How Often Should I Rotate My Tires? | Front Wheel Drive Tire Rotation

Tires play a big role in the safety and handling of your car. They cushion the ride, grip the driving surface no matter the weather or terrain, and help the car to stop in a timely manner. In order to help preserve the integrity of the tire and to help them reach their expected life span, they need regular rotation.

Why Is It Important to Rotate My Tires?

The tires on your car wear differently depending on how you drive and what type of drivetrain the car has. If the tires aren’t rotated, the front tires may wear differently than the rear, and the inside of the tire will wear differently than the outside.

There are several important reasons to rotate your tires. Let’s explore some of them.

• Save money on buying new tires. Regular rotation increases the lifespan of the tires. When you can get the most wear out of your tires, you won’t’ have to spend money on buying new ones before it’s necessary. 
• Increases the fuel economy. Driving on worn or uneven tires puts extra strain on the engine, which increases fuel consumption. Regular rotation helps you save money on gas. 
• The ride is smoother. Rotated and balanced tires make for a smoother ride and better handling on the road. 
• Maximize your car’s performance. The better the tread is on the tire, and the more even the tread is, the easier it is for the car to perform to its maximum efficiency.
• Increases traction on wet and slippery roads. The channels within the tire’s tread help to displace water when driving on wet roads. Rotating the tires helps to ensure that there is even distribution of channels in the tread to help prevent the car from hydroplaning. 

How Often to Rotate Tires?

Check with the manufacturer’s instructions on how often they recommend rotating the tires. Generally, tires need rotating every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Depending on your driving or commuting patterns, you may need to rotate the tires every few months to every six months. If you need help remembering when to rotate the tires, have them done when you have your car serviced or the oil changed, which is usually every 3,000 or 5,000 miles. 

Do All Tires Need the Same Type of Rotating?

It seems that tire rotation is an easy and simple concept. Just take the back tires and put them in the front, take the front tires and put them in the back, and swap them from side to side. However, a proper tire rotation is a bit more complicated. Depending on the drivetrain system the car has and the driving conditions, the tires wear differently and need a specific tire rotation pattern.

What Are the Different Drivetrains and Tire Rotations for Each System?

Let’s look at the different drivetrains and the specific needs and rotating patterns for each one. 

Front Wheel Drive Tire Rotation

Most modern cars come with front-wheel drive, which means that the engine sends most of the working power to the two front wheels. Front-wheel drive vehicles wear through the front tires quicker than the rear tires because the front tires steer, stop, and pull the car forward. 

4 wheel Drive Tire Rotation

The most common rotating pattern for front-wheel-drive cars is the forward cross, where the front tires rotate to the back on the same side of the car, and the rear tires rotate from the back to the front but on the opposite side of the car.

The second front-wheel-drive rotation pattern is the X-pattern. The front right tire goes to the left rear axle , and the left front tire goes to the right rear axle. Then, the right rear tire goes to the left front axle, and the left rear tire goes to the right front axle.

All Wheel Drive Tire Rotation

When a car is equipped with an all-wheel or four-wheel drive system, power is sent to all four wheels at the same time, which increases traction in slippery, wet, or uneven terrain. Both systems come with part-time mode, which sends power to either the two front tires or two rear tires during normal driving conditions and, when driving conditions worsen, the system sends power to all four wheels. If your car has a full-time all-wheel drive or four-wheel drive, all four wheels receive even power during all driving conditions. 

Rotating patterns for all-wheel-and four-wheel-drive-cars

If your car uses front-wheel drive for normal driving mode, the tires are rotated using the forward cross or X-pattern rotation. If your car uses rear-wheel drive during the normal driving mode, the best tire rotation pattern is the rearward cross pattern. This pattern has the front right tire going to the back rear axle and the front right tire going to the rear right axle.

Rear Wheel Drive Tire Rotation

In a car that uses rear-wheel drive, whether part-time or full-time, the engine delivers power to the rear wheels where the tires pull the car forward, leaving the front wheels to steer and maneuver the vehicle. A car that uses a rear-wheel-drive system has more traction and stability when driving on uneven terrain. In a rear-wheel-drive car, the rear tires wear more quickly than the front tires. The optimal tire rotation pattern for the rear-wheel-drive is the rearward cross pattern.

When Should I Replace My Tires?

Even with regular tire rotation, you’ll eventually have to replace your tires. The best way to know if the tires need replacement is to look at the manufacturer’s recommended mileage for that specific tires’ replacement. If the tread looks worn, the car doesn’t handle as well it did when it had new tires, and they have reached the end of their life expectancy, it’s time to replace the tires. 

Keep in mind that when you replace the tires, make sure you replace all four of them at the same time. You’ll have fresh rubber on all four wheels, and because tire manufacturers are always coming up with new and improved tire materials, you’ll get the latest tire technology.

When you need tire maintenance, a proper tire rotation, or need your tires replaced, the tire center at Cochran Cars is the place to go in the Youngstown, Ohio, area.

Visit Cochran Cars for our Tire Rebate going on right now and save up to $200!