Rotate your Tesla's tires every 6,250 miles, or sooner if the tread on one tire wears 2/32 of an inch more than another. That is the interval in Tesla's own service manuals for the Model 3 and Model Y, as of the 2024 and 2025 editions.
The interval
The Model Y service manual says to rotate "every 6,250 miles (10,000 km) or if tread depth difference is 2/32 in (1.5 mm) or greater, whichever comes first." The Model 3 manual gives the same figure. Check the manual for your own model year, since Tesla can revise it.
Rotating lets all four tires wear at about the same rate, which gets more life out of the set.
Which pattern to ask for
The pattern depends on your tires. Look at the sidewall for an arrow, which marks a directional tire.
- Regular tires, all four the same size: the front tires move to the opposite side in the back. The rear tires move straight to the front.
- Regular tires, front and rear sizes differ: swap left and right on the same axle only. Front tires do not go to the rear.
- Directional tires: move the front tires to the rear and the rear tires to the front, without switching sides.
Some performance versions have larger rear tires, so the sizes are worth checking before anyone rotates them.
When to replace instead
Tesla's manuals recommend replacing a tire at 4/32 of an inch of tread or less. Tires are best replaced in pairs unless the other tires are within 2/32 of an inch of the new tire's tread depth. If you only buy two, the manuals say to put the new ones on the rear. Worn front tires cause understeer in wet weather, which is easier for most drivers to handle than the sliding that worn rear tires can cause.
After the rotation
Tell the shop to reset the tire service counter. On the touchscreen, the manual lists the path as Controls, Service, Wheel & Tire, Tires. Pick the tire season and tap Reset.
Some cars use an indirect tire pressure system. For those, the manual says to set all four tires to the pressures on the Tire and Loading Information label on the driver's door pillar, then tap Calibrate Tire Pressure under Service. Cars with Bluetooth sensors skip that step. The manual notes a short calibration drive may be needed afterward.
This is general information from Tesla's manuals, not a substitute for the manual or service advice for your car.
