How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

For the average Apex driver, the answer to “how often should you rotate your tires?” is every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. This is merely a ground rule, however, and when to rotate tires may be more or less often depending on your individual driving habits. Additionally, you should consult your owner’s manual for an interval that pertains directly to your make and model. Learn how many miles to rotate tires based on your drivetrain and more with the service center team at Hendrick Dodge Cary, below!

How Many Miles to Rotate Tires on FWD and RWD Vehicles

As you may have surmised, front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive refer to where your car’s engine power is sent for forward motion. The tires that receive the power are bound to wear out faster than the others, making tire rotation vitally important to keep your tread wear even across all four tires. Carrboro drivers of FWD and RWD vehicles should keep these tips on hand:

• FWD and RWD vehicles can usually follow the 5,000 to 7,5000-mile rule for when to rotate tires. You should still consult your owner’s manual, however, in the event that you may be driving a special type of car requiring more frequent rotation.
• Carrying out a FWD tire rotation in your Chapel Hill garage? Make sure you’re following the right tire rotation pattern: flip sides when moving the rear tires to the front, but keep them on the same side when moving the front tires to the rear.
• The above process is reversed for RWD vehicles: flip sides when you move the front tires to the rear, but keep them on the same side when moving the rear tires to the front.
• Your individual driving practices may affect your answer for how many miles to rotate tires. For example, if you go off-roading a lot or you drive a sports car with performance tires, you may need rotation more often.

All-Wheel Drive Tire Rotation Tips

On AWD vehicles, all four tires wear differently and at varying speeds. Most auto experts recommend getting a tire rotation for an all-wheel drivetrain every 3,000 to 5,000 miles, but again, you should check your owner’s manual for an exact figure.

How Often to Rotate Tires On a Four-Wheel Drive Vehicle

Do you need to know how often to rotate RAM truck tires? If your RAM truck — or any other truck for that matter — has a 4×4 drivetrain, then you’ll need to rotate the tires every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. The reasoning for this frequency with a 4×4 truck tire rotation is just the same as with AWD tire rotations. All four wheels may be receiving varying amounts of power when 4×4 is engaged, thus all four tires could be wearing out at different rates. So, 4×4 truck tire rotations are recommended more often than FWD or RWD in an effort to keep the treadwear even. If you regularly use your truck’s 4×4 system for off-roading or other low-traction situations, how often to rotate RAM truck tires will likely veer closer to 3,000 miles.

Why is Tire Rotation Important?

We’ve discussed when to rotate tires at length, but you may still be wondering why it’s important to rotate tires in the first place. It goes without saying that tire rotation helps to extend the life of your tires, but the benefits don’t stop there:

• Better traction in poor road conditions
• A quieter and smoother ride quality
• Prevents undue stress on your drivetrain

When it’s raining in Cary, the last thing you want is to be slipping around and spinning out when you try to take off from a full stop. Rotating tires on a regular basis will help to prevent this and in turn, keep you and your family safer. So if you’re overdue, schedule a service appointment with Hendrick Dodge Cary.

Need New Tires? We Can Help!

Even following a regular tire rotation schedule, you’ll eventually need to invest in a new set of tires. When the time comes, the parts center at Hendrick Dodge Cary can help you find the right tires for your vehicle and your driving needs! Contact us today to learn more, and be sure to consult our rotating specials for tire rebates and more.