How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

How often should you rotate your tires? For a majority of the vehicles on the roads of Buffalo and Cheektowaga, a tire rotation should be scheduled every 5,000- to 7,000 miles. To confirm whether there are different recommendations from the manufacturer for your particular make and model, it is a good idea to consult your owner’s manual. Still have questions about when to rotate tires on your vehicle? The guide below from the Joe Basil Chevrolet service center can help!

When to Rotate Tires: FWD and RWD Vehicles

If you drive a front-wheel drive car on the roads of Lancaster, power from the engine is being sent to the front tires. The opposite is true for RWD models. The tires that receive the majority of the engine power end up wearing down faster. If you drive a FWD or RWD vehicle, keep these tire rotation tips in mind: 

• Generally, tire rotations are recommended every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. You can find a more exact interval in your owner’s manual. 
• If you plan to take on a DIY tire rotation at home and you have a FWD vehicle, you will need to flip sides when moving the rear tires (Ex. The rear right tire will go on the front left). As you move the front tires to the back, keep them on the same side.
• For RWD vehicles, the process above is reversed. Swap sides when moving the front tires to the back, but keep the rear tires on the same side as you bring them forward.
• How often should you rotate your tires if you do a lot of off-roading or drive on tough terrain around Depew? If you regularly encounter harsh driving conditions, you may need to adjust the intervals above. Our service experts can help create a maintenance schedule that better suits your driving needs. 

When to Rotate Tires: AWD Vehicles 

Wondering how many miles to rotate tires on an AWD vehicle? This task will need to be done more often than what’s needed for a FWD or RWD vehicle. This is because the power from your engine is sent to every wheel when you engage AWD. Tire rotations are recommended on AWD vehicles every 3,000 – 5,000 miles if you use AWD regularly. Keep the following tips in mind: 

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.

Helpful Hint: Drawing a simple diagram of your drivetrain and using color-coded arrows will help to ensure each tire goes to the proper location. 

Why Rotate Tires?

Now that you know when to rotate tires, you may still have questions about why this task is necessary at all. One of the most important reasons is that it helps to prolong the life of your tires so you can replace them less frequently. Other perks include: 

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

Get Your Tire Advice From Joe Basil Chevrolet

Proper tire care is a must for safe and efficient driving around Depew. Contact the team at Joe Basil Chevrolet for more information or use our online form to set up a service appointment at your earliest convenience. 

Service Specials From Joe Basil Chevrolet

More Auto Service Tips From Joe Basil Chevrolet