One important part of your car maintenance routine is getting your tires rotated. You may consider this an unnecessary task, but it’ll cost a lot more in the long run if you don’t take it seriously. If you’re not convinced, we’re here to explain why you should not ignore this step, and when you need to think about getting your tires rotated.
If you’re wondering why you should bother rotating your tires, here’s your answer. Rotating your tires helps them wear evenly. Ignoring this step can shorten the life of your tires, meaning you’d have to replace them more often than you would if you had them rotated regularly. Avoiding this step may also lead to an eventual blowout.
You may also be wondering when and how you should have your tires rotated. You should rotate your tires every 5,000-7,000 miles, or about every 6 months. A “cross-rotation pattern” is the best method because it ensures balanced tread wear and maximum tread life. For this pattern, the left-front tire is moved to the right-rear axle, then the right-front tire to the left-rear axle, etc. Below you can find the best rotational pattern for your vehicle type.
Your Vehicle Type | Tire Type | Rotational Pattern |
Rear & four-wheel drive | Directional | Rearward cross or X |
Front-wheel drive | Non-directional | Forward cross or X |
Same-size wheels | Directional | Front to rear |
Different-size wheel | Non-directional | Side to side |
