How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

Wondering how many miles until you need to rotate your tires? Generally, you should rotate them once every 5,000 to 7,000 miles though the exact frequency depends on yourcar model, your car’s drivetrain system, and your driving conditions in Mentor. That said, you should check your owner’s manual for an exact estimate. Now that you know when to rotate tires generally, learn about the importance of tire rotations below. 

Why Should You Rotate Tires?

You might know why oil changes and transmission service are important, but 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
• Reliable performance even during dangerous weather, especially winters, in OH
• Less noise on the road

How To Rotate Tires on FWD and RWD Vehicles

Knowing when to rotate tires is a great start, but you’ll also want to learn how to rotate your tires. 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 Parma, 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 how often you need to rotate your car’s 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 drive a car with all-wheel drive (AWD)? 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 on your Bedford commutes, 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. 

Learn More About Tire Care From Spitzer Hyundai Cleveland

After learning when to rotate tires and how to do so for vehicles of certain drivetrains, learn more about tire care from Spitzer Hyundai Cleveland. Feel free to contact us for more information and if you ever need tire services in the Cleveland area, bring your car in and we’ll make sure your vehicle is ready to hit the roads again in no time!