How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

Some of the frequent questions we get from our Richmond and Glen Allen drivers is “how often should you rotate your tires and how many miles to rotate tires?” Nowadays, we know there’s a pretty simple answer to this question of how many miles to rotate tires, and it’s roughly 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Our service team at Whitten Brothers of Ashland has all the details on when to rotate tires and the patterns according to your specific drivetrain, and when you’re ready for a tire rotation, be sure to schedule your service appointment in Ashland today.

When to Rotate Tires: FWD & RWD Drivetrains

When you have a FWD vehicle, the power is sent from the engine to the front wheels, the opposite is true with a RWD vehicle where power is sent from the engine directly to the rear wheels. Because the power is sent to one set of tires, that set will wear down faster. Despite the differences in which set wears down faster, the basic premise is the same of the FWD and RWD drivetrains, so here’s how to and when to rotate tires in your FWD and RWD vehicles:

1. Rotate your tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Look at the details in your owner’s manual for specifics.
2. If you’re performing the tire rotation yourself, the steps are as follows for FWD drivetrains: move the rear tires to the front and flip sides, so the rear right tire goes to the front left and the rear left goes to the front right. When you move the front tires back, they can stay on the same side. This is called the forward cross pattern.
3. With a RWD vehicle you will need to perform the rearward cross, which is just the opposite of the forward cross. Move the front tires directly back, then the back tires forward, switching sides while you do so.
4. If you frequently drive on rough or unpaved roads in Richmond, Glen Allen, and Petersburg, then you will probably need to rotate your tires more often. Our team at Whitten Brothers of Ashland in Ashland can develop a maintenance plan adapted to your vehicle’s usage.

When to Rotate Tires: AWD Vehicles

If you’re driving an AWD model, the mileage will be a bit different for your rotations. All-wheel drive vehicles have a different wear pattern than RWD or FWD vehicles. You actually may need to get your tires rotated more often, about every 3,000 to 5,000 miles or every 6 months. It’s important to refer to your owner’s manual for specific vehicle recommendations. In this case, when you’re performing a tire rotation, the rear tires move forward and switch sides and the front tires move backwards and switch sides. 

How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires at Whitten Brothers of Ashland?

Staying secure on Petersburg roads is easier when you have maintained your vehicle properly. Tire rotations allow you to maintain traction, minimize the stress on your vehicle, and make your drives in Ashland more enjoyable. If you’re still curious about how many miles to rotate your tires specifically, contact our team at Whitten Brothers of Ashland today!