Tire Rotations Reveal....

Rotating tires means that you are changing where the individual tires are mounted on your vehicle.

The front tires carry a large percentage of the vehicle's weight (over 60%). If you have Front Wheel Drive, they carry the weight of the engine, transfer the power to the front wheels, do all the steering and most of the braking. All vehicles tires will wear out faster on the front unless you are "The Burn Out Champion"    The right front tire seems to take more abuse as well due to driving patterns and road hazards and hitting curbs. All of this means that tires even though they all get the same amount of mileage, they wear at a different rate.

To get the maximum amount of wear out of a set of tires, you have to rotate them.
Check your owners manual to know what the recommended rotation schedule and proper rotation pattern for your specific vehicle is. A diagram is likely to be in the manual to show how to rotate them and usually every 5,000 to 8,000 miles is the schedule for rotating. 
Rotating tires will make your ride smoother and handle better, which makes for a safer drive. 

 Tire Rotations not only are a great way to get the most amount of mileage out of your tires but, rotations also reveal, in one simple word - Problems.

How do you know if your alignment is bad? 

A poor alignment or unbalanced tires will cause uneven wear. Your front end gets a little out of sorts every time you hit a pot hole, bump in the road, and curb you go over among other things. You won't always know when it is out of alignment but there are clues that you can pick up on if you pay attention. A few of them are:

•  Tires are wearing unevenly, usually on the outside edge.

•  Vehicle pulls to one side when driving in a straight line.

•  Fighting to keep the steering wheel straight.

•  Feeling some vibration in the steering wheel.

• Steering wheel is off center when driving in a straight line.

• Using more gas than usual.
  
  Mind you that aging shocks and struts will have a cause and effect on your tires and driving ability as well.

 Another thing to watch out for is your tire pressures.

Underinflated or overinflated tires will effect the handling of your vehicle, wear of your tires and your gas mileage.

Check the recommended tire pressures, usually located on a decal in your glove box or on the driver's side door jamb.

Some tire pressures are different between the front and back tires, be sure to check for the correct PSI. 

Tire pressures that are listed are for when your tires are COLD.

Driving heats up your tires and the air pressure reading will be higher. So be sure to check tire pressures before you start driving or after the vehicle has set for awhile.

It is a good idea that you use an accurate tire gauge, don't rely on the built in gauge on the air hose at the Gas Station, they can be inaccurate.

Check your tire tread depth. 

We all want to get as much mileage out of tires as we can. There comes a time when it is no longer safe to keep driving around on tires that have minimal to NO tread left. Blow outs, poor road grip are two concerns. When it is raining, or the roads are wet, or covered in snow you need tread to help grip the road. Your vehicle will not pass State Inspections with a tread depth less than 2/32". An easy way of determining your tires tread depth is to reach into your pocket and pull out some change.

Place a penny into several grooves around your tire. If the head of Lincoln is covered you have at least 2/32" of tread.

If you place a quarter into several grooves around your tire, and Washington's head is covered by tread, you have more than 4/32" of tread left.

Another way to know that you are seriously low on tire tread is to look for the "wear bars" on the tire. Manufacturers have designed them into the tires to visibly warn you that your tires are becoming unsafe to drive on.


When your wheels are pulled for the rotation, your brakes are visible and if your brake pads, shoes, rotors or drums are in need of replacement or repair it can be easily spotted.
Make sure that all of them are in good condition. Check the lining of your pads or shoes, if there is minimal lining, get them replaced. Check the rotors for any uneven wear or cracks and make sure that your drums are in good shape as well. All of the braking system should be dry. If you notice brake fluid, make sure that you check your calipers for leaks.

Something so easy to get done can make a difference in your tire wear, tire mileage, gas consumption and can give you information as to other problems you may have with your suspension, struts, shocks, steering, and braking system. Don't overlook this needed and necessary service. Make a habit of rotating your Tires, for your safety and peace of mind.

Keep it between the lines,
Happy Motoring

Interested in Tires? Check out our Tire Page.
 http://www.biggsautos.com/tires.html