How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

Why is it important to rotate your tires? Beyond extending the life of your tires, the process helps to improve your traction, maximize your fuel economy, reduce noise, and minimize shake. Don’t forget: regular tire rotation is just one component of proper tire care.

When to Rotate Tires: Front-Wheel Drive and Rear-Wheel Drive

When you’re determining the correct tire rotation interval, you need to know what kind of drivetrain powers your vehicle. For a front-wheel drive car, power is sent directly from the engine to the front wheels. Of course, exactly the opposite is true for rear-wheel drive vehicles. In either case, the set of tires that receives the power will tend to wear out faster than the other tires on your vehicle. All tires need to be rotated in order to ensure even rates of wear and tear.

The tire rotation frequency guideline that we identified above is almost always appropriate for vehicles with FWD and RWD drivetrains, but it’s always a good idea to check your owner’s manual for details. If you decide to perform a DIY tire rotation, make sure you understand your vehicle’s rotation pattern before you get started:

• Front-Wheel Drive: Move the rear wheels to the front of the vehicle, and vice versa. The left front wheel should move to the back right, while the right front wheel should move to the back left.
• Rear-Wheel Drive: Invert the above process. Move the front wheels to the rear, and the rear wheels to the front. With a RWD car, you should move the left rear wheel to the front right, and the right rear wheel to the front left.

Bear in mind that how you drive can also play a role in determining how many miles to go before you rotate tires. If you frequently engage in off-road driving with your used Jeep, or occasionally tow heavy cargo, you’re going to want to rotate your tires more often.

When to Rotate Tires: All-Wheel Drive

On a vehicle equipped with all-wheel drive, all tires wear down at different rates. Since power can be directed to each of the wheels, it’s important to rotate your tires more often than you would if you were driving a FWD or RWD car. In general, we recommend that you make a service appointment once every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.

Have Your Tires Rotated at Cornerstone Plymouth

If you’re in need of a quick tire rotation, the experts at our local service center are here to help! We’re easy to reach from either Minnetonka or Brooklyn Park, and since we offer a wide variety of rotating auto service coupons, we’ve earned the respect of drivers all across the region. Contact us today to learn more or schedule service. You can also find out how to check your vehicle’s oil levels, how often to change your spark plugs, and find out why it’s important to change your oil.

Service Specials From Cornerstone Plymouth