Back to GuidesTire rotation is a common maintenance job for vehicle owners, but how often should you rotate your tires? Typically, you should perform a tire rotation every 5,000 to 8,000 miles or every six months. Tires are one of your top safety features on your vehicle; after all they are your car's only connection to the road.
Well-maintained tires will keep your vehicle safe on the road and help it perform properly. While most drivers understand that regular rotations prolong the lifespan of their tires, they may not know how to do it, when to do it, or where to go; fortunately, we have you covered with our guide below on tire rotation.
What is Tire Rotation?
When you rotate your tires, you periodically move your front tires to the rear and your rear tires to the front of your vehicle. However, this isn't the same for all cars; some recommend a cross-pattern rotation where your front tires are crossed from left to right as they move to the back of the car. Tire rotation is necessary because the front end of your car is the heaviest since it contains the engine block—the heavier the load, the faster the tire wear. The front tires also incur more friction each time the driver turns. Tire rotation thus helps reduce uneven wear across all four tires.
Your owner's manual contains the guidance you need on how often to rotate tires on your specific car. It also details the recommended tire rotation pattern.
What is a Tire Rotation Pattern?
Your rotation pattern is important because, in most cases, the tires on your vehicle's front axle accomplish a different purpose than those tires on the rear axle. The conditions a front-wheel-drive vehicle encounters are different from those encountered by a rear-wheel-drive vehicle. Tire wear also affects performance vehicles differently from a family sedan or SUV.
The tire rotation best suited to your vehicle depends on:
- The type of tires you use
- Whether your tires are directional or non-directional.
- Whether your vehicle is a front-wheel-drive, rear-wheel-drive, all-wheel-drive, or four-wheel-drive.
- Whether your tires are the same size on the front and rear of your vehicle.
- Whether you have a full-size spare tire available for rotation.
According to U.S. News, the most standard tire rotation pattern involves moving the front tires to the rear and the rear tires to the car's front. However, as mentioned earlier, there are a variety of tire rotation patterns, which means it is best to visit tire service experts for professional advice.
The Importance of Rotating Your Tires
According to Consumer Reports, "Well-maintained tires will help you travel safely for tens of thousands of miles." Tires are literally where the rubber meets the road for vehicles. Your tires make contact with the road every single time you drive and during all weather conditions. If they are well cared for and rotated adequately, then they will keep you safe.
"Spreading wear around all four tires ensures even tread depth and grip," says Chris Jones, a certified mechanic and tire technician at Consumer Reports. A vehicle cannot perform properly or at its best if your tires are unevenly worn or overly worn.
Without regular tire rotation, your tires may not wear evenly. Uneven wear not only shortens the life of your tires, but it can hinder your car's safety and performance too.
Your car's front tires are predominantly responsible for braking, making tire care and quality even more important. This is especially the case for front-wheel-drive cars because they must claw for traction, which means they tend to wear out faster. Even the most minor variations in alignment or suspension can introduce an uneven wear pattern, which negatively impacts your car's ride quality, noise level, braking ability, and your tire's longevity.
For all-wheel-drive vehicles, evenly worn tires help lower the stress on the drivetrain, which helps reduce wear and tear on expensive drive components.
In addition to maintaining your safety on the road, rotating your tires can also add practical value if your tires have a warranty on them. Typically, a tire manufacturer may require regular maintenance to enforce the warranty on your tires. This maintenance requirement typically includes regular tire rotations.
Regular tire rotation gives you an excellent opportunity to visually inspect them for any damage, check their air pressure, have them rebalanced if you notice a vibration, and check their tread depth.
How to Rotate Your Tires
Three tire-rotation patterns cover most of today's vehicles, according to the Tire Industry Association. However, this familiar pattern only applies to cars with equal-size front and rear tires and for cars with unidirectional tires (tires that have to rotate in only one direction for best functionality).
Rotation Pattern for FWD Vehicles
Front-wheel drive vehicles place braking, driving, and steering forces on the front axle tires, while the rear tires primarily receive braking forces. Since your engine power is sent to the front tires, it results in the front tires wearing out faster.
For FWD vehicles, move the front tires straight to the rear position on the same side of the car. It isn't a straight line swop to the front; instead, you will flip sides. You need to move the right rear tire to the front left side and the left rear tire to the front right side of the car.
Rotation Pattern for RWD Vehicles
For RWD cars, move the rear tire straight to the front and move each front tire to the opposite rear corner. For instance, move the right tire at the front to the left rear position.
Rotation Pattern for AWD Vehicles
For AWD models, you need to crisscross all four tires:
- Move the right front tire to the left rear
- Move the left front tire to the right rear
- Move the left rear tire to the right front
- Move the right rear tire o the left front
High-Performance Vehicles
For differently sized performance tires on the front and rear: Switch all tires with the same-sized partner on the same axle. This means the two rear tires should move to the opposite side with one another while the two front tires do the same.
For directional performance tires on the front and rear: All tires are moved from one axle to another; however, they remain on the same side of the car. For example, the front left tire moves to the left side of the rear axle while the rear left tire moves to the left side of the front axle.
How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?
You should rotate your tires as recommended by your vehicle's automaker, or at least every 5,000 miles. You can rotate your tires for most cars when you have your next oil change service or every six months. Bear in mind, however; for some drivers, their tires may wear out faster because of their driving habits, for instance, if you are regularly towing heavy loads or go off-roading on uneven or rocky roads.
Inspect your owner's manual and identify what type of drivetrain your vehicle has, as this will give you a better idea of when you should rotate your tires and what rotation pattern to follow.
For rear-wheel drive (RWD) and front-wheel drive (FWD) cars, you should typically rotate your tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles.
For all-wheel-drive (AWD) or four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles, you will rotate your tires more often at every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, especially if you are an off-road enthusiast.
__The following signs are an indication that you need a tire rotation and should head over to a service center soon: __
- Your tires are wearing unevenly.
- Your vehicle is vibrating more than usual.
- You are losing tire pressure more quickly than you should.
Where to Rotate Your Tires
While you can rotate your own tires, it isn't always recommended because extra attention needs to be paid to vehicles with different wheel sizes at the front and back and those with unidirectional tires. Some staggered-tire packages are challenging since the complete set of tires is dismounted and then remounted on the opposite sides.
If you have any doubts regarding your tire rotation, consult your vehicle's owner's manual or ask a professional service team to assist you with the maintenance task. You can also visit a local dealership or a service center for help.
You can also go to one of Walmart's Auto Care Centers or to a Costco Tire Center (if you are a Costco member).
How Much Does Tire Rotation Cost?
On average, it costs about $60 to rotate a vehicle's tires (depending on where you go and what area you live in). The reasonable price range sits between $30 and $120.
In some cases, you may find coupons for a discounted tire rotation. Some service centers offer service specials, including tire rotation when you do an oil change or a schedule service.
If you decide to visit a Walmart Auto Care Center, they offer several packages, including the Lifetime Balance & Rotation package at $14 per tire. With this plan, Walmart will balance and rotate your tires every 7,500 miles and at no extra cost for the remainder of your tires' lifespan or until you need new tires. Remember, an additional $10 charge applies to all tires not purchased in Walmart's physical stores or online.
Costco offers a tire balancing service with tire rotation and nitrogen inflation for roughly $21.99 for the vehicle. However, you need to be a Costco member.
The Difference Between Rotating Tires and Balancing Tires
You will often hear the words "rotation and balance" used together when you want to rotate your tires. Balancing your tires is not the same as rotating your tires. You can achieve a balanced tire by adding small weights to your rims, which correct any imbalances in the tire. A tell-tale sign that your tires are out of balance is if your car begins to shudder at speeds above 55 miles per hour.
