Most drivers schedule tire rotation once every 5,000 miles or so–or roughly two to three times per year. In most cases, this means that you’ll schedule tire rotation every time you have your vehicle’s oil changed. Of course, it’s always important to respond to real-world conditions and demands. How often should you rotate your tires if you have an all-wheel drive vehicle, as opposed to a model with FWD or RWD? How can I know when to rotate tires if I don’t recall my last appointment?
These are just a couple of the questions our service team hears all the time, and we’ve covered their answers in detail below!
When to Rotate Tires: Know Your Interval
First things first: check your owner’s manual for a model-specific mileage recommendation. While FWD and RWD vehicles might be able to go up to 5,000 or even 7,500 miles between rotations, AWD and 4WD models might need rotation once every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or so. That’s why 5,000 miles is our most common recommendation for how often to change tires.
Of course, certain factors can cause your tires to wear down more quickly or more unevenly. Consider increasing your rotation frequency if you:
- Frequently travel with heavy payloads or trailers
- Go off-roading or drive on poorly paved or gravel roads
- Visit a local racetrack or performance driving center
The average Fairfield or Westport driver travels around 12,000 miles per year. That’s why many drivers visit our service center two to three times in a given twelve month period.
When to Rotate Tires: Checking Your Tread Depth
Knowing how many miles to go before rotating tires is certainly helpful, but what if you don’t remember your last rotation? Although scheduling service right away certainly won’t hurt you, taking a look at your tread depth can help you determine if the service is truly necessary.
The purpose of tire rotation is to even out the wear on your tires and prevent significant variations in tread depth. If the treads on your front (or power-receiving) tires are more than 1/16 of an inch thinner than the treads of your back tires, you’re due for rotation. Pick up a tread gauge at our parts department.
How to Do a Tire Rotation
If you have access to a car jack, a set of jack stands, and a lug wrench, you can certainly attempt to rotate your tires at home. As long as you know how often to rotate your tires and how to change a tire, the process itself is pretty simple.
Check your owner’s manual for a rotation pattern.
- Generally, with front-wheel drive vehicles, the front tires will move to the back and switch sides. The rear tires will move up front.
- The opposite is true for RWD vehicles.
- Many AWD models use an “X-shaped” rotation pattern, where both the front and rear tires switch sides.
Once you know what you’re doing, you’re ready to get started:
- Park on level ground and activate your parking brake.
- Loosen the lug nuts on each of your four wheels. Don’t take the bolts all the way out–it’s easier to remove the tire when the vehicle is in the air.
- Use your jack to lift each wheel, placing the jack stand beneath it before you move on to the next one. You’ll want your vehicle completely off the ground.
- Remove each tire and fill it to the proper air pressure.
- Move each tire to its new position and attach it, as best as you’re able, by hand.
- Lower the vehicle back to the ground and tighten each bolt with your lug wrench. Work in a diagonal, star-shaped pattern to ensure an even finish.
Jaguar Darien Authorized Certified Pre-Owned and Service is Here for All of Your Tire Needs
For most drivers in the Stamford area, scheduling a quick and easy tire rotation at Jaguar Darien Authorized Certified Pre-Owned and Service is much easier than performing the service at home. Now that you know when to rotate your tires, check out our service specials and make an appointment online!
