27 May Tire Rotation: Why, When, and How Often Should You Do It?
Wait a second – don’t your tires rotate every time you drive your vehicle? Technically, yes! But that’s not the kind of tire rotation we’re talking about today. We’re talking about a quick act of vehicle maintenance you or an auto mechanic should perform every six months or 5,000 to 8,000 miles – or right now, if your vehicle currently feels like it’s vibrating while you’re driving down the highway.
What Is Tire Rotation?
When tires are rotated, they’re simply moved from one wheel to another. The ideal tire rotation pattern depends on which type of vehicle you drive. If it is front-wheel drive, each front tire is moved straight back while the rear tires are moved to opposite sides in the front. If it is a rear-wheel or all-wheel drive, the rear tires are moved straight forward while the front tires are moved to opposite sides in the rear.
Why Is Tire Rotation Necessary?
If you don’t rotate your tires, they will wear out unevenly. Uneven tire wear will cost you money. It will make driving less comfortable. It can also put you at greater risk of getting into an accident. Let’s dive a little deeper into the reasons why you really shouldn’t go without routine tire rotation!
- Smoother ride. If you allow your tires to wear out unevenly, your vehicle is going to make sure you feel it. Partially worn out tires typically cause a car to vibrate at speeds higher than 45 mph. And when a car vibrates, its fasteners can gradually loosen until extensive repairs are required.
- Greater safety. Your tire treads are quite literally where the rubber meets the road. When they wear out unevenly, they lose their ability to grip the asphalt effectively. That means you’ll be at greater risk of losing traction while you’re making a sharp turn or sudden stop. It also means you’re more likely to lose control of your vehicle while you’re traversing wet, snowy or icy roads.
- Higher fuel efficiency. Unevenly worn out tires fail to make uniform contact with the road’s surface. Paradoxically, while uneven tires create less traction, they also generate greater friction. Your vehicle’s engine will have to work harder to compensate for that increased friction, which naturally means it will consume more fuel. Uneven tires also accelerate wear and tear on nearly every moving part in a vehicle – especially the suspension system. That translates to more frequent repairs, as well as shortened vehicle lifespan.
- Longer tire lifespan. We love it when people buy tires. Even so, we’d prefer for our neighbors to make that investment only when they truly need to. That’s yet another reason why we recommend tire rotation so enthusiastically: it makes tires last substantially longer, so our customers can save their money for other important things.
How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?
It’s advisable to rotate your tires every six months or 5,000 to 8,000 miles – whichever comes first. Many people choose to have their tires rotated every time they have an oil change. You may also rotate your tires sooner if you have noticed increased vibration, decreased traction, or lower gas mileage.
It’s not remotely impossible to rotate your tires yourself, even if you have zero mechanical skills. All it takes is a few tools, a little bit of time, and just as much elbow grease.
If you’d rather leave the lug nut twisting to the pros, then we welcome you to bring your car, truck, SUV or van to one of Square Tire’s locations in Sioux City, IA and Norfolk, NE. In addition to rotating your tires, we’ll balance your wheels to ensure even greater comfort, safety and fuel efficiency. And because our tire store provides every other facet of vehicle maintenance or repair you could possibly need, you can rest assured your car’s in the best hands when you bring it to our expert technicians. Contact us today to schedule fast service!