How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires

It’s very important to rotate your tires on a regular basis. How often you need to do this will depend on how much you drive and the wear rate of the tires, but every 5,000-8,000 miles is a good average. By rotating your tires, you can help them to last longer and also increase your vehicle’s fuel economy. To tell when it's time to rotate again, look for uneven wear or worn tread on any area of the tire.

How does rotation help your vehicle?

Rotating your tires helps to evenly distribute the wear on them, which in turn helps keep your vehicle in good shape. Uneven wear can cause problems with the car's handling and increase the chance of a blowout. When all the tires are wearing evenly, it also means you'll need to replace them less often. Rotating your tires can also improve your fuel economy. When the tires are evenly worn, they grip the road better, which means you won't have to use as much gas to get where you're going.

How can I tell when it's time to rotate my tires again?

When you start seeing uneven wear or treadwear on one particular area on the tire, you’ll know it's time to rotate your tires again. If all four tires are wearing evenly, that means it's likely been at least 5,000 miles since you last rotated them. Depending on how often you drive and other factors, the rotation should be performed every 5,000-8,000 miles.

How to Get Your Tires Rotated

If you're not comfortable rotating your tires yourself, most auto shops will do it for a small fee. Be sure to call ahead and make an appointment to ensure that you avoid any long wait time to get your car in for service.

Benefits of Rotating Your Tires

Even tire wear

By keeping all four tires evenly worn, you can help prolong the life of your vehicle and save money by avoiding tire rotations or replacements every few months. Even tire wear also offers other benefits, such as better vehicle handling and less slippage.

Reduced chance of a blowout

When one or more of your tires is significantly worn, the chance of experiencing a blowout while driving increases. This can be very dangerous—not to mention costly—if it leads to damage to your vehicle. Rotating your tires on a regular basis can help reduce the likelihood of this happening.

Improved fuel economy

Because all four tires will be evenly worn and give you better traction, your vehicle will use less gas to drive the same distance when they are rotated. How much fuel this saves you varies, but in some instances it can add up to a few extra dollars in savings each month.

Increased life of tires

When you rotate your tires regularly, you can help maximize the life of each tire. How long a set of tires will last also depends on how and where you drive, so having them rotated every 5,000-8,000 miles is a good average to follow. If you neglect rotating your tires and allow uneven wear on a particular spot on the tire, it could drastically reduce how long they'll last.

Better car handling

When all of your tires have the same amount of wear on them, your vehicle will handle much better. This can help you avoid a collision if you need to swerve quickly or get out of the way of an emergency vehicle.

How Acima Can Help

At Acima, we can help you get the tires you need without using credit.* Simply find an Acima auto retailer and increase your shopping power today. Our easy application process can help you get approved.  All you need to apply is a checking account with at least $1,000 of income per month, three months of income history, and a government-issued ID and SSN or taxpayer-identification number.

Common Questions about Tires

What are the most important considerations when shopping for a tire?

The most important considerations when shopping for a new tire are price, traction, and ride. How much you spend on a tire can vary from a few dollars for a basic tire to over $1,000 for a high-performance model. How well the tire will grip the road depends on its tread pattern and rubber compounds. How comfortably it rides is determined by how stiff or flexible the sidewalls are and the tire's height off the ground.

How long do tires last?

Tires will usually last between 40,000 and 80,000 miles, but this can vary depending on the type of driving you do. How often you need to rotate your tires also affects how long they'll last. If you drive a lot on the freeway, for example, your tires will wear down more quickly than if you mostly drive around town. How often you rotate your tires also affects how long they last because it helps to distribute the wear more evenly. Your tires will last even longer if you regularly maintain your vehicle and tire pressure.

How do you put air in tires?

There are a few ways to put air in tires. One is to use a tire pump, which can be bought at most stores that sell camping or automotive supplies. You can also stop at a gas station that has an air pump, or use an air compressor. Sometimes these machines will be free; if there is a cost it will typically be pretty cheap. Be sure to check the air pressure on your tires at least once a month or two, and more often if you live in a hot climate or drive a lot. This will help keep them inflated to the correct pressure and extend their life.

What PSI should my tires be?

The PSI for your car's tires depends on the make and model of the vehicle, as well as the type of tires you have. You can find this information in the owner's manual, or on a sticker that’s usually located on the driver's side door. It's important to keep your tires inflated to the correct air pressure, as this will help them last longer and handle better, and it will improve your fuel economy.