Should I rotate my tires every 5k miles, even if it takes me a year+ to drive that many miles?

I change my oil based on time not mileage since I do lots of short trips and only put about 4k miles on my truck per year. I change it every 6 months. Should I do the same for tire rotation and base it on time not miles? Typically a tire rotation is every 5k miles, but that means I would only rotate them every ~18 months or so. Does it really matter or am I probably overthinking it?

 

You're overthinking it. The tire rotation is to help even out the wear caused by driving. If you aren't driving the tires aren't wearing and rotating them would serve no purpose. Although they do breakdown over time like the oil (why it's changed on time or miles) rotating them won't prevent the wear from aging. You might find you replace the tires outright at only 30k miles due to age rather than tread wear but that's a problem for future you.

 

I'd recommend longer trips and more miles, otherwise, tires will be the least of your problems. Short trips are murder on an engine.

As for the tires, no need to rotate based on time. But if your truck sits for long periods, you may want it on blocks/stands to avoid flat spots and out of round tires.

 

i rotate my tires every 5k miles therefore you have to as well

 

At 4k/yr your tires will need to be replaced from age before wear. Rotating them helps prolong wear so I would just leave them as be or maybe just drive your truck more...

 

I drive about as much as you do. I change the oil every 8 months and I rotate the tires then, don’t overthink it.

 

I can't see a reason to rotate your tires with less than 5000mi on them unless it's to clean up your hubs and inner wheel at the lugnuts with a wire brush. Makes changing a flat much easier.

 

I rotate every 5k miles and rebalance as its free from Discount tire.

 

I rotate mine every 2500

 

I change my engine fluids religiously on schedule. Tire rotations I shoot for every 5K miles but not so religiously. I want my engine in tip top shape. If I slack on rotations I might have to buy a new set of tires slightly sooner.

Since you make short trips, watch for condensation build up on your oil cap. This would be another sign to get the engine up to full operating temperature more often.

 

I forgot to rotate mine for at least 20k and they still look perfect and track straight. 35k on my Wrangler Ultra Terrain ATs. Hardly any wear… My opinion, if your truck is aligned and tires keep up on pressure its prolly not critical.

 

While I'm religious about changing my fluids, I never rotate my tires. I got 85k miles of equal wear out of my original stock Dunflops
https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads...preciation-thread.389098/page-6#post-26618894

and I never rotated them.


I think for certain drivers (think grandpa drivers like me ) rotating isn't that critical.

 

Rotate mine when winter turns to spring. They are not marked so they get rotated like it or not when I store the tires for the next go around. Occasional alignments helps the issue.

 

no need to pre rotate, but I would be looking at some sort of battery maintainer with that little of use and short trips, if you can't find the time to take a long drive once a month (even better of an option).

 

gramps age has nothing to do it with it. Just remember this vehicle weighs 4k plus pounds . Dont want to cause an accident when your tire blows out because it could have prevented by rotating your tires

P.s , not picking on you and no offense

 

the tires dont get wear sitting still and the oil dont get dirty when engine isnt running ......do you wear socks one day and them throw them away?

 

praise the lord

 

I rotate mine every 10,000, and I'm 1,000 past due..

 

Even though it takes you a while to get to 4K miles...your front tires are still wearing on the edges.

If you "carefully" look/evaluate front edges to the rear tires, there should be a slight difference because there is "wear" there.

Also, do the steering wheel test on a straight away at 30-45mph...does the truck veer to either side?

If not, at least your alignment is good!

Chances are, your front tires are getting wear on the edges simply because they steer the vehicle.

I would recommend rotating the tires even at 4K miles.