How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

The tires on your Brewster, New York, vehicle can influence steering, acceleration, and braking. Tire rotation moves tires from wheel to wheel to help prevent wear. It can extend the life spans of your tires, keep them performing well for a longer time, and improve safety for you and your passengers. Here’s more information about the benefits of tire rotations, how often you should rotate your tires, and signs that you might need a tire rotation.

What Are the Benefits of Tire Rotations?

Tire rotation is part of regular maintenance for cars, trucks, and SUVs. Since the front tires turn when you turn the steering wheel, they usually wear faster than the rear tires. With most vehicles, the engine is in the front as well. This makes the front part of the vehicle heavier and contributes to tire wear.

Regular tire rotation can help prevent wear and keep your vehicle maneuverable and responsive. It can increase your comfort and help give you and your passengers a smooth ride. Rotating your tires can also prevent dangerous blowouts and alignment or balancing issues. It helps tire treads stay in good condition, and the higher traction keeps fuel efficiency at its best. It also helps prevent hydroplaning on wet roads, losing traction on gravel, or slipping on ice.

Rotating your tires can also extend their life spans and help you save money on repairs. Without regular rotation, you could replace your front tires thousands of miles sooner than the back tires. Uneven tire wear can increase safety risks and make handling your vehicle tougher, especially in bad weather. When you rotate your tires regularly, you can save time when you’re ready for new tires by buying and replacing four at once.

Saving receipts for each tire rotation can help you keep many tire warranties valid. Many tire companies will pay for some or all of the cost of a new tire if a current one fails while still in warranty. However, they often require maintenance receipts to honor the warranty. If you use your vehicle for business, you can also use these receipts to deduct maintenance costs when you do your taxes.

How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires?

You should rotate the tires for most vehicles every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. You can find more specific recommendations from the manufacturer in your owner’s manual. Many people have their tires rotated and get other types of tire service if needed simultaneously as an oil change. The professionals at Brewster Ford will also:

• Check your tires for damage.
• Check the air pressure and add air if needed.
• Measure tread depth and let you know if you need new tires.
• Rebalance tires to reduce vibrations if necessary.
• Rotate the tires on trailers.

If you have a full-size spare tire with the same speed specifications and load capabilities as your other tires, keep it in rotation with your other tires. That way, it’ll have about the same amount of wear as your other tires, and your vehicle will be safer and more maneuverable when you need to use your spare tire.

You don’t need to rotate temporary spare tires. They often have a T on the sidewall and are smaller and lighter than full-size tires. If you need a temporary spare tire, replace it with a full-size tire as soon as possible.

What Are Some Signs Your Vehicle Might Need a Tire Rotation?

Tire rotations are inexpensive; getting your tires rotated more often than the minimum amount won’t harm your tires or vehicle. It’s a good idea to go ahead and get a tire rotation if you notice any of these signs:

Uneven Tire Wear

The outer edges of your front tires often wear more quickly than your rear tires because of turning and the engine’s weight. This is especially common with front-wheel-drive vehicles. It’s a good idea to check your tires every few thousand miles and have them rotated if you notice uneven wear. Uneven tire wear can also lead to more vibrations or bumpiness when you drive. If the wear is too extensive, you may need to replace your front or all four tires.

Low Tire Pressure

Uneven tire wear can also cause a leak in a tire and low tire pressure. Most vehicles have a tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) with a light in the driver information center near the speedometer and fuel gauge. If your TPMS light comes on, check your tire’s air pressure or have a professional do it. Then, add more air if needed.

Poor Traction and Hydroplaning

Tire tread contains grooves to help channel away water, prevent hydroplaning, and stay in contact with the road, even in wet weather. Worn treads can lead to hydroplaning and poor traction, making steering and avoiding obstacles difficult. Driving with worn treads is especially challenging in snow, gravel, dirt, or mud.

Excess Heat

In dry conditions, the grooves between tire treads provide ventilation and help keep tire temperatures from becoming too high. Worn treads can lead to high tire temperatures, leaks, or dangerous tire blowouts.

Tire Rotation Patterns

There are several different patterns you can use to rotate your tires. With front-wheel drive, people usually choose a forward cross pattern. The rear wheels cross and become the new front wheels, and the old front wheels become the new rear wheels. A double-X rotation pattern works with many vehicles. It switches the right tires with the left and the front tires with the back tires.

Four- and rear-wheel-drive cars, trucks, and SUVs often use a rearward cross pattern. The rear tires go straight to the front, and the front tires move to the back and the opposite sides.

For your next tire rotation, contact us at Brewster Ford. We’re a certified Ford auto service center, and our expert technicians have many years of experience. Our service department is open on weekdays from 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Photo Credit: Image by jofo2005 is licensed with CC BY-ND 2.0

Tags: Tire Rotations
Posted in Service Tips | No Comments »