Why It’s Important to Rotate Your Vehicle’s Tires

Tires often get overlooked when it comes to vehicle maintenance, but it’s important for you to stay on top of tire maintenance as well. After all, the tires are all that stands between your vehicle and the road. It only makes sense that you should want to do everything you can to take care of them so they will last a long time and keep you safe.

There are a few important aspects of tire maintenance, including regularly checking their condition and keeping them at the proper air pressure. But it’s also important for you to regularly invest in tire rotation in Gary, IN. Here’s why.

Rotating tires helps them last longer

The biggest benefit of proper tire rotation is that it will keep them in better condition for a longer period of time. This helps you even out the wear and tear they experience so you can extend their life.

It’s generally a good idea for you to rotate your tires at least every time you go in for an oil change, if not slightly more frequently than that. You should aim for at least twice a year, but even quarterly rotations can be extremely beneficial.

Tire rotation doesn’t just help you even out the wear of all four tires—it also gives you (or your service technician) a good opportunity to carefully inspect each one of your tires while they’re off the vehicle. While the tires are off, you can also check the condition of your wheel rims and some parts of your brake system that are otherwise difficult to see while the tires are on the vehicle.

Some of the most common problems you’re likely to see during these inspections are blistering, bloating and cupping, particularly in older vehicles that have suspension systems that are old and need to be repaired. If these issues go unaddressed, your steering and braking could be significantly affected, as well as the tires’ potential longevity.

How to rotate tires

The pattern you use for tire rotation depends on the kind of vehicle you have.

For four-wheel drive vehicles, you’ll swap the front tires to the rear on the same side, and put the rear tires on the opposite front corner (right to left, left to right). For rear-wheel drive vehicles, you’ll move the rear tires straight up to the front, then move each tire to the opposite rear corner. For all-wheel drive vehicles, you’ll crisscross all four tires.

The reason for the difference in rotation patterns is that the way the tires turn and the kind of drive system the vehicle has will influence which tires wear down the fastest. Plus, the weight position of the vehicle will also influence how the tires develop their wear and tear.

To learn more about the benefits associated with regular tire rotation in Gary, IN, and the type of rotation pattern you’ll need to use for your vehicle, we encourage you to contact the mechanics at Miller Brakes and Mufflers, Inc. Reach out or come see us today!

Categorised in: Tire Rotation

This post was written by Writer