How Important is Tire Rotation?
Tire Rotation
Car maintenance is important for the longevity of your car. The car’s owner’s manual has a list of maintenance tasks and that should be done. The most common are oil change, tune-up, and tire rotation.
With today’s automotive technology tires are lasting longer. This does not mean car owners should not follow the recommended maintenance schedule of the car and tire manufacturer.
The process of rotating tires is not time-consuming. Most auto repair shops can rotate your tires. If you need to get in and get out, consider setting an appointment. It’s also one of the easiest and cheapest maintenance tasks that you can do on your own.
Are your tires feeling a little unbalanced? Keep reading to learn more about the importance of tire maintenance to avoid tire problems.
What is Tire Rotation?
Tire rotation to most people hearing the term is rotating tires on a vehicle in a clockwise or counter-clockwise direction. This is not the correct way. Instead, the pattern depends on the type of wheel drive the car is equipped with.
Check your owner’s manual to ensure you understand how the rotation should occur. On average your tires should be rotated every 5,000 to 7,500 miles depending on how often the car is driven.
Tire rotation services should also include checking the air pressure and wheel alignment. As a precaution, ask the service person to evaluate your spare tire.
Preserve the Tread Pattern
Have you ever driven your car and felt like you were on uneven terrain, although you were driving on a newly paved road? This could be a side of the tread in the tire wearing unevenly. A common cause is a lack of tire care.
When you fail to rotate your tires on a schedule they will start to wear down unevenly. This can lead to excess wear and tear and eventually separation in the tires.
Keeping your tires rotated and properly balanced helps ensure the tread remains even and keeps you riding smoothly.
Leads to Balding and Unbalanced Tires
Proper tire maintenance prolongs the life of your tires. Our driving patterns directly impact the condition and life of car tires. Eventually, you will begin to experience the effects of worn tires.
As we pointed out above, tires will start to wear unevenly. This will lead to unbalanced tires that cause vibration when you’re driving. Unbalanced tires can also negatively impact your steering system and the car wheel axles.
It is a best practice to rotate tires front-to-rear, which evens out the wear and assures the longest possible use out of your set of tires. Rotating them will maximize its life span. Over time your tire tread will wear away and tires can become bald. This is a dangerous condition that can cause a car to hydroplane on a wet surface.
Is It Time to Replace Your Tires?
As you can see, tire rotation is vital to car maintenance. Driving on bad tires can lead to blow-outs and damage to the car’s wheel assembly, so it’s better to check and rotate them first before driving off.
Even with the best tire maintenance, you will reach a point where your tires will need to be replaced. It is best if you replace all tires at the same time.
Can I Do it by myself?
In theory, spinning your tires is actually an easy DIY job. However, you will need some special tools, in some cases, including jack stands, and a floor jack.
But to make things easier, it’s better to go to a shop and ask them to rotate or replace your tires, if you don’t own the tools needed, it is much better to go to a repair shop to get your tires checked and fixed. It’s also best to check tire pressure, together with brakes and suspension for about once a month or have it checked in the repair shop.
At Audio City USA, we have specialists that you can consult with and that can help you replace your tires professionally. Contact us for more information on wheels and tires.
Get answers to your questions about the best wheels and suspension products.
