How Often Do Tires Need To Be Rotated?

It’s a sad situation when drivers don’t pay attention to the condition of their tires until they are stranded on the side of the road with a flat or damaged tire, looking for an urgent tire repair shop. Unfortunately, they are endangering themselves, their passengers, and possibly other motorists. Statistics say that nearly 11,000 tire-related accidents happen every year, many of them because of tire failure due to uneven wear. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) encourages motorists to include tire rotation as part of their basic vehicle maintenance routine.

Have you checked the tread on your tires lately? Is there uneven wearing in various places? Are you wondering how often do tires need to be rotated? There is no set answer as every tire wears at a different rate due to the distribution of weight among the tires. The front wheels carry more load, due to engine and transmission mass (most often in the front). Plus, the front wheels take the most stress during turns and braking. If the front wheels are the drive wheels, the pressure on them amplifies.

Inexperienced drivers may not understand exactly what rotating tires even means. Simply stated, a tire rotation service is moving the tires around to a different position on the vehicle so that the tread wears in an even pattern on all four tires. For example, the front tires will be moved to the rear of the vehicle and the rear tires to the front.

There are three main indicators that it’s time to rotate your tires:

• Uneven wear. The front tires may wear faster than the rear ones, or there is an irregular wear pattern in the tread on one of the front tires.
• Vehicle vibration. At speeds of 45 mph and higher, you may feel a vibration due to uneven tread wear. Your tires may need to be rotated, balanced, or aligned.
• Pressure loss. If a tire is losing air faster than any of the others, it may have too much pressure put on it. Repair the tire, if punctured, and rotate your tires as necessary.

Generally, most tire repair technicians recommend that tires be rotated about every 6,000 to 8,000 miles.

Need expert advice on how often do tires need to be rotated? Contact our ASE Certified technicians at theWrench, Ltd. Car Care Center at (360) 692-1414 for information about tire repair and to schedule an appointment. Our auto shop proudly serves residents in Silverdale, WA, and the surrounding area.