When to Rotate Tires and Why

Why is tire rotation important? What does it do, and how often should you have your tires rotated? They’re common questions from our Northern Alabama drivers, and the Greenway Kia of the Shoals service center is here with the answers.

• Why should you rotate tires? This routine maintenance task helps to prolong the life of your tires and prevent one or more tires from wearing out prematurely or unevenly. 
• When should you rotate tires? As often as your manual or tires recommend — for most drivers, this is every 5,000 miles or so.

Learn how often to rotate tires and more with the service experts at Greenway Kia of the Shoals. 

Tires and Your Drivetrain

Friction between your tires and the road is necessary when you accelerate, brake, turn your wheels, and go around curves, whether you’re on the streets of Sheffield or driving all over The Shoals. The wheels that receive the majority of the engine power will begin to wear down sooner, which means the way your tires get rotated will depend on your drivetrain:

• Front-wheel drive vehicle: The brunt of the engine power is sent to the front wheels, which are responsible for steering, starting, and most of the stopping force. If you have a FWD vehicle, your front tires will experience more wear than the rear tires.
• Rear-wheel drive vehicle: Engine power is directed to the rear wheels. However, the front wheels are still responsible for steering and much of braking. For drivers with a RWD vehicle, the rear tires will still wear out faster than the front tires, but this will happen more slowly than the front tires wear out on a FWD vehicle.
• All-wheel drive vehicle: While the engine power is more evenly distributed, there is evidence that the rear tires wear down more quickly on many AWD vehicles. 

How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires? 

Your next question may be, “How often should you rotate your tires?” When to rotate tires depends on the drivetrain as well as your driving habits. 

• If you drive a FWD or RWD car, a tire rotation should be performed every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. It is a good idea to check your owner’s manual to see if there are different recommendations from the automaker.
• Curious how many miles to rotate tires on an AWD model? With AWD models, each tire wears differently and at different speeds. For most all-wheel drive vehicles, a tire rotation should be performed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Once again, consult your owner’s manual to see if this suggestion varies from the recommendations of the manufacturer. 

Your driving habits also play a role in how often a tire rotation is needed. If you do a lot of off-roading or encounter rugged terrain on a regular basis, you likely need to rotate your tires more often. Our team can help you figure out a good frequency to keep your treads wearing even around Muscle Shoals or Florence

What Happens if I Don’t Rotate My Tires?

When you skip routine tire rotations, your tires will wear out faster than they should and they will need to be replaced more frequently. It can also be a safety hazard when you’re driving around Tuscumbia or Sheffield due to:

• Poor traction and skidding on the roads
• Uneven wear causing unpredictable driving behavior
• The risk of blowout from an overly worn part of your tire.

Properly Maintain Your Tires with Greenway Kia of the Shoals

Now that you know more about why you should rotate your tires and when to rotate tires, you may realize that your vehicle is in need of service. That’s ok! You can trust your vehicle to the experts at the Greenway Kia of the Shoals service center. Set up your next appointment online, or contact us with any questions.