WHAT IS IT?
“Tire rotation” is the practice of moving the wheels and tires of a car or truck from one position to another to ensure even tire wear. Usually the front and rear tires switch places (some other patterns may be used). Even tire wear is desirable to extend the overall useful life of a set of tires.
WHY SHOULD I HAVE IT DONE?
Very often, the front tires start to show wear on their edges sooner than the rears. This is normal because the front tires lean more in curves and turns. Many tire manufacturers recommend that a tire rotation be done every 10,000 miles. This will even up the wear and to prolong overall tire life. Some recommend it be done more often.
Check with the tire dealer where you bought the tires, because many of them will rotate the tires for free if you bought the tires from them. If they don’t, or if you don’t have time to go sit at their shop while they perform the service, we can do it for you at your next oil change appointment. InSite OilChange is equipped to perform tire rotations correctly on most vehicles.
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By the way, the best tires should be kept on the rear wheels of the vehicle, whether it is front- or rear-wheel drive. The rear wheels lose grip before the front ones in an emergency braking situation. This is because the weight of the vehicle will be transferred more towards the front (onto the front tires) in hard braking. Therefore, it’s important to have better tread on the rear tires as they’ll need better grip in an emergency. If all the tires are evenly worn, then of course this rule isn’t applicable.
Some vehicles are designed (or retrofitted) with front and rear wheels of different sizes, making rotation impossible. There are a few other vehicles for which rotations are not recommended, but they’re uncommon.
And remember, if you have questions about tire rotations or anything else automotive, we’re always happy to help.
