When to Rotate Your Tires

Tire rotation is one of the cheapest ways to extend tire life. Front tires wear faster on front-wheel-drive vehicles because they handle steering and most of the braking force. Rear tires wear differently on AWD vehicles because of the power distribution. Without rotation, you end up replacing tires in pairs rather than as a full set, which costs more and can affect handling.

How Often

Rotate every 8,000 to 12,000 km, or every other oil change. For Ontario drivers running two sets of tires (winter and summer), rotate within each set. When you take your winters off in spring, note which position each tire was in and move them to a different position when they go back on in October.

Rotation Patterns

• FWD: Front tires move straight to the rear. Rear tires move to the front on opposite sides (left rear to right front).
• RWD/AWD: Rear tires move straight to the front. Front tires move to the rear on opposite sides.
• Directional tires: Front-to-back only on the same side. Many winter tires are directional (check for rotation arrows on the sidewall).

Cost

Tire rotation at Ontario shops costs $30 to $50 if done standalone. Many shops include rotation with oil changes for free or at a reduced price. If you have your tires on dedicated rims, you can swap positions yourself with a jack and lug wrench in about 30 minutes.

Regular rotation combined with proper inflation and alignment extends tire life by 10 to 20 percent, saving you $150 to $300 over the life of a set.