How Often Should I Rotate My Tires?

Your tires are an often-neglected, but totally crucial part of your automobile. This is literally where the rubber hits the road. If you don’t take care of your tires, you might end up walking. Read on to learn more about the importance of tire rotation and how Stan McNabb Chevrolet of Columbia can help you.

What Is Tire Rotation?

Tire rotation simply means periodically moving your tires to different positions on your vehicle. However, it is often one of the most overlooked maintenance items on your vehicle upkeep list. When rotating your tires, you basically move your front tires to the rear and the rear tires to the front. However, tire rotations vary from vehicle to vehicle.

There are several rotation patterns that one could follow. Be sure to always check your owner’s manual first, or leave it to the highly qualified maintenance technicians at Stan McNabb Chevrolet of Columbia to figure out the correct tire rotation pattern for your vehicle.

Why Should You Rotate Your Tires?

Even though it may seem tedious to rotate your tires, there are many reasons why you should. Rotating your tires every 3,000 to 5,000 miles can save you money. And, who doesn’t want to save some cash? Routinely rotating tires allow your tires to wear more evenly, maximizing the overall tread life of the tire, thus saving you money in the long run. Having tires that are evenly worn will also keep your gas mileage at its best. If you have a new set of tires, it’s highly recommended that you rotate them after the first 5,000 miles as the deep, fresh tread is more likely to wear unevenly.

Do you have little ones in the car with you? A family that you need to get home safely? Routine tire rotation increases the overall safety of your vehicle. Having evenly worn tread on your tires allows your vehicle to corner better and keeps your braking performance up to par. Safe, smooth handling on poor road conditions is also vital for your safety.

In addition, if you notice strange wearing on your tires, you may want to seek out an alignment or get your suspension checked. Doing so could not only save your life, but it could also save you from a substantial vehicle repair bill. Stan McNabb Chevrolet of Columbia would be happy to help you with this.

Lastly, by neglecting your tires, you risk jeopardizing your tire warranty. If you don’t take the time to rotate those tires, you could lose out on having your tire repair bill covered. All warranties require you to follow the recommended maintenance schedule of the tire company. Not doing so essentially voids the warranty. It’s also important to note when a warranty is involved, having your tires rotated professionally will provide you with an accurate record of maintenance for the warranty company.

Front-Wheel Drive

When it comes to driving a front-wheel-drive vehicle, it’s highly recommended to rotate your tires on a regular basis. This is because the wheels on the front of a front-wheel-drive vehicle typically wear faster than the rear because the front wheels receive the power and handle the vehicle. When rotating the tires, the rear tires should go to the front on the same side and the front tires should switch sides and move to the back. If you do not rotate your tires often, it may result in the need to invest your money into a new set of tires sooner than the typical lifespan of that tire. Tire rotation and position is essential when driving a front-wheeled vehicle.

Real-Wheel Drive

Real-wheel drive vehicles need attention, too. Even though tires wear more evenly on a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, it’s still beneficial to take care of those tires. Both the front and rear tires play an important role. The front tires steer the vehicle and the back tires handle the power. Since each of the tire positions plays an important part in the longevity of your tires, you might want to seek advice from an expert on what pattern to use. Stan McNabb Chevrolet of Columbia has experts who can help you determine which patterns would be best to use for the rotation of tires on your rear-wheel-drive vehicle.

All-Wheel Drive

When rotating tires on an all-wheel-drive vehicle, the criss-cross pattern is the best. This means that the right front tire should be moved to the back left. The left front tire should be moved to the right back. The right back tire should be moved to the left front and the left back should be moved to the right front. All-wheel-drive vehicles do not always use all the wheels all the time, which causes the tread to wear unevenly. Consult with a tire specialist to see what is best for your vehicle and tires. It is also important to note that many all-wheel-drive vehicles are recommended to have all four tires replaced at the same time, so if you fail to maintain your tires, it could end up costing you a hefty amount.

See the Professionals

Tire rotation is a standard procedure that requires specific knowledge as well as a few unique tools of the trade. Be sure to seek out an expert to help you with your tire rotation. The initial tire rotation after that 5,000-mile mark often comes free with the purchase of new tires. Make sure to check into this when purchasing a new set of rubber.

So, there you have it. Not only does rotating your tires save on the life of the rubber, but it also helps keep you and your passengers safe. There’s a lot riding on your tires, which means you should take the time to follow the recommended upkeep and maintenance schedule for your vehicle. When it comes to tire rotation, it’s time to see the professionals to make sure it gets done right. Come by and see the experts at Stan McNabb Chevrolet of Columbia for all of your vehicle needs.