Regular Maintenance: What is Tire Rotation?

Tire rotation is a regular maintenance activity that prevents any one tire on your vehicle from wearing down too fast. The goal is to extend the life of your set of tires. It also functions as a preventative measure by maintaining traction and preventing blowouts, and it improves fuel economy on Kettering roads. Keep reading to answer the question, what is tire rotation? Our team at Bob Ross Buick GMC has all the details. Contact us if you have any questions or explore more car care tips online!

What Does Rotating Tires Mean?

Tire rotation is somewhat self-explanatory. The tires are moved from one position on your vehicle to another. For example, your front tires will move to the rear and vice versa. Sometimes the tires are switched to the opposite side of the car when they are moved forward or backward. This is part of the tire rotation pattern. Here are some important facts about tire rotation:

• Typical cars carry more weight at the front (where the engine is located), causing the front tires to wear down faster. The drivetrain of your vehicle also affects the rate and areas of wear down. 
• For example, with front-wheel drive vehicles, the power is sent to the front axle and wheels to create forward motion. In this case, the front tires wear down faster than they would in rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, or four-wheel drive models.
• Your vehicle’s drivetrain will affect the tire rotation pattern to create the most even wear down of tires.

So, What Does Tire Rotation Do?

• Maintain Traction: If your tires are worn down, they have lost their tread depth. This reduces traction and can decrease your ability to control your vehicle. 
• Prevents Blowouts: There is an increased chance of tire failure as they wear down. Having a tire blow out while you are on the roads of Springboro or Bellbrook is never pleasant and could be dangerous.
• Improved Performance: When your tires are working together, and are uneven, they often create vibrations that you’ll feel through the steering wheel.
• Maximizes Efficiency: Drag is created when your tires are worn down and creates extra strain on the engine, thus increasing your fuel economy.

Come to Bob Ross Buick GMC for Your Tire Care 

It’s a general rule that you should rotate your tires every six months or 5,000-8,000 miles. You can be sure to properly care for your vehicle now that you know the answers to the questions, “What does tire rotation do?” and “What does rotating tires mean?” Check your owner’s manual for specific information and your vehicle, then come to Bob Ross Buick GMC for your next tire rotation outside of Bellbrook. Our experts will take the best care of your vehicle. Be sure to check out our service specials and save on your routine maintenance.