Benefits of Rotating your Car Tires
The tires on your car are remarkably resilient. Most vehicle owners will never give them a moment's thought unless one of them happens to go flat, but think of the abuse your tires take and how expensive they are to replace. Doesn't it make sense to do at least a little routine maintenance to prolong the life of your tires?
Rotating the tires on your vehicle routinely is the single most important way to increase the mileage you get out of your tires. Tires will wear differently depending on their location on the vehicle. Tires located on the front of a car have a tendency to wear far more than tires on the rear of a car, especially in front-wheel drive vehicles, whereas tires located on the rear just roll straight along. Front tires wear more on the shoulders of the tire, due to the turning of the vehicle and rear tires will wear more evenly in the center of the tread.
Tires should be rotated every 5000 miles. Most tire shops will perform this for free for the life of the tires if you purchase the tires from them. Every vehicle manufacturer has a recommend tire rotation pattern in the owner's manual, but typically the front tires are rotated straight back to the rear of the vehicle, and the rear tires are rotated to the front, but on the opposite side in a crossing pattern. This helps smooth out any irregular wear.
If tires are not rotated routinely, they'll wear out far quicker. A tire on the rear of a car can last many times longer than a tire on the front since all it does is roll. However, tires that are left on the rear too long are susceptible to developing flat spots. Over time, your tire will encounter many different hazards and will wear in certain spots more than others. If left in the same spot on a vehicle, these wear areas come in contact with the road more and more often, further compounding the problem. Routine tire rotation can solve this.
Besides the fact that regular tire rotations help prolong the life of the tire, they can also help you maintain the ride quality of your vehicle. There's no doubt that a vehicle with smooth tire drives much better than a vehicle with lumpy ones does. It's easy for tire stores to check the air in your tires while they are being rotated as well as spot problems with your alignment, brakes, or suspension parts. Routinely rotating your tires is a simple, inexpensive way to prolong the life of your tires and monitor the condition of your vehicle, all while saving yourself money in the long run.
