How do I know if my tires need to be rotated?

What happens if you don't rotate your tires?

Without regular rotations, tire treads can wear down unevenly to create a rough and potentially unstable driving surface. In the end, this type of tire tread wear may decrease your safety on the road – think heat buildup, hydroplaning, poor traction in snow and ice, and an increased risk of punctures and blowouts.

How often do you need to rotate your tires?

Namely, it's a best practice to rotate tires every 5,000 to 7,500 miles or so. This is a rule of thumb, however, and you'll want to double-check with your vehicle's owner's manual for more specific information.

How much longer will tires last if rotated?

“By rotating your tires, you give the tires a chance to even out their wear and get extended life out of your tires,” Edmonds explains. He recommends having your tires rotated about every 3000 to 5000 miles, or at least every time you go in for an oil change.

How much is a standard tire rotation?

Generally, a tire rotation could cost somewhere between $24 to $50. But sometimes, it could even go up to $120. What you pay might depend on where you go and what other services you get.

How to Tell if Your Car Needs an Alignment

Do most people rotate their tires?

Some people rotate their own tires, but many consumers may elect to have their mechanic or tire dealer do it. You may indeed have to pay $20 or more to have the tires rotated, though some tire retailers will do it for free if you bought the tires at their store.

Can I rotate my own tires?

As part of basic car maintenance, rotating tires should be completed every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. This ensures that the tires wear evenly. While many people choose to have this maintenance professionally done, you can learn how to rotate tires and complete the task as a DIY project at home.

What are the red dots on my tires?

The red dot

They have high and low points because of where the belts are joined, and these points can cause vibrations when a tire is rolling. The red dot indicates the tire's high point. Most of the time, a wheel will also have a dot—either a drilled dot or a sticker to indicate its low point.

Is it OK to rotate tires every 10000 miles?

You should rotate your tires at or before the mileage requirement for maintaining your tire warranty. Every 10,000 miles is usually too long to wait to rotate the tires. Most tire manufacturers will require tire rotation between 5,000 and 8,000 miles.

How long are tires good for?

On average, people drive between 12,000 to 15,000 miles a year, which means the average good quality all-season tire will last somewhere between three and five years, depending on maintenance, driving style and conditions, etc.

What is the yellow dot on tires for?

Dot Marks The Spot

The yellow dots can help minimize the amount of weight needed to balance a tire and wheel assembly by mounting the tire so that its lightest point is already matched up with the wheel's heaviest point. The yellow dot indicates where the manufacturer has identified the lightest spot on the tire.

What does green dot on tire mean?

Awl vents are of a defined diameter and are made to a defined depth at defined points around the tire. An amount of green ink is deposited by the tool on the sidewall as the hole is made. This green spot indicates the location of vents around the tire and shows the venting process was completed.

What does a blue dot mean on a tire?

The blue dot represents the high runout location on the wheel, while a red dot on the tire represents the coordination runout position on the tire.

What does Walmart charge for tire rotation?

Walmart will perform the most basic tire rotation for $2.50 per tire. This does not include balancing though, which is important. Walmart does however offer a lifetime balance & rotation package for $14.00 per tire which is a very good deal! Why Is Walmart a Good Choice to Rotate Your Tires?

When tires are rotated are they taken off the rim?

Done to evenly distribute the wear and tear of driving among all four tires, tire rotation should really be called wheel rotation. The process involves removing the full tire and rim assemblies, also known as wheels, from their axles, and then moving them to a different spot on the car.

How do you rotate tires on AWD?

Should I get my tires rotated every oil change?

As a general rule of thumb, you should rotate your tires about every six to eight thousand miles. A good way to remember is to have them rotated every time you get an oil change. You may need to get your tires rotated more often if you drive a performance vehicle, for instance, or if you notice substantial uneven wear.

What's the difference between tire rotation and alignment?

In order to balance out the uneven weight distribution, your tire should be rotated every once in a while to keep them as fresh as possible. Wheel alignment is a completely different concept as it deals with lining up the wheel properly with the steering wheel.

Is it bad to rotate tires too often?

Regular tire rotations can help spot uneven tire wear early. Going too long between rotations may result in a wear pattern that can't be fixed, no matter where the tire is moved on the vehicle. These wear patterns could result in the need for new tires sooner than expected.

What are the red and yellow dots on tires for?

If it is lined up with the yellow dot, the valve stem is located at the heaviest part of the tire. If it is lined up with the red dot, then it is located at the lightest part of the tire. These dots guide the technician to make sure that the tire is properly balanced during installation.

Is it worth it to put nitrogen in my tires?

Since nitrogen molecules are bigger than normal air molecules, it is harder for them to leak out. This means a tire filled with nitrogen will maintain air pressure longer. Therefore, they say, you'll roll on tires that are always properly inflated, resulting in better fuel economy and longer tire life.

What is white dot on a tire mean?

The White Dot (Dynamic Balancing Dot) Regardless of the type of wheel, if there is no red dot, mount the tire with the white dot next to the valve stem. The white dot indicates the overall light dynamic balance point of the tire. In other words, it's as though the white dot represents a bit lighter in the area of tire.

Why do new tires have colored stripes?

Since thousands of these flat tread slabs are processed in a tire manufacturing facility every day, the manufacturers often print stripes (often featuring multiple stripes or various colors around the tire's circumference) and/or alphanumeric codes to identify the exact type and size tire for which the tread slab is ...

What do the paint dots on tires mean?

Tire manufacturers recommend the correct positioning of the red and yellow dots with respect to certain “landmarks” on both steel and alloy wheels. These dots can be used to mount tires for optimum initial balance and minimum ride disturbance – where the dots go depends on which dots – and which wheels you have.