The Importance of a Tire Rotation

February 14th, 2020 by

A mechanic is doing a tire rotation on a customer's car at a Cincinnati, OH, tire shop.

The truth is, no matter how much we love our cars, we might not think about the tires as much as we should. Unlike all of the hidden components of our vehicles, which make strange noises, emit odd scents, or just quit at inopportune times, tires are pretty simple. They’re either full or flat, and they either have tread, or we need to buy new ones. Occasionally, that little sensor goes off that tells us to put a little air in them, but tires are the one part of the automotive world that aren’t a Gearhead Secret. So, then, when is the last time you rotated your tires? Do you know how often tires should be rotated? If you were to rotate your tires yourself, where would they go? It turns out, tires aren’t as simple as “full” or “flat,” but that doesn’t mean that they have to be a great mystery, either. Rotating tires on a schedule can increase the lifespan of your tires, and save you from other vehicle performance issues that can prevent huge bills down the line. Let’s take a look at the importance of tire rotation, and why you might want to stop in the tire shop from time to time for a professional rotation.

Where the Tires Meet the Car

In order to understand why rotating tires is important, we need to examine why tires are important in the first place.

Tires are more than where the proverbial rubber meets the road. One way to think of tires is to compare them to your shoes. When you wear shoes with a solid sole, you feel every bit of the ground you walk on- not just on your feet, but through your hips and back. Softer soles, like those on running shoes, absorb some of the shock from the pressure of your foot hitting the pavement, and can muffle sensations like a small rock or crack.

Traditional rubber format tires do about the same thing. They support most of the weight of a vehicle. Their shock-absorbing nature, from the rubber than expands and contracts, to the air inside, acts as a cushion for the vehicle. Sure, your shocks have a job to do, but imagine how much jarring it would be to ride around with wooden tires.

The tread on a tire is also very important. This is what helps your car “stick” to the road. The traction provided from tread can improve your ability to brake quickly and to stay on the road in wet or slick weather conditions. When you steer, the traction from your tires helps your vehicle move in a straight line around corners and turns, rather than slipping along the pavement.

Why Rotation Matters

The primary function of tire rotation is to ensure the tires wear evenly. Despite it seeming like all things are equal, tires do not wear evenly. Variations in roads and driving patterns can cause tires to distribute weight unevenly, and thus wear unevenly. Think of your running shoes, and how certain parts of the sole of one foot may wear out faster than the other.

When rotating your tires, several things are taken into account. First, the tires are inspected completely, which is the only way to find possible hidden damage without experiencing a full blowout. This also gives you the opportunity to evaluate the tread depth all the way around.

A mechanic has a tire on a balancing machine.

Tire shops also have the ability to check the balance of your tires to determine how they are distributing pressure and how evenly they are wearing. With professional equipment, they’ll be able to balance the tires and rotate them to balance better on your car. If you’ve noticed your car vibrating heavily or pulling in one direction, your tires may need to be balanced.

Regardless of balance, front and rear tires are going to wear differently. Having the tires rotated regularly will ensure that the wear patterns are evenly distributed. As a result, the ride will be smoother, since the tires will create a smooth connection to the road. Additionally, having equal amounts of tread between you and the road will create a safer ride, with better traction to aid braking and steering.

If you are feeling a lot of vibration through the vehicle when you drive, getting the tires checked immediately is a great idea. Driving uneven tires will increase that wobbly, drifting feeling, as well as add significant road noise. You may notice fatigue in your shoulders and upper body when driving long distances. Having your tires rotated regularly ensures you don’t get to this stage of driving discomfort.

You’ll also save a lot of wear and tear on your vehicle by making sure your tires are rotated. Just as a hard-soled pair of shoes can make your body less capable of endurance, uneven tires can cause excessive strain on your car over time. Rotating your tires will extend the length of your tires, for sure, which will save you money, but can also prevent damage to shocks, struts, axles, and brakes, and of course, can save you from an accident. All of that prevention will make your wallet much happier!

Types of Rotation

Reading this may make it seem like getting your tires rotated every week is a good idea. It doesn’t have to be that frequent, however! Most tire manufacturers recommend rotating the tires each time you have an oil change or every 3,000 to 5,000 miles. Some vehicles have specific recommendations, however, so be sure to check the owner’s manual for the manufacturer’s rotation guide.

Additionally, there may be some driving habits that add to the stress on your tires. Do you do a lot of three-point turns? What about parallel parking? U-turns? Heavy braking? Driving on rough terrain? Full-time all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles tend to experience a greater amount of wear and have a transfer case that connects the front and rear drive axles. As a result, uneven wear can put extra work on that transfer case, or make driving very uncomfortable.

Tires can be rotated in a variety of patterns. For example, 4WD, AWD, and rear-wheel drive vehicles usually rotate with the rearward cross pattern. This means the rear tires move to the front, while the front tires are placed on the opposite side of the rear axle.

A chart is showing the correct way to rotate your tires is shown.

Lightweight, mid-sized front-wheel drive vehicles typically have an X-Pattern rotation, in which all tires are replaced diagonally, so the front right goes to rear left, etc. The Forward Cross pattern is often used for these vehicles as well, in which the front tires go directly to the back, while the rear tires come to the opposite sides of the front axle. This is basically the opposite of the Rearward Cross.

High-performance tires often receive specialized rotation. Occasionally, the front and rear tires in this category are different sizes, so switching front and rear would create huge issues. In this case, the tires are rotated side to side. Directional tires will need to maintain their side of the vehicle, but rear and front tires will be swapped.

Getting a Tire Rotation

Rotating tires may seem like an unnecessary addition to the whole process of automotive upkeep, but has a very important purpose in prolonging the life of your investments. Not only will rotation keep tires on the road longer, but they can save you from additional bills from a blowout or accident. In addition, you’ll get the benefit of a nice, smooth ride, in the privacy of your own comfortable vehicle. When you need your next tire rotation, visit our technicians at McCluskey Chevy in Cincinnati, OH, today.

Posted in Tire Shop