How and why to rotate your tires?
Checking your tires’ air pressure monthly and replacing them seasonally is standard automotive maintenance, but what about tire rotation? Did you know that rotating your tires is another essential part of helping them last as long as possible?
Let’s review why rotation is important, how to obtain this service, and the best time to schedule a rotation.
Why rotation is important
Tire rotation is when you move each of your tires into a new spot, from front to back and/or from side to side.
Inevitably, your front tires get used more than your back two. The force required to turn, brake, and accelerate causes the front tires to wear out faster, which is why they need to be rotated to encourage even wear across all four tires.
Avoiding tire rotation means replacing certain tires faster than others, leading to a cycle of mismatched tires, whether new, partially used, or from different brands.
Even tire wear contributes to a smoother, safer ride. Tire rotation is also an easy way to extend the life of your tires so you can avoid replacing them as often.
How to rotate tires
Tires can’t be rotated any old way. A professional mechanic will advise you on the recommended rotation pattern, which depends on the type of tread you have.
Conventional treads are reversible and found on all kinds of tires. Conventional tires should be rotated in an X pattern (switching the front left tire with the back right tire).
Directional tires have treads that roll only in one direction. In this case, a front tire should only be swapped with a rear tire from the same side. Asymmetrical tires, which have an inside and an outside, should also be rotated front to rear.
In some rare cases, like with luxury and sports cars, the tires have split fitments, which means the front and rear tires are different sizes and are often directional and asymmetrical. There are even cars where each tire has a pre-determined position, which means they can’t be rotated.
Once your mechanic determines which pattern you need, they’ll lift your vehicle with a hoist or jack and loosen each wheel. The tires will be inspected for wear and then moved into their new positions. Once the car is back on the ground, the lug nuts will be fully tightened to secure the wheels.
When to rotate tires
How often you need to rotate your tires depends on your vehicle type.
For front-wheel drive (FWD) and rear-wheel drive (RWD) vehicles, rotations should happen every 8,000 km to 10,000 km. All-wheel drive (AWD) vehicles may need more frequent rotations, typically every 5,000 to 8,000 km. Your tire manufacturer and owner’s manual will state how often you should rotate your tires.
Tire rotation is also recommended after 5,000 km with a set of new tires since fresh tire tread is the most susceptible to uneven wear.
Combining tire rotations with oil changes is an excellent way to remember this task.
Preventing wear
In addition to tire rotation, you can prevent excessive tire wear by avoiding heavy braking, accelerating gently, and inflating your tires to the recommended pressure. It’s also important to have your tires balanced and your wheels aligned at least once yearly.
If you know which pattern to use, tire rotation can be done at home. Otherwise, schedule a tire rotation or any other automotive service at your local NAPA AUTOPRO service centre.
For additional information, view this article
Rotating Your Tires – NAPA AUTOPRO
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