Tire Rotation – Why you should be doing it!
“Why would I pay to have my tires rotated? They rotate every time I drive!”
The age old joke I’m sure we would all love to never hear again. Of course we’ve all heard that tire rotation is important for some reason, but what exactly does that do?
The tires on your car’s driven wheels tend to wear out faster. On front wheel or rear wheel drive cars, two wheels are powered by the engine, while two rotate freely. The rotational forces and power delivery through the drive wheels will typically cause them to wear just a little bit faster. Not by a lot, but over the course of a season or two it will really start to stack up.
There are many other different factors that impact your tire wear. Whether you tow or haul heavy loads often, the kinds of roads you drive on, whether you take corners like a crazed maniac or not. These will all play into just how your particular set of tires wears over the few seasons you have them.
Uneven tire wear isn’t the end of the world, but it can lead to some unsavory driving characteristics. Inconsistent tread depth can lead to reduced handling capabilities and braking performance, reduced fuel mileage, and decreased lifespan of the set of tires.
The best way to combat this is to regularly change up each tire’s position on the vehicle. This way, each tire takes a turn on the corner that receives the most punishment, and the corners that are a bit gentler. This means they will all wear as evenly as possible, and as a result last longer and perform better.
Tire rotation is one of the most overlooked maintenance procedures, and may feel like an unnecessary expense at the time, but over time the benefits really start to outweigh the initial cost. If it’s been a while since you’ve had your tires rotated, make sure you have it done at your next service. Your tires, your car, and your wallet will thank you.
Written by Tyler Schick