How Much Does a Tire Rotation Cost? 2024 Update

Tires are undoubtedly an essential part of all cars. Tires support a car’s load, supply traction in different weather conditions, and help absorb shocks. A car’s tires also transmit braking force to the road when braking to help your vehicle stop quickly and safely.

Having your tires rotated regularly is critical to the life of your tires and, more importantly, the safety of you and other riders. When you consider the average cost to replace a set of four tires is between $400 and $1,200, it makes good financial sense to have them rotated regularly. Keep reading as we explain further.

The Importance of Having Your Tires Rotated

There are several reasons why having your car tires rotated is essential. Treadwear is a normal occurrence but, in many instances, can occur unevenly between the four tires.

Uneven treads can lead to handling problems when driving and cause unsafe conditions, especially in inclement weather. Rotating a car’s tires help to distribute tread wear evenly, ensuring better handling and a smoother, more comfortable ride.

Speaking of finances, rotating your tires will also improve your vehicle’s fuel efficiency and extend the life of your car’s suspension system.

How Much Does Tire Rotation Cost?

The typical cost to rotate your tires is between $50 and $120. (The average is $63.) Tire rotation prices are based on several factors, including the type of car you drive and whether it’s 2-wheel drive or 4-wheel drive. The auto shop you choose for tire rotation can also play a role.

For example, rotating your tires at a car dealership will usually cost more, whereas a discount tire shop will typically cost less. Although some mechanics don’t recommend it, you can also rotate your tires by yourself at home, which would cost you nothing except a couple of hours of your time

Additional Costs to Anticipate

There are very few additional costs when having your tires rotated. However, you might have to pay extra if you have Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensors on your tires. TPMS sensors come in two types: direct and indirect. Indirect TPMS sensors don’t correspond to a specific wheel and don’t require any additional changes when rotating your tires. Direct TPMS  sensors, however, must be placed on a specific wheel and in the same specific location every time.

In other words, if you have direct TPMS  sensors, every tire would have to be removed from its wheel and then reinstalled on another wheel. That way, all four wheels would stay in the same location, but they would still rotate the tires. All four wheels would also need to be rebalanced since they’ve been placed on a different wheel. As you can imagine, this process takes much more time and adds extra cost, between $10 and $30 each per tire.

How Often Should I Have My Tires Rotated?

Although the timing isn’t different, there is a difference between four-wheel drive (FWD), rear-wheel drive (RWD) vehicles, and all-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles when it comes to tire rotation. FWD and RWD vehicles should have their tires rotated every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. With AWD, It’s recommended to have the tires rotated every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.

You should note that some mechanics don’t recommend having your tires rotated. Their opinion is that as long as there is enough tread and your tires are balanced and inflated properly, they are safe to drive on. They also admit that, even when rotated, it doesn’t extend the life of your tires significantly.

Does Auto Insurance Cover Tire Rotation?

Having your tires rotated is considered routine maintenance and thus, in the majority of cases, isn’t covered by automobile insurance. If your tires wear out substantially sooner than the manufacturer’s warranty specifies, they may be covered by the tire maker’s warranty (It’s called “premature wear”).

What to Do to Keep Your Tires in Good Condition between Rotations

Besides having your tires rotated, you can do several other things to keep them in good condition and extend their life between rotations. For example, tire experts recommend checking your tire pressure at least once a month and, if necessary, inflating them to the required PSI.

Also, it’s recommended you don’t overload your vehicle, which puts a lot of extra stress on your tires. Installing mismatched tires is something all mechanics will tell you is a bad idea (it can cause severe handling issues). However, all mechanics agree that you should regularly inspect your tires for damage, uneven wear, punctures, etc.

Final Thoughts

How much does a tire rotation cost? The average cost is $63 but can go as high as $120, depending on your vehicle and other factors. Most mechanics recommend rotating your tires regularly, every 3,000 to 7,500 miles, depending on your vehicle.

However, some mechanics say you can forego tire rotation as long as your tires have plenty of tread and are balanced and inflated correctly.  We hope today’s information on the tire rotation cost has been helpful and answered all of your questions. Happy and safe driving!

Featured Image Credit: Mikes-Photography, Pixabay