Want to make sure your tires live a long, healthy life? Tire rotation is an important part of vehicle maintenance and it may even be required to keep your tires covered under warranty. Your tires should be rotated every 5,000 miles or as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer.
The Importance of Tire Rotation
Rotating your tires allows wear to be spread evenly across each tire, maximizing their tread life. Each position on a vehicle requires a different give from the respective tire, which can lead to more or less wear on the tire depending on where it is positioned. Having even tread wear keeps the tread depth on your tires consistent across the board, which will keep your vehicle safer for driving. TIre rotation will also preserve balanced handling and traction and can even result in performance advantages.
Front Wheel Drive Rotation Patterns
For vehicles with front wheel drive such as minivans, crossovers, and passenger cars, the forward cross and X rotation patterns are recommended. The forward cross pattern consists of moving the front wheels to the rear and the rear wheels to the front, then switching the front wheels. The right rear ultimately ends up on the left front, and the left rear is on the right front. For the X pattern, simply swap the right front tire for the left rear, and the left front tire for the right rear. X patterns and the rearward cross are only possible for vehicles with non-directional tires.
Rear Wheel Drive, Four Wheel Drive, and All Wheel Drive Rotation Patterns
First, make sure that all of your tires are the same size and non-directional. The rearward cross and the X pattern are appropriate for rear wheel drive, four wheel drive, and all wheel drive vehicles. For the rearward cross, move the rear wheels to the front and the front wheels to the rear. The left front tire should end up on the right rear, and the right front tire should be on the left rear. Again, for the X pattern, the front wheels go to the rear and the rear wheels go to the front, with both pairs of tires switching sides.
Staggered Wheel Sizes
Sometimes tire rotation is not possible, such as when the wheels are staggered and the tires are directional. If your vehicle has staggered wheels but non-directional tires, you can use the side to side rotation pattern, which involves switching the left wheels for the right wheels and vice verse. The front tires should remain in the front, and the rear tires at the rear of the vehicle.
Same Sized Wheels and Directional Tires
Most late model cars, trucks, and SUVs have wheels and tires that are the same size front and rear, but the tires are directional. If this is the case with your vehicle, rotate your tires by moving the front wheels to the rear and the rear wheels to the front, without crossing.
Performance Auto Specialists
Performance Auto Specialists services all makes and models of cars, trucks, SUVs, and minivans. Whether you need brake repair, engine repair, A/C repair, or emissions services, Performance Auto Specialists has you covered. Contact us today!
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