How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

You’ve probably heard of tire rotation, which is when your tires are rotated to different spots on your vehicle to help them wear down more evenly. It’s a crucial car maintenance task and keeps you safe on Lee's Summit streets. Tire rotation also improves vehicle performance and helps your tires last longer, which saves you bucks! How often should you rotate your tires? Tire rotation should be performed approximately every 5,000 to 8,000 miles, but when to rotate tires varies by the type of vehicle, drivetrain, and driving habits. Read your owner’s manual to learn what is recommended for your make and model, and get some tips below from the Aristocrat Motors Lee's Summit team, or contact us with your questions.

When To Rotate Tires: FWD & RWD Tire Rotation

Now that you know how many miles to rotate tires, let’s discuss the details. The correct tire rotation pattern and when to rotate tires varies by drivetrain. Front-wheel and rear-wheel drive send energy to different wheels, and those tires wear out faster than the other tires. On front-wheel drive vehicles, power is sent to the front tires, but in rear-wheel drives, it is directed to the back tires. Below we explain how to rotate tires on FWD and RWD vehicles:

• Switch wheel sides when moving the rear tires forward on a FWD vehicle. So, put the rear right tire on the front left side of your pre-owned Kia Soul and move the rear left tire to the front right. When moving the front tires to the rear, keep them on the same side as in the front.
• When moving your tires on a RWD, do the opposite as above. That means switching sides when rotating the front tires to the back and keeping the rear tires on the same side.
• If you regularly enjoy off-roading or racing beyond Blue Springs, you should increase the frequency of tire rotations.

When To Rotate Tires: AWD Tire Rotation Tips

If your drive an AWD, like a Subaru Outback, the tire rotation pattern is different because every wheel gets the same amount of power on your Independence drives. If you wonder how many miles to rotate tires on AWD vehicles, usually tire rotation is required every 3,000-5,000 miles for an AWD vehicle. The tire rotation pattern for AWD vehicles is as follows:

1. The right front tire is moved to the left rear spot.
2. The left front tire is moved to the right rear spot.
3. The left rear tire is moved to the right front position.
4. The right rear tire is moved to the left front position.

Trust Aristocrat Motors Lee's Summit For All Your Tire Care Needs

Now that we’ve answered the question, “How often should you rotate tires?” if you’re shopping for your next vehicle, please browse our inventory online or at our dealership near Kansas City. We also have an excellent selection of pre-owned cars under $20k! Contact us today and let us know how we can help.