How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

Generally, your tires need to be rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles, as a rule of thumb. However, this depends on the make and model of your vehicle, and you should consult your owner’s manual to determine the exact number of miles. 

Why rotate tires in the first place? Rotating your tires can improve traction on slippery surfaces, create less noise, and relieve unnecessary stress for your vehicle. Read through this simple guide from the service team at O'Hara Motors near Sandwich to learn more!

Rotating Tires on FWD and RWD Vehicles

Knowing when to rotate tires depends on the designation of your vehicle, meaning which wheel is the power being sent to. For front-wheel drive, the power is sent to the front, and for rear-wheel drive, it is sent to the rear tires. Here are some more tips on tire rotation:

• If you are performing a FWD tire rotation yourself, make sure to flip sides when moving the rear tires, with the rear right tires going to the front left and the rear left tires going to the front right. With the front tires to the back, keep them on the same side. 
• When rotating on a RWD vehicle, invert the process. Keep the rear tires on the same side of the vehicle when moving to the front, but flip sides when moving the front tire to the back.
• The way you drive and how often you drive will affect how often you will need to rotate your tires.

AWD Tire Rotation Tips

AWD vehicles will require a specific way to arrange your tires. Since power from your engine is sent to every wheel when you engage AWD, the rotation will need to be done every 3,000 to 5,000 miles if you use AWD regularly in Mashpee. Here is the configuration to follow:

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.

One way to keep track is to draw a diagram of your drivetrain and use color-coded arrows to make sure you are moving the tires in the correct spot. You can always schedule service at O'Hara Motors if you would prefer to have this done by a professional!

Get Your Tires Rotated with O'Hara Motors

If you have further inquiries about how to rotate your tires or if you would like us to rotate them for you, give us a call! Our team of certified technicians is happy to help get you back on Bourne roads in no time!