How often you rotate your tires


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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7 rubber signals: what the tire says about car problems

How do you know when tires are completely worn out and it's time to change them? Everything is simple. For summer tires, the limit is 1.6 mm of residual tread depth, and for winter (or all-season tires used in winter) - 4 mm. Modern summer tires can travel from 40,000 to 70,000 km, depending on driving style and vehicle characteristics. An average motorist rolls such a mileage on summer tires in 2-3 seasons. Moreover, wear implies not only a decrease in tread depth. For millions of cycles of deformation, the strength of the carcass and its adhesion to the layers of the rubber compound are violated. In short, every 2-3 years you should buy a new set of tires.

In case of irreparable damage to one of the tires and a relatively high total mileage of the kit, it is also worth considering replacing it. Well, or about buying at least a pair of new tires, which, for any type of drive, should be installed on the front axle. We put two tires back - the most decent of the remaining ones.

What if I don't drive much?

Many motorists drive only a few thousand kilometers a year. This does not mean that the tires will serve you for several decades. According to Russian requirements (GOST 4754-97), the service life of passenger car tires is 5 years from the date of manufacture. And for example, Continental recommends that all car tires (including the spare tire) older than 10 years old should be replaced with new ones. Therefore, with small runs, you can navigate for ten years. The date of manufacture of the tire is indicated on the sidewall. Usually it is an oval with four numbers. The first two are the ordinal number of the week in the year, the last two indicate the year.

How to extend the life of tires?

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Tires should be rotated periodically in accordance with the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations - information on this can be found in the owner's manual.

We can advise you to carefully use the tires and, most importantly, to store them correctly in the off-season. First of all, during storage, it is important to exclude direct sunlight from hitting the tires, which greatly age the rubber. Tires without rims should be placed vertically, and stacked on rims.

And before installing tires on a car at the beginning of the season, evaluate their condition. There should be no cracks in the tread and sidewalls. The tire should not be dry, it should remain rubbery and not look like baked plastic.

Do winter tires last the same amount?

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Winter tires have a much shorter life span. They almost always fail due to the wear of the treadmill, because the tread of a new tire is 7–8 mm, and only 3–4 mm remain working height. If the tires are studded, then with such wear there are very few metal elements left, and the tire will not provide adequate safety when driving on a winter road. However, not only spikes, but also Velcro, with such a degree of wear, also lose most of their capabilities.

The real life of winter tires rarely exceeds 30,000 km. "Bald" winter tires without studs can be re-rolled in summer, but their grip on hot road surfaces will be very poor. This must be taken into account, especially when braking.

***

So: tires that have not yet worn out along the tread (that is, up to 1. 6 mm tread depth for summer tires, 4 mm for winter tires) are changed either ten years after the date of issue, or when the rubber layer cracks tires or damage.

  • Find out which tire wear is considered critical here.

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How often do you change tires? How many years to exchange?

part (guest) 0 comments

Reply to:
How often do you change tires? How many years to exchange?

There is no definite answer. It depends on which tires you bought first, how much you ride, how you ride, in what conditions.

part answered the question December 5 2018

I change tires (guest) 0 comments

Reply to:
How often do you change tires? How many years to exchange?

How often do you change tires? I will buy a new one and go about 30 km a year, changing tires every 3-4 years. I know people who have been riding the same bald tires for 10 years, but it's very dangerous and irresponsible.

I change tires answered the question December 5 2018

adviser280 0 comments

Reply to:
How often do you change tires? How many years to exchange?

It is worth being able to read the age of the tire because the tire also ages.

The date of manufacture of the tire is written on the sidewall of the tire, behind the DOT symbol next to this symbol.

There may be something else with this point, not just the age of the tires.

The production date of this tire is indicated by 3 or 4 numbers with additional embossing. Pay special attention to tires with a three-digit marking. Such tires are very old - at least 3 years old, because such models were produced before 20 years.

The four-digit strings are new tires and can be deciphered: the first two numbers indicate the week and the last two numbers indicate the year the tires were manufactured. A year has just over 4 weeks.

Example: 1410 means that the model was made on the 14th week of 2010, i.e. in 2010 sometime in the first half of April.

advisor answered the question January 1 2019

Matteo (guest) 0 comments

Reply to:
How often do you change tires? How many years to exchange?

Polish regulations state that the tread depth must be at least 1. 6 mm.

But this 1.6 is the last resort, and then there is less grip, it is better not to wait until the tread becomes so shallow and replace the tires earlier. Especially if we drive a lot or drive fast.

In winter tires, the gap depth between the blocks must be at least 4 mm, and in summer tires - 3 mm - this will prevent our car from skidding.

Each tire is also equipped with a special TWI tread wear indicator. It is marked with a triangle symbol.

The best tires also sometimes have additional indicators showing tire wear and suggest tire replacement.

Matt answered a question January 1 2019

park (guest) 0 comments

Reply to:
How often do you change tires? How many years to exchange?

I change tires when I vulcanize, suggest I do. Cool people work alongside me in vulcanization, and you can always rely on their reliable opinion. When they say I need to change tires, I change tires.

park answered the question January 1 2019

gyodo (guest) 0 comments

Reply to:
How often do you change tires? How many years to exchange?

I also rely on the opinion of a vulcanizing specialist. I use a shop where you can buy new and used tires locally. I know they don't cheat me for profit. I have known them for over a decade and I have an idea about tires.

Giodo answered a question April 17 2020

nasturtium10.38K 0 comments

Reply to:
How often do you change tires? How many years to exchange?

I rely on professionals who change tires every season. They know this, and when the time comes, they recommend replacing old tires with new ones.


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