Why is Tire Rotation Important?

You’ve probably heard from your technicians and other drivers in Fresno that tire rotations are important. So why rotate tires? What does rotating your tires do? Proper and timely tire rotation extends the life of your tires, ensuring you get more for your investment. This is because tires don’t wear evenly, so rotating them avoids one from wearing out faster than the other ones. Find out more below, including how often to rotate tires and what happens when you don’t, from the service team at Mullahey Chrysler Dodge Jeep RAM.

How Does Drivetrain Affect Tire Rotation? 

When you’re out and about in San Luis Obispo and you accelerate, brake, turn your wheels, and go around curves, this results in friction between your tires and the road. Because of this, your tires are experiencing wear and tear, and they don’t wear evenly. Depending on the drivetrain your vehicle has, your tire treads will wear out at different rates, which we’ll go over below:

• Front-wheel drive vehicle: Engine power is directed to the front wheels, which are responsible for steering, starting, and most of the stopping force. Therefore, the front tires will wear out the fastest.
• Rear-wheel drive vehicle: Engine power is directed to the rear wheels, but the front wheels are still responsible for steering and much of braking. The rear tires will still wear out faster than the front tires, although at a generally slower rate.
• All-wheel drive vehicle: Engine power is more evenly distributed, but there are many experts out there that maintain that the rear tires will still wear out faster.
• Intelligent all-wheel drive systems: Going around curves means different levels of strain and friction on the inside tires vs. outside tires. Some advanced all-wheel drive systems can even direct power to an individual wheel while driving around a curve for better cornering, which will further affect tire life.

How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires? 

Now that you know what rotating tires do, you’ll need to know when tire rotations should be performed. Generally, the rule of thumb is to get your tires rotated every six months or every 5,000 miles to 8,000 miles. However, how often to rotate your tires will depend on your car model, driving habits, and driving conditions in Bakersfield. We highly recommend that you check your owner’s manual for exact figures. If you can’t locate it or you have questions, feel free to contact our service team. 

What Happens if I Don’t Rotate My Tires?

After learning about why you should rotate tires and how often to rotate tires, you might be wondering what are the consequences if your car doesn’t get timely tire rotation. If you don’t scheduletire rotation service or rotate them yourself when it’s time, the tires will wear out faster than they should. This may also lead to disastrous consequences, such as: 

• Poor traction and skidding on the roads
• More rapid deterioration of brake pads
• Flat tires and blowouts

Schedule Your Tire Rotation Visit in Paso Robles 

So you understand what rotating tires do and why exactly you need to rotate your tires. Now what? Schedule a visit if your car is due for a tire rotation, and our technicians will help maintain your vehicle!