How often do car tires need to be rotated


How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

Why should you get your tires rotated? Because it’s one of the easiest ways to extend the life of your tires and get the most miles out of them. And you only need to do it a couple of times a year.

  • What is a Tire Rotation?
  • Why are Tire Rotations Important?
  • How Often Should You Get a Tire Rotation?
  • How Long Does a Tire Rotation Take?
  • Tire Rotation Patterns
  • How Much Does a Tire Rotation Cost at Les Schwab?

Already know you need a tire rotation? Come visit us at one of our local stores or schedule an appointment.


Rotating the tires on your vehicle means moving them to different positions on your car or truck. This helps promote even tread wear on all four tires.

No matter how you drive, front and rear tires can wear at different rates. Tires that are mounted on the drive axle (the front two wheels on a front-wheel drive or back two on a rear-wheel drive) wear more quickly than the “free rolling” tires on the other axle.

Properly rotated tires can make for a smoother ride. It can also extend the life of your tires, saving you both time and money. By rotating your tires, you even out the wear to get the most tread life from every tire. Regular rotations are equally important, even if you have an all-wheel drive vehicle.

A good rule of thumb is every 5,000 miles. Depending on your vehicle, driving style, and tire type, you may need to rotate your tires more or less often. If you’re not sure, stop by Les Schwab. We’ll help you come up with a rotation schedule.

Regular tire rotations can help spot uneven tire wear early. Going too long between rotations may result in a wear pattern that can’t be fixed, no matter where the tire is moved on the vehicle. These wear patterns could result in the need for new tires sooner than expected.

Here are some ways to remember your next rotation.

  • Watch your odometer and get your vehicle in for a rotation every 5,000 miles.
  • Put a rotation reminder on your calendar.
  • Sign up for service reminders by providing your email address the next time you’re in a store.
  • When you change your oil, check your mileage for a possible tire rotation.

Getting your tires rotated every 5,000 miles is generally a pretty quick process. The professionals at Les Schwab will take the time to do a thorough tire rotation by also balancing your Les Schwab tires, checking your air pressure, doing a visual check of important safety systems, and documenting anything you should be aware of during the process. Once your vehicle is in our service bays, you can expect this procedure to be completed in about half an hour. Taking the time to make tire rotations a part of your normal vehicle maintenance regimen can add significant life to your tires, promote even tire wear for a smoother and more comfortable ride, and save you money in the long run.

The standard tire rotation is front-to-rear, but there are multiple patterns that could also help promote long tire life.

Front-to-rear
  • Rear tires move to front on same side of vehicle
  • Used when wear is normal, and also when tires have directional tread (are designed to roll in one direction)
Forward cross (for front-wheel drive vehicles)
  • Front tires move straight back to the rear
  • Rear tires cross to opposite sides on front
  • Used when rear tires show uneven wear
X pattern (for all types of vehicles)
  • Front tires shift to opposite rear positions
  • Rear tires cross to opposite front positions
  • Used when there’s uneven wear
Rearward cross (for all-wheel, rear-wheel or four-wheel drive vehicles)
  • Rear tires move straight up to front
  • Front tires cross to opposite rear positions
  • Used when there’s uneven front-tire wear
Side-to-Side (for staggered (differently sized) wheels)
  • Front two tires are moved to opposite sides on front axle
  • Rear two tires are moved to opposite sides on back axle

What Tire Technicians Look for When Rotating Your Tires

Here’s what Les Schwab tire pros consider to properly rotate and position the tires on your vehicle.

  • What kind of vehicle do you drive (front-, rear-, all-, four-wheel)?
  • Do the tires show uneven wear? Where?
  • Do they have directional tread?
  • Are there any custom wheel-tire setup considerations, like staggered wheels (different wheel sizes on front and back)? Any offset concerns?

As always, check your owner’s manual for specific recommendations from the manufacturer.

If you have Les Schwab tires on your vehicle, rotations are free for the life of those tires. Plus we balance your wheels as part of the service. Don’t have Les Schwab tires? Our pros can still help maximize the life of your tires. Stop by your local Les Schwab for a quick estimate.


Trust Les Schwab to Rotate Your Tires

Don’t put tire rotations off. This simple task can maximize the life of your tires. When you buy tires from Les Schwab, we rotate them for free on most vehicles. Plus, we provide free rotation reminders by email. Just ask at your local store.

How Often Do I Need A Tire Rotation?

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Tires

  • Nov 27,2017

You care about your car and know it’s important to have your tires rotated at regular intervals. You also know that getting this done evens out tire wear, which means better handling and traction for you. But what exactly are “regular intervals”? Learn how often you should get a tire rotation, what's typically involved in the service, and how it can save you from having to buy new tires down the road. That's more money in your pocket for the things you care about!

How often should I get my tires rotated?

About every 7,500 miles or 6 months.

Most vehicle manufacturers recommend that you get your tires rotated approximately every 7,500 miles or six months. However, some vehicles are exceptions and it’s always best to refer to your owner’s manual. This number can change depending on how, where, and what you drive. Simplify things by making it a habit to get your tires rotated every time you get your oil changed.

What is involved in a tire rotation?

Tires are removed, swapped, and remounted.

Tire rotation consists of switching the front and rear tires. It’s crucial to do this because the drive tires (i.e. front tires in front wheel drive vehicles) work harder than the others. If you don’t swap them out, these tires will wear down faster. By rotating your tires, you distribute the burden among all four tires and ensure they wear down evenly. Take a look at the tire rotation pattern below and you'll see! At Firestone Complete Auto Care, our expert technicians remove, swap, and remount your tires so they live longer and drive safer.

How do regular tire rotations help me?

By helping you save money and drive safer.

Regular tire rotations reduce your risk of various tire problems—most obviously, a tire failure or blowout. By regularly rotating your tires, you’ll be less likely to experience those, reducing your risk for an inconvenient and even potentially dangerous situation. Tire rotations also help improve traction and fuel efficiency by ensuring your vehicle's tires wear down evenly. This increases the lifespan of your tires, meaning you’ll save money in the long run.

Getting your tires rotated is key to getting the best performance from both your tires and your vehicle. If you can't remember the last time you had your tires rotated, there's a pretty good chance they're overdue for this important service. Make an appointment for a tire rotation at your local Firestone Complete Auto Care today! We’ll get you rotated and rolling in no time.

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When to change tires

  • Repair of damaged tires
  • Replacing a damaged tire
  • When to change tires

Changing tires

Sooner or later all tires wear out or get damaged and need to be replaced.

How quickly this happens depends on various factors, including how you drive, the natural conditions in your area, and how well your tires are cared for.

When should tires be changed?

Tires should be checked regularly (at least once a month). The following are signs that indicate the need for tire replacement.

  • Tread Wear Indicators: Most tires have tread wear indicators, these are hard rubber bars that appear on the tire when the tread depth is below the safe driving limit (usually 1.6mm).
  • Uneven wear pattern: The tread should also be inspected for uneven wear patterns that may indicate problems elsewhere.
  • Bulge or bulge on the side of the tire: may cause tire damage and dangerous consequences.
  • Flat tire due to a puncture.
  • Tire has ruptures or other significant damage.
  • There are punctures larger than 0.64 cm on the side or tread. If the punctures are larger than the specified size or the tread is worn to a depth of less than 1.6 mm, the tire cannot be repaired.

Tips for buying replacement tires

  • Change all four tires at once

This is the best replacement. Excellent handling requires all four tires to be of the same type and size, unless otherwise recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.

  • Compliance

When purchasing only two new replacement tires, make sure they are compatible with other tires in use and comply with current legislation and vehicle manufacturer's requirements.

  • Put new tires on the rear axle

Buying only two new tires, put them on the rear wheels for better grip and stability while driving.

  • Radial and non-radial

If tires are to be used simultaneously, fit radial tires on the rear wheels.

  • Never bet

Radial and non-radial tires on the same axle at the same time.

  • Different speed indexes

It is not recommended to use tires with different speed ratings on the same vehicle. If, nevertheless, the speed index of the tires is different, a pair of tires with the same indexes should be put on the same axle.

  • Load capacity

New tires must have at least the original manufacturer's recommended load capacity.

What happens to old tires?

90% of end-of-life used tires are recycled as fuel (in the US, Japan and Europe).

Warning

Before changing tires, read your vehicle owner's manual and follow the tire manufacturer's recommendations for changing tires. Changing the type or size of tires can greatly affect the handling of the vehicle.

Car tire maintenance - expiration date, how to determine the degree of wear, when to change tires

Car tires - an elastic shell mounted on a disc rim. It is the tires that dampen the small vibrations that occur due to imperfect roads and compensate for the inconsistency in the trajectories of the wheels. The characteristics of tires affect: driving comfort, maneuverability and vehicle stability. However, even the highest quality rubber eventually deteriorates. Therefore, every driver should know how to correctly determine the degree of tire wear in order to replace them in time. Car and truck tires have different periods of use, depending on both the initial characteristics of the products and the operating conditions.

Regulatory service life of car and truck tires

Tires wear out not only due to operational loads. They are characterized by natural aging, since the rubber compound from which the tires are made gradually loses its elasticity and resilience. The use of such rubber leads to a deterioration in vehicle controllability and creates dangerous conditions due to the high probability of tire rupture on the way.

In accordance with GOSTs 4754-97 and 5513-97, the warranty period for car tires is 5 years. Foreign manufacturers claim that the working life of tires is 5-10 years. There are no legislative acts obliging drivers to change tires after this period, but in order to create safe driving conditions, the driver must take into account the recommendations of GOST. Manufacturers usually set their own warranty periods.

Michelin, Bridgestone, Nokian, Continental, Dunlop, Pirelli, Tire Warranty Table Yokohama:

Brand

Warranty period declared by the manufacturer

Bridgestone

Tire dependent - 3-6 years

Nokian

5 years

Continental

10 years old

Dunlop

Tire dependent

Pirelli

Tire dependent

Yokohama

5 years

Michelin

10 years old

During the warranty period, the responsibility for identified significant defects rests with the manufacturer. The owner of the vehicle will be forced to eliminate defects on his own if there have been:

  • violation of the storage conditions for tires, as a result of which certain defects appeared on the products;
  • installation on a disk that does not match the tire;
  • deformation, corrosive wear and severe contamination of the rim;
  • Combination of tires and tubes with non-corresponding designations;
  • non-professional installation of tires;
  • operation of a tire with incorrect internal pressure;
  • mechanical and chemical damage to tires;
  • installation of tires with a tread depth below the permissible level;
  • no warranty card;
  • installation on a vehicle with broken axle geometry or damaged suspension;
  • use of tires out of season;
  • preliminary repair of products.

If the vehicle is used intensively, the need to replace tires may come before the end of the warranty period. Therefore, regulatory documents establish the mileage after which you should think about replacing tires.

The maximum standard mileage is:

  • for a car with a carrying capacity of up to 2 tons - 45 thousand km;
  • for trucks with a carrying capacity of 2-4 tons - 60 thousand km;
  • for trucks with a carrying capacity of over 4 tons - 65-70 thousand km.

Factors that affect tire wear in passenger cars and trucks

Actual tire wear rate may differ from the standard values ​​due to a whole list of factors, such as:

  • Driving style. When driving with hard braking and jerking at the start, tires wear out much faster than when driving carefully.
  • Driving on poor roads. When it gets into the pits on the tires, “hernias” appear, which sharply reduce the operational period of the products.
  • The quality of the rubber compound used in the production of tires. This factor greatly affects how many years you have to change the tire. Low-quality products under the influence of abrasive particles wear out very quickly.
  • Equipment workload. If the car is often loaded above the established norm, then the rubber wears out at an accelerated pace.
  • Vehicle serviceability. On faulty equipment, tires wear out much faster.
  • Conditions for storage of tires in the intervals between their operation.

How to check tire wear

You can determine the need for tire replacement yourself by the following signs:

  • The protector has worn down to a critical level. In order to assess tire wear, you need a ruler with a depth gauge.

Table of minimum allowable tread depth for different modes of transport as amended on 01.01.2015

Minimum Remaining Tread Depth

Type of transport

0.8 mm

L - motorcycles, mopeds, quad bikes

1. 0 mm

N2, N3, O3, O4 - trucks over 3.5 tons MPW and trailers over 3.5 tons MPW

1.6 mm

M1, N1, O1, O2 - cars, trucks and trailers with a maximum authorized mass of less than 3.5 tons

2.0 mm

M2, M3 - buses

4.0 mm

Winter tires marked M+S, M&S, M S, the amount of residual tread depth does not depend on whether tires are installed on cars or trucks

  • The appearance of one or two wear indicators - protrusions along the bottom of the tread groove, corresponding to the minimum allowable tread depth.
  • The appearance of local damage - through and non-through cuts, breakdowns, delaminations in the carcass, swelling, local delamination of the tread, sidewalls and sealing layer.
  • For studded tires, the end of life is determined by the number of studs remaining on the surface. If it does not exceed 50% of the original value, then the tires must be replaced.
  • Surface cracking.

Important! If the outside edges of the tire are wearing faster, the inflation pressure is too low. Accelerated wear of the central part indicates excessive pressure. Wear on one side indicates a violation of the toe angle. Uneven surface wear is evidence of aggressive driving with rapid acceleration and hard braking.

How to extend the life of your tires

You can extend the life of your tires by doing the following:

  • regular car maintenance;
  • tire pressure check - under-inflated and over-inflated tires fail much faster;
  • wheel balancing;
  • inspection of tires for damage;
  • periodic monitoring of tire wear by checking the remaining tread depth;
  • compliance with the conditions of seasonal storage of tires.

Shelf life of tires

Normative document regulating the terms and conditions of tire storage - GOST 24779-81.


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