety-conscious driver, chances are you’re mindful of tire care. This line of thinking leads to questions like, “How often should you rotate your tires?” or “How many miles to rotate tires?” In most cases, a tire rotation interval of once every 5,000 to 8,000 miles is appropriate, but you may find other instructions on when to rotate tires in your owner’s manual. So, how often should you get your tires rotated? Get started with our service tips below!

Rotating Tires on FWD and RWD Vehicles

If you drive a vehicle that has front-wheel or rear-wheel drive, that simply refers to the set of tires that receive power from the engine. Since either the front or rear set is taking the bulk of the engine output, those tires will wear down the fastest. Learn when to rotate tires for FWD and RWD and more here:

• How often should you get your tires rotated on a FWD or RWD car? A standard variation of once every 5,000 to 8,000 miles works for most vehicles.
• If you’re taking on a FWD tire rotation on your own, be sure to flip sides when moving the rear tires. For example, the rear right tire will move to the front left spot. However, the tires will stay on the same side when moving from front to back!
• For RWD tire rotations, flip the process above. Flip sides when putting front tires on the back, but keep the rear tires on the same side when moving them upfront.
• Keep in mind that your own personal driving habits will play a large role in determining how often you need a tire rotation. If you take on mostly standard travel and commuting, a typical tire rotation schedule will likely be appropriate. However, if you often travel off-road, through rough construction zones, or on gravel roads, you’ll want to visit us in Akron for more frequent tire rotations.

AWD Tire Rotation Tips

If you have an all-wheel drive vehicle, you will need to follow a different tire rotation pattern and schedule than most drivers. Since engine power is generally directed to all four tires, the rotations must be done in a very specific way. So, how often should you get your tires rotated for an AWD? Usually, you’ll want to have your AWD tires rotated once every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Now that you know how many miles to rotate tires on an AWD, here’s how to handle the job:

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.

Why Rotate Tires?

Knowing how many miles to rotate tires, you’re probably wondering why you should bother in the first place. While common knowledge states that proper tire rotations will extend the lifespan of your tires, you can also look forward to these other perks:

• Improved traction on slippery roads
• Less noise on the road
• Relieves unnecessary stress on the drivetrain

Rely on Serra Mazda for Tire Care

Now that you can answer the question, “How often should you rotate your tires?”, you’re ready to care for your North Canton ride like a professional. When you know when to rotate tires, your commutes from Canton to Hudson will remain smooth. Looking for more tips? Learn how often to change your oil or the benefits of using OEM brakes today!