AWD Auto has power going to all four wheels, which means that each tire is getting used more and wearing faster.
Manufacturers often recommend rotating the tires more frequently on an AWD model than they do on a two-wheel-drive model with the same engine.
X-pattern rotation – Moving each tire directly opposite of its current position. This is common on all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles with a longitudinally mounted engine and transaxle. It is also used on some four-wheel drive (4WD) vehicles with a solid rear axle and equal-sized wheels/tires front and back. So,X-pattern rotation is the rotation pattern for AWD/4WD.
The tires on an AWD vehicle should be rotated every 7,500 miles, according to the manufacturer’s recommendation.
Rotating the tires will make them last longer and improve their performance on the road. It is important for your safety and your wallet that you rotate your tires.
Table of Contents
How to Rotate Tires AWD: Step by Step
Step 1 – Jack Up the Vehicle
Before jacking up the vehicle, you should have a set of jack stands as well as an automotive jack. You will need to lift the vehicle in order to remove the tires.
Make sure that you place the jack stands at the correct location under the vehicle and don’t rely solely on the automotive jack to hold it up.
Step 2 – Remove Tires
Once you have access to the tires, use a tire iron and loosen them up. You do not need to remove them entirely, but loosening them will make removing them much easier. Once loosened, use your hands and pull each tire off of its respective lug nuts.
Step 3 – Rotate Tires
Once off, simply swap each tire with one that is diagonal across from it (i.e., front left with rear right). Do this for each tire and then replace them back onto their respective lug nuts. Tighten them down once they are back on and make sure that they are at the right place.
Does AWD Need Tire Rotation?
When it comes to tire rotation, both AWD and 4WD vehicles need to be rotated regularly because four tires mean four times more wear and tear.
Some signs of wear are uneven tread wear due to improper wheel alignment, suspension problems, or other mechanical issues.
So now, we will take a look at how you can get a proper tire rotation for your AWD/4WD vehicle.
Tires are the most important part of any vehicle as they are responsible for ensuring proper grip and traction on different road surfaces.
It is essential to give proper care and attention to the tires of your AWD vehicle in order to get the best out of your drive.
Tire rotation is one of the very basic but most important things you can do to keep the tires in their best condition.
Tire rotation ensures that all four tires perform equally well and are equally worn out so that you get the best results from them.
So, if you’re an AWD owner, your car requires tire rotation as much as any other vehicle does.
For AWD, you’ll want to rotate your tires front to rear and side to side.
Your owner’s manual will include a tire rotation diagram that specifies the best pattern for your vehicle.
As an example, let’s say your front driver’s side tire is in position 1 and has a mileage of 30,000 miles. The passenger’s side tire is in position 2 with 35,000 miles on it.
Your rear driver’s side tire is in position 3 with 40,000 miles, while your passenger’s side tire is in position 4 with only 10,000 miles. You would rotate the tires so that each tire moves to the next clockwise position.
The front passenger’s side tire (position 2) would move to the rear passenger’s side (position 4). The rear passenger’s side tire (position 4) would move to the rear driver’s side (position 3), and so on.
How do you rotate tires on AWD at home?
If you’re driving a vehicle with all-wheel drive, or AWD, you may think that because your vehicle is capable of sending power to all four wheels, your tire rotation schedule is the same as it is for rear-wheel drive or front-wheel drive vehicles.
But that’s not true. Rotation requirements vary by vehicle and by the type of AWD system used.
The first thing to understand is that AWD systems vary by make and model. For example, some systems use a center differential that allows the front and rear axles to rotate at different speeds (like when one wheel loses traction).
Some AWD systems allow variable torque distribution. Some are full-time systems. Some are part-time systems. And some have an electronically controlled clutch that can vary torque distribution between the axles.
So when you look up your owner’s manual and find a tire rotation recommendation, it’s specific to your vehicle, not just to your AWD system.
Another important factor: Your tires may be wearing at different rates because of how your AWD system works. For example, on some part-time systems, the rear axle powers the vehicle in normal operation until there’s a need for power at the front axle.
So, basically, you can’t do it at home. You’ll have to go to a tire shop or dealership to have AWD tires rotated. This is because AWD cars have a center differential that allows each wheel to spin independently.
If you get one tire off the ground, when you try to spin it, the other three wheels will turn in the opposite direction, which will damage that center differential.
So your options are:
1) Go to a dealership and pay $60 for a rotation;
2) Go to a tire shop and pay less than $60 for a rotation;
3) Do nothing – though this is not recommended. Tires wear out faster if you don’t regularly rotate them.
What are the disadvantages of AWD?
When you rotate tires on an AWD vehicle, you should plan to rotate the tires in a front-to-rear or rear-to-front pattern.
This is because each wheel has an individual wheel bearing, and there is no differential between the front and rear wheels.
All-wheel-drive has its advantages, but it also has its drawbacks. As you can see, there are a number of pros to all-wheel-drive systems. However, there are also cons.
These are several disadvantages to all-wheel drive:
Fuel economy – Due to the added weight and complexity of an AWD system, fuel economy suffers.
Increased wear on components – The added weight of the drivetrain parts can accelerate wear on any component.
Cost – There is a cost associated with parts and assembly of the AWD system that is not present in a two-wheel-drive vehicle.
If the rotate tires every 10000 miles Then is this alright?
This isn’t the first time this question has been asked, but I feel that most answers are not helpful to readers. So let’s take a moment to clear up some of the common misinformation floating around.
Tire rotation is just as important for front-wheel drive as it is for all-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive vehicles. Assuming you have the same size tires on all four corners (which is often the case), your tires will wear at different rates depending on whether they are on the front or back of the car.
The fronts will wear faster because they carry more weight and do most of the steering, braking, and accelerating. They also take most of the abuse from potholes, curbs, and other road hazards.
The rears wear more slowly because they don’t do any steering (or much of it), and they don’t engage in hard acceleration or braking.
Therefore, as your tires get worn down unevenly (fronts more than rears), your vehicle will start to behave differently.
The less tread that you have on a tire, the less grip it has — both in terms of traction and steering control. Your stability can be compromised if you have too little tread on one side compared to another.
To prevent this uneven wear, you have to rotate the tires properly.
It’s recommended that you rotate your tires every other oil change or approximately 6,000 miles.
If your tires are rotated regularly, they will last longer and give you the smoothest ride possible. If your tires are not properly rotated, it can cause your car to pull in one direction, which can lead to uneven tread wear and premature wear on suspension components.
How often should I rotate my AWD tires?
Tires are the most significant investment in your vehicle, costing more than shocks and struts or brakes. They take you to work and play, and they are what keep you safe on the road.
It is important to get the most out of your tire investment by rotating them regularly. Rotating tires helps extend their life and maintain their tread depth for better traction and handling.
Most tire rotations should be done at 5,000 miles, although some tires need to be rotated at 7,500 miles. Some cars have exceptions to this rule because of their suspension systems or tire sizes. It is essential to check your owner’s manual first to determine how often you should rotate your tires.
The best way to ensure that your tires last longer is by following a regular rotation schedule. This will help avoid uneven wear on your tires, which could affect the alignment of your vehicle.
What is the correct tire rotation pattern for a rear-wheel-drive?
The correct tire rotation pattern for your vehicle depends on the type of drivetrain you have. If you have a front-wheel-drive (FWD) vehicle or a rear-wheel-drive car with a solid rear axle, your tire rotation pattern will be different than if you have all-wheel drive (AWD).
Tire rotation patterns are often determined by the type of drivetrain in your vehicle.
Front-wheel drive (FWD): As the name implies, this system powers only the front wheels of your vehicle. The front wheels do most of the work in FWD vehicles, which means they wear out more quickly than their rear-wheel counterparts.
A common sign that FWD tires need to be rotated is when your front tires are balding in the center and worn on the outside edges, while your back tires are still relatively new-looking.
In FWD vehicles, power is transferred to the road via a “transverse” engine and transaxle. This means that an engine sits sideways under the hood and shares one housing with the transmission.
What is the rotation pattern for AWD/4WD?
Tire rotation is the practice of moving the wheels and tires of an automobile from one position to another to ensure even tire wear.
There are various types of tire rotation:
Front-to-rear – moving the front tires to the rear and the rear tires to the front. This is common for front-wheel drive vehicles.
Side-to-side – Moving both right-side tires to the left side and left side tires to the right side.
Cross rotation – Moving the front right tire to the rear left position and vice versa on the other side. This is common for rear-wheel-drive vehicles.
How do I rotate the front and rear of my vehicle?
When you rotate your tires, you are essentially moving each tire to the position that the tire in front or behind it is in. Your rear tires rotate to the front, and your front ones go to the back.
When rotating your tires, it’s important to note that you should rotate them when they have worn evenly. This ensures that you get a consistent amount of tread life from all four of your tires.
You will also want to check which rotation pattern is recommended for your vehicle before you begin rotating your tires. There are several ways to do this, but it all depends on what type of vehicle you drive.
For example, if you drive a car with an odd number of lugs — such as five or seven — and all-wheel drive, then you must use the X pattern for rotation.
If your vehicle does not fit either of these descriptions, then you can choose any other pattern that is recommended by your vehicle’s manufacturer.
Frequently Asked questions
1. Does AWD wear tires faster?
No. All-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles put power to all four wheels at the same time, which can also reduce tire wear. That’s because the system can sense tire slippage and adapt to compensate by applying power to the wheels with the best traction.
2. Can I replace 1 tire on an AWD car?
You want all four of your tires to have the same diameter for optimal performance and fuel economy with an AWD vehicle.
If you’re replacing just one tire, you should make sure it’s identical to the three others in terms of tread depth and diameter — even if it means replacing two tires instead of just one.
3. How do you rotate tires without jack stands?
All-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles put power to all four wheels at the same time, which can also reduce tire wear. That’s because the system can sense tire slippage and adapt to compensate by applying power to the wheels with the best traction.
4. What is the proper way to rotate tires?
The proper way is different for every type of vehicle, but as a general rule, you move a front wheel toward either or both rear wheels in a rotation pattern — often a star or cross pattern.
Conclusion
When rotating tires on an all-wheel-drive vehicle, it is important not to move a front tire to a position that is further back than the rear wheels.
For example, if you were to rotate a tire from the right front position to behind that of the left rear position, you would be moving it further back than its original place.
When this happens, you create a binding in your differential gears which can cause them to prematurely fail. This will result in costly repairs for your vehicle and inconvenience for you as well.
