Tire Rotation: The Need-to-Know Details

What is Tire Rotation?

Vehicles drive in a specific manner that makes tires in different locations wear differently than the other tires on the car. This difference in wheels causes uneven wear over time. Tire rotation involves moving the tires around your vehicle without replacing them. When rotating your tires, your mechanic will examine the wear patterns to determine the best place to put the worn tires. Then they’ll be relocated to the best position for the longevity of your tires and car. This relocation could entail moving tires between front and rear axles or switching your front and rear tires among the axles they’re already on.

How are Your Tires Rotated?

The tire rotation pattern depends on whether or not your car has directional tires. These tires are designed to roll in one direction only, and as a result, only certain rotation patterns can be used. There is more play with non-directional tires. Sometimes tires are traded side-to-side between or along the front and rear axles. In other circumstances, front tires are relocated to the back and vice versa. There are also multiple cross patterns used when rotating tires. A typical rotation pattern is the rearward cross. Other rotation patterns are the forward cross and the x-pattern.

Rear-wheel drive vehicles have different tire rotation patterns than front-wheel drive vehicles. The drivetrain, in these scenarios, causes the rear axle tires to see more wear, whereas, in front-wheel drive vehicles, the front axle tires see more wear. Additionally, if you drive a dually, the presence of your truck’s dual rear wheels will alter the rotation pattern. If you have a full-size spare tire, that should be rotated along with the other four tires as well. However, this is not the case with a temporary spare tire.

Is Tire Rotation the Same As Wheel Alignment and Tire Balancing?

Tire rotation, tire alignment, and wheel balancing are all very different. In tire rotation, the position of the tires on the vehicle is rearranged to provide more longevity to the tires and prevent damage to other car parts. Wheel alignment involves subtle but necessary fine-tuning of the suspension of your car to make it drive straight and prevent wobbles, among other things. Wheel balancing is something different and often takes place during the tire rotation process. During wheel balancing, your tires and wheels are mounted onto a machine that ensures it drives straight when on the road.

Why Have Your Tires Rotated?

Having your tires rotated periodically is crucial to the longevity of your tires so that the tires wear evenly as long as possible. It’s also important to protect other parts of your car. If your tires are left to wear unevenly, you could need new tires sooner than you otherwise would. On the other hand, if you have your tires rotated, you can use fresh parts of the tire that are relatively unworn, extending the lifespan of your tires. Moreover, the uneven wear on your tires can create extra wear on other vehicle parts, like the suspension. Rotating your tires can prevent costly repairs to other parts of your car in the future. If you’re curious about exactly how a tire rotation is performed, there’s more information below.

When Should I Have My Tire Rotation Performed?

There are regular intervals where it’s best advised that you get your tire rotation performed. Tire rotation at regular intervals prevents an excess buildup of wear that could mean you need new tires altogether. Ideally, tire rotations should be performed every 5,000 to 7,500 miles. However, if you notice signs like those listed below, it’s time to rotate the tires.

Signs You Need a Tire Rotation

1.) Uneven Tread Wear

Even tire wear may indicate that you need new tires, but uneven tire wear can be solved more easily. If you notice that one part of any of your tires is more worn than another part, this is a telltale sign that it’s time to correct that problem and rotate your tires. Different wear on different tires can also be a sign that you need a tire rotation.

One easy way to examine this is to look at the tread depth. If it seems shallow on one tire but not on the other, or even on one part of the tire but not the other, it’s time for a tire rotation. A tire rotation is there to redistribute that uneven tire wear and make sure you’re not putting too much stress on any specific area of your vehicle.

2.)Vibration

Especially on the highway, if your vehicle is vibrating, it’s a sign that you may need a rotation. While this could be a sign of mechanical problems, it could also be solved by a tire rotation. By rotating the tires, the uneven tire wear that’s present (even if you can’t see it yourself) can be corrected to mitigate this problem.

When Does it Make Sense to Get New Tires?

Many Ohioans wonder at what point in their tires’ wear it makes sense to get new tires. As one easy rule of thumb, if there are any bald spots present on any of your tires, this cannot be corrected by a tire rotation, and it’s time for a fresh set of tires. In addition, having your mechanic look to see the fine details of whether the whole set is too worn to rotate will do the trick. Either way, it is unfortunately not always the solution to simply turn the tires.

Tire Rotation at Hometown Chevrolet

If you’re looking for your regular tire rotation based only on your manufacturer-recommended maintenance schedule, it’s been 5,000 miles since your last, or especially if you notice any signs that you need one, your best bet is Hometown Chevrolet. We’re equipped to get you what you need, with professional service, at a fair price. Not only that, we’re located close to home too! All you have to do is request an appointment, and we’ll take care of the rest for you.