How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

One of the most common questions we hear at the North Hollywood Toyota service center is, “How often should you rotate your tires?” While the answer may vary depending on a variety of factors, generally a tire rotation should be performed every 5,000- to 7,500 miles. We still recommend consulting your owner’s manual to see if there are different recommendations from the manufacturer. Still wondering when to rotate tires on your vehicle? Check out this guide from the North Hollywood Toyota service center. 

When to Rotate Tires: FWD and RWD Models 

The type of drivetrain your vehicle has designates where power from the engine is sent. If you drive a FWD vehicle, engine power is sent to the front tires. The opposite is true for RWD vehicles, where the rear tires receive the bulk of the engine power. The set of tires that receives the majority of the engine power will wear faster than the others. If you have a FWD or RWD vehicle, these tips may be beneficial to you: 

• Wondering how many miles to rotate tires on a FWD or RWD vehicle? For most Van Nuys and Sun Valley drivers, a tire rotation should be performed every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. Once again, be sure to take a look at your owner’s manual to see if your particular make and model has different recommendations. 
• With a FWD tire rotation, remember to flip sides when moving the rear tires. For example, the rear right tire will go on the front left. Do not flip sides when moving the front tires to the back.
• Mission Hills drivers with a RWD car should invert the process above. Swap sides when moving the front tires to the back, but keep the rear tires on the same side as you bring them forward.
• How often should you rotate tires if you do a lot of off-roading or encounter tough terrain on a regular basis? Talk with the service experts at North Hollywood Toyota. We can help you create a maintenance schedule that best suits your needs. 

When to Rotate Tires: AWD Models

Not sure when to rotate tires with an AWD vehicle? Because engine power is sent to every wheel when AWD is engaged, a tire rotation will need to be performed more often. For an AWD vehicle, a tire rotation is recommended every 3,000 – 5,000 miles if you use AWD regularly. The tire rotation pattern for AWD vehicles is as follows:

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.

To ensure you follow the pattern correctly, try drawing a simple diagram of your drivetrain and using color-coded arrows. The team at North Hollywood Toyota can also perform this task for you. 

The Benefits of a Tire Rotation

Now that you have a better idea of how many miles to rotate tires for your particular drivetrain, you may be wondering why this task is necessary in the first place. In addition to prolonging the life of your tires, you will also enjoy the following perks:

• Improved traction on slippery roads
• Less noise on the road
• Less unnecessary stress on the drivetrain

Even the best maintained tires will eventually need to be replaced. If your tire treads are less than 2/32 of an inch or they have sustained damage over time, we can help you find a new set that perfectly fits your vehicle. 

Contact North Hollywood Toyota for Trusted Tire Care

For additional information regarding proper tire care, reach out to the team at North Hollywood Toyota. We want to make sure your tires are safe for the roads of North Hollywood. 

Service Specials From North Hollywood Toyota

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