Why You Need To Get Your Tires Rotated

Tire rotation is a regular part of car maintenance in which the four tires of a vehicle are moved from one position on the vehicle to another. Although most car owners know that this type of maintenance is necessary, not all understand why. In this article, we’ll explain why you need to get your tires rotated.

Even Tire Wear

With normal use, the tires of your car will show wear. Depending on the type of drivetrain your car has, the tires in certain positions will show more wear than others. This is because the tires in certain positions (like the front tires in a car with an FWD drivetrain) bear the brunt of the friction and torque when the car accelerates or brakes. Rotating the tires of your car regularly promotes more even wear to the treads of all four tires.

Increased Safety

When tire treads are worn unevenly, it can create a safety hazard for the driver. A car with too little tread can be hard to control on slippery roads in snowy, icy, or rainy conditions, making driving dangerous. The even wear to the tread of properly rotated tires helps to reduce this danger.

Improved Performance

When there is too little tread on one or more of your car’s tires, it puts extra strain on other parts and functions of the car. Properly rotated tires take the stress off your car’s drivetrain and its components, reducing strain and wear to the car’s wheels, suspension system, brakes, and other parts of the car. This, in addition to the extra traction your wheels will have on the road, improves the performance of your car.

These are just a few reasons why you need to get your tires rotated regularly, generally every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. The pattern in which the wheels are rotated will differ based on your car’s drivetrain and which wheels have seen the most wear. If at any point, despite rotating, the tread of your tires gets too worn down, be sure to have them replaced. And if you need replacement wheel rims, including 2014 Nissan Altima rims, be sure to check out WheelerShip’s wide selection of wheels and accessories.