Whether you’ve just gotten your first car or been a proud vehicle owner for several years, you’ve likely heard that getting regular tire rotations is important. But how often is “regular”? Every six months, two years, more, or less? You want to do everything you can to take care of your car or truck for the long term, but being a vehicle owner can sometimes be confusing. Here’s everything you need to know about scheduling tire rotation services.
When to Have Your Tires Rotated
The main purpose of rotating your tires is to prevent uneven wear. Tires that receive the engine power wear at different rates than the other two tires. To avoid heat buildup, hydroplaning, poor snow and ice traction, punctures, and blowouts, you will want to have your rear and front tires rotated.
For rear and front-wheel drive vehicles, it’s recommended that you have the tires rotated every 5,000 to 7,500 miles or six months. This recommendation can vary depending on your car, so it’s best to refer to your owner’s manual. It’s also important to note tire wear can increase depending on how and where you drive, so you may need to rotate your tires more often than this. To make things easier, consider getting your tires rotated every time you get a full-service oil change in Philadelphia.
When should you schedule a tire rotation if you have an AWD vehicle? Wear patterns can vary for these cars just as much for front and rear-wheel drive cars, so rotating the tires is still very important. It’s recommended that the tires be rotated approximately every 3,000 to 5,000 miles.
Benefits of Regular Tire Rotations
Why are regular tire rotations so important? Here are three reasons:
- Saves Money: Routine rotations can extend the life of your tires by ensuring each tire receives the same amount of wear. This means you will not have to replace a few tires before replacing them all.
- Keeps You Safe: When your tires are unevenly worn, your vehicle has less traction and responsiveness, making it dangerous to drive while the roads are wet or iced over. Regular tire rotations will preserve the traction on your tires.
- Less Risk of Tire Problems: Maintained tires are less prone to tire failure and blowouts, reducing your chances of experiencing an inconvenient and potentially dangerous situation.
What’s Involved in a Tire Rotation?
A proper rotation consists of switching your car’s front and rear tires. This must be done because the drive tires (either the front or rear tires, depending on if it’s a front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive vehicle) work harder than the others and get worn down faster. Rotating them distributes this wear evenly across all four tires.
The typical rotation pattern for a rear-wheel drive car includes moving the rear wheels to the front, the left front tire to the back right, and the right front tire to the back left of the car. For front-wheel drive, the front tires are moved to the back, the left rear tire is moved to the front right, and the right rear tire is placed at the front left.
Stop by LubeMaster for a Tire Rotation Today
Keeping your tires in excellent condition is key to ensuring you get the best performance out of your vehicle. If it’s been a while since your last tire rotation, visit LubeMaster in Philadelphia today. Our expert technicians will ensure your car remains safe on the road, no matter where your journey takes you.
