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How Do I Know When I Need a Tire Rotation?

A tire rotation is one of the most basic automotive maintenance items to take care of, but its importance cannot be overstated. When done properly, a tire rotation can improve your gas mileage, keep your ride smooth and extend the life of your tires. To be clear, the phrase "tire rotation" is not referring to the motion of the tires on their axles; we're talking about the act of taking the tires off the axles and rotating them into different positions.

For example, most tire rotations consist of rotating the front two tires to the back axle, and vice-versa. This simple act can help to even out the tread wear on your tires, so that they will "age" at the same rate, preventing you from having to prematurely buy one or two tires ahead of time instead of maximizing the life of the entire set.

Think about it: If you were to leave all four tires exactly where they are for several years, they will naturally experience different levels of wear-and-tear. For example, your front tires would more than likely wear out quicker, because they are the ones that actually pivot right or left when steering, causing extra wear on the tread. Not only that, but your front tires bear the weight of the engine, which automatically makes them susceptible to additional wear.

Uneven wear is another problem with not rotating your tires. If your front end is not in alignment, your car may pull to one side, which will naturally wear out one of your front tires more than the other. If you ever want to see a living example of uneven wear, just look closely at the tires of your next rental car--unfortunately, car rental companies are famous for not rotating the tires on their vehicles on a regular basis, which eventually produces a very noticeable level of uneven wear.

The key to preventing uneven tire wear is to get your tires rotated on a regular basis. Each tire must be moved to a different corner of the car in order for them to experience an array of wear patterns over the course of time, but not have a particular "bias" toward only one type of tread wear. Although the exact schedules will vary, most manufacturers will recommend a tire rotation every 3,000 to 7,000 miles. If that's too much to keep track of, just keep in mind that a good time to get a tire rotation is whenever you get your oil changed--that is, as long as you stick to your oil change schedule.

As far as visible signs go, if you notice that the tread on one or two of your tires is significantly worn down compared to the other tires, you're probably due for a tire rotation. If it's been longer than you can remember since the last time you got your tires rotated, it's probably time to do so. If you've never had your tires rotated, it's definitely time to do so. Just bring your car into a Riverside Automotive and a professional technician can perform the job for you in only a few minutes. Staying on top of this simple maintenance item will ensure smooth handling, extended tire life and better overall performance for your vehicle.

Want to Learn More Why You Need a Tire Rotation? Click Here!

*Always check your owner’s manual for your vehicle model’s specific instructions before attempting any type of vehicle repair.

Copyright Riverside Automotive www.riversideautomotive.biz

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Written on Monday, December 14, 2015 by
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