How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

Tire rotations are almost an afterthought when it comes to vehicle maintenance. You’re used to oil changes every 6,000 to 10,000 miles. But as long as your tires are inflated properly, they should be good to go, right? Not necessarily. You can extend the life of your tires with regular tire rotations from our service center team near Round Rock. Find out how often you should rotate your tires with our guide.

How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires for the Best Results? 

We recommend rotating your tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles as a good rule of thumb. Check your owner’s manual to see what the manufacturer says about how often you should rotate your tires. 

How Many Miles to Rotate Tires on FWD and RWD Vehicles

When to rotate tires depends on the drivetrain of your vehicle. A front-wheel drive (FWD) car is where the engine sends power to the front wheels. For a rear-wheel drive (RWD) vehicle, the power goes to the back wheels. The tires that receive the power generally wear out faster than the non-powered tires. 

• For FWD or RWD cars, rotate the tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Always consult your owner’s manual for exact figures on when to rotate tires
• If you’re performing an FWD tire rotation yourself, flip sides when moving the rear tires. The rear right tire will go to the front left and the rear left will go to the front right. However, when moving the front tires to the back, keep them on the same side.
• When rotating tires on an RWD car, invert the process we just showed you. Flip sides when moving the front tires to the back, but keep the rear tires on the same side when moving them forward. So the right front goes to the left back and the left front goes to the right back.
• Driving habits, like off-roading or traveling on gravel roads, will affect how often you should rotate your tires. Talk to our service team, and we’ll give some suggestions for when to rotate your tires when driving in less-than-ideal conditions.

How Many Miles to Rotate Tires on AWD Vehicles

If you have an all-wheel drive (AWD) car, truck, or SUV, then how many miles to rotate tires will differ compared to FWD or RWD vehicles. Most AWD vehicles in Leander need a tire rotation every 3,000 to 5,000 miles because the power is sent to all four wheels for a time. 

You’ll also follow these tips when rotating your tires at home with an AWD vehicle:

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.

To make this process easier, we recommend drawing a simple diagram of your drivetrain and using color-coded arrows to help you rotate tires properly. The pattern of tire rotations means each tire will be in each position after four tire rotations to even out the wear on the tires as much as possible. If you prefer to have a professional team rotate your tires though, we’re happy to help at Covert Buick GMC Austin!

Why Rotate Tires?

Now you know when to rotate tires. Next, we’ll answer why we recommend tire rotations in the first place. The main reason is that regular tire rotations extend the life of your tires. Beyond that, regular tire rotations can give you:

• Improved traction on slippery roads in Cedar Park
• Less noise on the road
• Less unnecessary stress on the drivetrain

Tire rotations can help your tires last as long as possible, which can reduce the number of new sets you’ll need to buy over the course of owning your vehicle.

Get Your Vehicle Serviced at Covert Buick GMC Austin

Ready for a tire rotation or a new set of tires? Contact us or call (512) 910-4708 to set up an appointment. We also handle brakes, batteries, transmissions, and more. You could even save some money with our service specials!