How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

Brooklyn drivers often ask, “how often should you rotate your tires?” This is a common call to our service department, and the answer is pretty broad, with multiple factors contributing to how many miles to rotate your tires. Generally, anywhere between 5,000 and 8,000 miles is safe, but you’ll still want to look at your owner’s manual for manufacturer recommendations. If you’re still interested in learning when to rotate tires, continue reading to find more specific details.

When to Rotate Tires: FWD & RWD Vehicles

The difference between FWD and RWD is simply the power distributed from the engine to a certain set of axles. Obviously, the power is sent to the front for FWD, and for RWD, that power is sent to the back. Naturally, the set that receives more power wears much quicker. If you drive FWD or RWD instead of an AWD, keep the following elements in mind: 

• If you drive FWD or RWD, you must rotate your tires every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. 
• If you’re performing the rotation on your own, remember to flip sides when you move the rear tires. For example, the rear right tire moves to the front left. However, when you switch front to the back, you must remember to keep them on the same side. 
• How you drive is important as well. If you do a lot of off-roading or driving on unforgiving terrain, you’ll want to rotate your tires more frequently.

Tips for Rotating AWD

If you’re rotating all-wheel drive (AWD), your car or truck has different rotation rules than FWD or RWD. When you’re driving in Staten Island using AWD, the power from the engine is distributed to every wheel. Most of these tires need a rotation every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, especially if you use AWD regularly. Use the following set of rules when you’re changing tires on a 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.

Drawing a simple diagram makes the process much easier. Some Queens drivers use color-coded arrows to remind them of the proper way to move the tires. However, if you’d rather have one of our certified technicians handle it, you can always schedule service online. 

Why Knowing When to Rotate Tires Is Important

The most important reason for rotating your tires is to extend the life and decrease uneven tread wire. Not only does this net you extended life from your tires, but it decreases the odds that you’ll experience a blowout. You’ll often notice less noise during your drive after rotating your tires, and any vibration you feel goes away. 

Get Your Tires Serviced at Bay Ridge Mazda

You must keep tire maintenance and rotation as part of your regularly scheduled maintenance. If you’re a do-it-yourself type of person, great! Hopefully, the guide helped with any questions you had. Otherwise, contact a team member for additional questions regarding tires or other service-related issues. 

Service Specials From Bay Ridge Mazda