Tire rotation is a topic that is often overlooked when it comes to routine maintenance with your vehicle.  However, it should be almost as important as an oil change.  Sometimes you might even have your oil changed and tires rotated at the same time, at whatever certified repair center that you bring your vehicle to conduct the tire rotation and oil change.  

A lot of drivers tend to forget the importance of tire rotation, and with the constant change in weather, it’s important to stay safe on the road. Yes, it is important to regularly check tire pressure levels to make sure that they are not getting too low or too high, and also to monitor your tires for wear and tear damage.  

However, rotating the position of your tires on your vehicle drastically increases the lifespan of your tires, along with other great benefits such as receiving better gas mileage, smoother driving, and more!  

How Often Should You Rotate Tires?

Whenever you are inspecting your tires for air pressure, you should start to notice that your front tires might begin to look worn on the edges.  This is usually a great sign that you need to get your tires rotated as soon as possible!  

If your tires begin to become worn, they will also start to produce a lot more noise on the road because the tires become uneven.  Have you ever experienced vibrations from your steering wheel?  This is most likely caused by uneven tires.  

At DriveSmart, we recommend that regardless of your tire manufacturer or car manual, you should be rotating your tires each time you drive around 5,000 miles or at least two to three times per year.  

Keeping Track of Rotation Pattern

Tire rotation is important, but an important aspect of tire rotation is making sure that you keep track of the rotation pattern.  If you are doing the tire rotation yourself, make sure you keep track and write down which tires have been where so you can keep track of where to put them next time.  

Always make sure you are swapping the front and rear tires, along with the sides!  It is also worth mentioning that if you have a spare tire attached to your vehicle, you may want to include that spare in your rotation sequence, as it will give you an extra fresh tire.  

Importance of Tire Rotation

Your vehicle’s tires are an incredibly important component of your vehicle.  The front tires help assist with the steering of your vehicle, while the rear tires are mainly there to help follow the front of the car. If you live in an area that requires a lot of braking, or the vehicle has an uneven weight distribution this could put a lot more strain on certain tires.  

As an example, if the engine of your vehicle is in the front of the car, this is such a heavy component that it will cause a higher strain on the front tires.  It is also worth noting that if you have poor wheel alignment or the tires have become unbalanced you might be putting a heavier load on the tires, which might cause them to wear out faster. 

Typically front tires will wear out much more quickly than the rear tires, along with becoming a lot more uneven when compared to the rear tires. Removing these patterns and keeping up with your tire rotation will dramatically increase the lifespan of your vehicle.  

In the event that your tires pop, we recommend having a DriveSmart Warranty, as our 24/7 roadside assistance number can be of service to help you get your vehicle to the nearest tire center.