While having the right kind of tires on your vehicle and replacing them at regular intervals can be important to getting the best driving experience, there is another thing you can do to maintain good traction: regularly rotating and balancing your tires. This basic maintenance option can extend the life of your tires by making sure that they wear evenly on all sides. But what is the difference between rotating and balancing tires? And how often should you go in for a tire rotation? We have the answers below.

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How often should you go in for a tire rotation?

A good rule of thumb is get your tires rotated and balanced every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. For many drivers, this is approximately 6 months of driving. For a non-luxury vehicle that needs an oil change every three months or 3,000 miles, this means that a tire balance is a good idea approximately every other oil change. Drivers with new or pre-owned luxury vehicles may have to make a special trip.

Why should you get your tires rotated?

Depending on where the engine is in your vehicle, or how much stuff you put in the trunk, your tires may wear differently in different places according to their location. By changing the position of the individual tires, drivers can help the tires wear in different spots, and hopefully not wear out as quickly.

Tire rotation vs tire balance

Every time you go in for a tire rotation, your tires should also be balanced. If your tires are not balanced when they spin (that is, with the weight of the wheel and the tires evenly distributed) it can cause the wheels to shake, which is definitely a bad sign! If your wheels and tires are unevenly balanced, you may need to visit a repair shop just to stop it from shaking.