How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

There are a number of essential services that keep your vehicle running smoothly on the Sparta roads, including oil changes, battery inspections, and tire rotations. Regularly rotating your tires improves your car’s performance and extends the lifespan of your tires, so it’s important to stay on top of it! But, how often should you rotate your tires?

In general, auto experts estimate that you should bring your vehicle in for tire rotations every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. However, this number varies based on your vehicle’s drivetrain. Check out the guide below from the service team at Morrie's West Salem Kia for more details on how many miles to rotate tires!

When to Rotate Tires on FWD & RWD Vehicles

Front-wheel and rear-wheel drive vehicles can go longer between tire rotations than all-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicles. Front-wheel drive vehicles have their front tires wear out faster while rear-wheel drive vehicles wear out their rear tires faster. When you rotate your tires, you prevent them from wearing out unevenly and potentially putting you in danger on the Onalaska roads. If you’re interested in rotating your tires yourself, keep these tips in mind:

• If you drive a FWD vehicle, bring the rear wheels directly to the front axles, and switch the front tires to the opposite axles when moving them back. In other words, the rear left tire goes to the front left spot, and the rear right tire goes to the front right spot, but the front left tire goes to the rear right spot and vice versa.
• RWD vehicles go on the opposite pattern. Keep the front tires in the same position when you move them to the rear spots, but switch the rear tires when you move them forward to the front spots.
• If you frequently drive your vehicle through hazardous weather conditions or on difficult terrain, you might need to rotate your tires more frequently since they undergo more strain than usual. Talk to a service expert for an estimate, or schedule service with our team at Morrie's West Salem Kia!

When to Rotate Tires on AWD Vehicles

All-wheel drive vehicles send engine power to each wheel individually rather than just the front or rear wheels, which means they wear out less evenly. This means that you should rotate your tires more frequently if you drive an AWD vehicle – usually every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Here’s the rotation pattern to follow:

1. The left rear tire goes to the right front spot.
2. The right rear tire goes to the left front spot.
3. The right front tire goes to the left rear spot.
4. The left front tire goes to the right rear spot.

Why Should You Rotate Your Tires?

We’ve talked about the benefits of rotating your tires to extend their lifespan, but there are other important benefits as well! Here are three other advantages to getting your tires rotated regularly:

• Improved traction on slippery roads
• Less noise on the road
• Less stress on the drivetrain

Keep Your Vehicle in Top Condition in West Salem!

If you have any questions about when to rotate tires, contact our office! You can also stop by our dealership near La Crosse to talk to a member of our service team in person, and we’ll be happy to help you out. Be sure to check out our service tips for more information on keeping your vehicle running in the best condition possible on the road!