Key Takeaways
- Rotate your tires every six months or after every 12,000 miles
- Rotating your tires helps them to wear evenly and maximises their lifespan
- There are multiple ways to rotate your tires depending on what vehicle you have
So you’ve bought a couple new tires. Now you’re left wondering if you should rotate your other tires at the same time but you’re not sure how often you should be rotate them?
This depends on a variety of factors, but according to Michelin, you should rotate your tires every six months or after every 12,000 miles.
Rotating your tires on a regular basis helps to extend their life and ensure optimal performance. In this article, we will discuss what factors you should consider when deciding how often to rotate your tires. We will also provide a general guideline for how often to rotate them.
How often should you rotate your tires
According to Michelin, you should rotate your tires every six months or after every 12,000 miles. To rotate the tires means to move them from one position to another in order to promote even wear across all four wheels and prevent excessive wear on any one tire.
The importance of rotating your tires
Rotating your tires is important for two reasons. First, it helps to extend the life of your tires by evenly distributing the wear and tear. Second, it ensures that your vehicle’s performance is not compromised. When one or more of the tires are worn down, it can affect how your car handles and brakes.
Factors that impact how often you rotate your tires
The frequency at which you rotate your tires depends on a variety of factors, including the type of vehicle (car or truck), the driving conditions, and the make and model of tire. It also depends on whether you rotate your tires yourself or have them rotated by a professional mechanic. If any of these factors change over time, it can impact how often you rotate your tires.
How Often Should You Do Tire Rotation and Balance?
Are recommendation for how often to rotate and balance your tires is typically every six months or every 12,000 miles. Many people rotate their tires at the same time they have an oil change done. This is a good way to remember and keep track of when you last rotated your tires.
How to rotate your tires?
You can rotate your tires yourself at home or have them rotated by a professional mechanic. If you decide to rotate the tires yourself, follow these steps:
- Remove all four wheels from the vehicle and place them on blocks so they are not touching anything else. Make sure that each block is lined up with the center of its respective wheel.
- Remove any plastic caps or covers from the wheels before rotating them to prevent damage to those parts.
- Move each tire one position clockwise (or counterclockwise) so it matches where another was previously located on your vehicle’s axle assembly; rotate them in pairs if possible.
- Reassemble your vehicle’s wheels and rotate their tires again after six months or 12,000 miles to extend the life of those parts even further.
How does tire rotation work?
When you rotate your tires, it means moving them from one position to another on the vehicle. By doing this, you are even spreading out the wear and tear so that each tire lasts longer.
Where to get tires rotated?
You can rotate your tires at home or have them rotated by a professional mechanic. If you’re not sure where to get your tires rotated, ask your mechanic or local tire store. They should be able to help you out and provide tips on rotating your tires regularly.
When not to rotate tires?
You should avoid rotating your tires if you have a mismatched set. For example, if you have snow tires for the winter and all-season tires for the summer, rotate them in the fall when you switch to your snow tires. Do not rotate them in the spring when you switch back to your all-season tires.
FAQ
How much does it cost to rotate your tires?
If you decide to take your vehicle to your local shop for a tire rotation, you can expect to pay between $30-50 after taxes.
How long does it take to rotate your tires?
It can take a shop as little as 15 minutes to rotate your tires, and shouldn’t take longer than 30 minutes. If you choose to rotate your tires yourself, the time it takes will depend on the equipment you have and can take between 20 to 45 minutes.
What happens if I forget to rotate my tires?
If you have never had your tires rotated, it is likely that the front and rear tires will have worn differently and you may need to replace one or the other sooner than the others. This isn’t ideal as it is better to change all your tires at the same time.
We would recommend taking your vehicle to your shop and asking a professional mechanic for their opinion on whether your tires are able to be rotated and the overall tread wear on all your tires.
What to do next?
Rotating your tires every six months or 12,000 miles is a good practice to follow. It will help extend the life of those parts and ensure that they are wearing evenly across all four wheels, so you don’t have any problems with how your car handles on the road.
If you have any questions then please leave a comment below or get in touch via email ([email protected]) or through social media and me or one of the team will get back to you. Thanks for reading!
If you’re thinking about buying a new set of tires, then be sure to check out our hands on guides and reviews.