How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

In general, your car should get its tires rotated once every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. However, the most accurate answer to “How often should you rotate your tires?” will depend on the model you drive and what your habits are on Des Moines roads. Our service team at Acura of Johnston recommends you to check your owner’s manual for the best timeframe on when to rotate tires. Find out more details below! 

Rotating Tires on FWD and RWD Vehicles

Your car’s drivetrain type will determine how many miles to rotate tires in the Waterloo area. If you have a car that operates on front-wheel drive (FWD), then the engine is sending the power to the front tires. For cars with rear-wheel drive (RWD), the power is sent to the rear tires. What this ultimately means is that the set of tires getting the bulk of the engine power will wear faster than the others. Other tips to keep in mind regarding when to rotate tires for a car with FWD or RWD include: 

• You can expect a tire rotation to happen every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. However, look at your owner’s manual for exact figures.
• If you’re performing an FWD tire rotation yourself, you will need to flip sides when moving the rear tires. For example, the rear right tire will go on the front left. However, when moving the front tires to the back, keep them on the same side.
• When rotating tires on an RWD car, you will need to invert the process above. Flip sides when moving the front tires to the back, but keep the rear tires on the same side when moving them forward.
• Lastly, your driving habits, such as frequent off-roading, will affect how many miles to rotate tires. Discuss with the service professionals at Acura of Johnston to get a better idea of a maintenance schedule that fits your driving habits.

Rotating Tires on AWD Vehicles

What about a car with an all-wheel-drive (AWD) system? The frequency and steps will be different. Because the power from your engine is sent to every wheel when you engage AWD, you can expect closer intervals for when to rotate tires. Most AWD tires need to be rotated every 3,000 – 5,000 miles if you use AWD regularly on your drives. Here are the steps to rotating tires on a car that operates in an AWD system: 

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.

Draw a simple diagram of your drivetrain and use color-coded arrows to help you move your tires properly. If you want professionals to rotate your tires though, you can always schedule service at Acura of Johnston. Plus, we offer Acura accelerated services, so you can get your car’s tires rotated in 30 minutes or under and you don’t even need an appointment! 

Why Rotate Tires?

Besides knowing the answer to “How often should you rotate your tires?” you should also understand why it is important to keep up with tire rotations. They extend the life of your tires as well as: 

• Improve traction on slippery roads
• Lessen noise on the road
• Relieves unnecessary stress on the drivetrain
• Prepare your drives, especially during potentially dangerous seasons like the winters in Iowa

Ask Acura of Johnston for More Tire Care Tips 

Our service technicians are here to offer more information and advice, so you can keep going on the Cedar Rapids streets safely without needing to spend more money than you should for auto maintenance. Contact us today or visit us in Johnston!

Service Specials From Acura of Johnston

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