How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

In general, you should rotate your tires every 8,000 to 12,000 kilometres. Even though this is a great ground rule, you should always check your owner’s manual for exact numbers on when your rotation should occur, just like oil service. Still not sure about how often you should rotate your tires? Or how many kilometres to rotate your tires? Use Mercedes-Benz guides from your local friends at the Mercedes-Benz Brampton service department to learn everything you need to know about when to rotate your tires! We’ll also go over how to rotate your tires, but this is a job for professionals.

How to Rotate Tires on FWD and RWD Vehicles

The terms, front-wheel and rear-wheel drive simply mean where the power from the engine is being allocated to. For cars with front-wheel drive, the power is sent to the front tires. In vehicles with rear-wheel drive, the power is sent to the rear tires. Essentially, the tires allocated to receive the most amount of power will wear faster than the others. If you drive an RWD or FWD, keep in mind these tire rotation tips:

• Cars with RWD or FWD need to have tires rotated every 8,000 to 12,000 kilometres. Make sure to look through your owner’s manual for the exact numbers for how many kilometres to rotate your tires.
• When performing an FWD tire rotation, make sure to flip sides when you move the rear tires. For instance, the rear right tire will be moved to the front-left side. However, when you move the front tires to the rear, keep them on the same side.
• When performing an RWD tire rotation, reverse the process above. Flip sides when you move the front tires to the rear, but keep the rear tires on the same side when moving them to the front.
• If you do off-road travelling, be mindful of how often you need to rotate your tires and when to rotate your tires. Speak with one of our service technicians at Mercedes-Benz Brampton to receive a custom maintenance schedule that is appropriate for your driving habits.

AWD Tire Rotation Tips

Still not sure about how many kilometres to rotate tires on your AWD vehicle? Since each tire on this vehicle wears differently and at different speeds, most experts recommend the standard tire rotation timeline of 8,000 to 12,000 kilometres. Remember to check your owner’s manual for the exact numbers for when to rotate the tires.

Now, if time has gotten away from you, feel free to contact our service department to schedule an appointment at Mercedes-Benz Brampton. We will happily perform an inspection on your vehicle to see if it needs a tire rotation. When the tread variance exceeds 2/32 of an inch, that typically means your tires need to be rotated. Perform the toonie-test if you want to see what your tread depth is for yourself.

The Toonie Test

Take a two-dollar Canadian coin (a Toonie), and insert the outside edge of the coin into the tread of your tire.

• Your tread is thick and new if it only reaches the bear’s paw.
• Your tread is at about 50% if it reaches all the way across the silver.
• It’s time to get new tires if covers up any of the text.

Why Rotate Tires?

Basic knowledge will tell you that rotating your tires during the correct time interval will extend the life of your tires. Besides that, these are a few more benefits of maintaining a regular tire rotating schedule:

• Improved traction on slippery roads
• Less noise on the road
• Decreased risk of a blowout
• Relieves unnecessary stress on the drivetrain

When the hazardous weather hits the Caledon area, you’ll want to be prepared to add tire rotations into your maintenance plan. Even with proper tire care, being aware of how many kilometres to rotate tires, or knowing how often you should rotate your tires, doesn’t mean your tires will last forever. Visit our service department if you’re in need of replacement tires!

Get Your Tire Advice From Mercedes-Benz Brampton

If you have any questions regarding how to rotate your tires, how often oil service is needed, or anything else, contact us today. Our expert technicians are on standby to help you solve your issues and answer any questions. Want to know more about other auto service time frames, such as how often to check transmission fluid? Check out our service information centre to learn more.