A tire rotation and balance are often overlooked in maintenance needs. People tend to put it off altogether or just don’t seem to think about the need for a tire rotation. Tires will wear differently on the front of your vehicle than they will on the rear.
Rotating the tires evens out the wear patterns so those front or back wear patterns won’t become excessive and shorten the life of your tires. This is especially important on front-wheel-drive cars which tend to wear the front tires more dramatically.
Why Tire rotation and Balance are Important.
If there is slight wear on the front or rear suspension parts it can contribute to excessive tire wear. Rotating and balancing the tires will minimize that wear. Tires aren’t cheap, and rotating the tires is an inexpensive way to help your tires last as long as they should. 
Most oil change intervals are now 5000 miles, so we all should rotate our tires every oil change. 10,000 miles is just too long an interval to get the benefits of tire rotation. At G&G Auto Repair it only costs $10 to rotate your tires when we do an oil change, which is very inexpensive insurance to help you get the most mileage from your tires.
How often should I get a tire rotation?
Frequent tire rotation is important. This can preserve the balance and traction of your tires. Tire rotation evens out the wear that is incurred in front-to-back tires. As well as side-to-side. Your vehicle’s owner’s manual can give you the exact tire rotation schedule for your car. In general, the best recommendation that can be given is every 5-9k miles. As a good practice, you can rotate the tires of your vehicle every time you take the vehicle in for an oil change.
How do I know if I need a tire rotation?
As we have stated it is a good practice to rotate your tires based on mileage and service. There are some signs that you may need to rotate your tires sooner. Some of these signs are:
Vibrations while driving
When your vehicle reaches speed (usually 45 or above) you may begin to feel slight vibrations. This is usually a sign of uneven wear or tire imbalance. Whatever the cause may be, you will want to get your vehicle in for a tire rotation to eliminate this problem.
Continual tire pressure loss
If you find that one or more of your tires is losing air faster than others you may want to consider a rotation. Or, you can have a service tech look and see if the tire is in need of repair.
Wear on tire tread
Not all tires are created equal. Some tend to wear out faster than others. This is also true if your vehicle is out of alignment. When your tires are out of alignment this can cause wear on one or more of the tires. This can create irregular patterns in the tread. This will require that your tires need to be rotated and your vehicle’s alignment issue addressed
Tire Rotation: How you can save money
Tire Safety & General Maintenance
All tires require maintenance.
Tires can be one of the biggest investments that you make in your vehicle. your safety and the safety of your passengers literally depend on them. Tire maintenance should be done on a regular basis. Just like oil changes or other maintenance items. So what are some of the aspects of general tire maintenance that you should be aware of?
Tire Pressure:
Tire pressure should be checked monthly. The rubber on your tire is porous, this will cause air to migrate out of the tire through the sidewalls and valve stem. Underinflated tires can cause heat build-up. Heat buildup within a tire can and will cause damage to the internal parts of the tire. It is important that you periodically get a tire rotation and balance during each service of your vehicle. Tires have a max pressure number that can be found on the sidewall. However, it would be best to refer to the tire inflation sticker on the inside of the door frame for an accurate number.
Tread Depth:
Tires with worn tread will ride rougher and handle badly. They can also be dangerous in wet weather. Worn tires cannot displace water behind the tire’s contact point, which puts you at the risk of hydroplaning. Each time you bring your vehicle in for a tire rotation and balance, the service shop should be checking the wear on the tread of your tires.
Wheel Alignment:
If you are ever driving and begin to notice a consistent pull to one side of the vehicle, you may need an alignment. If you get a tire rotation, have the service shop check the alignment as well Tires that are skewed to one side or the other are essentially trying to steer the car in that direction. As you pull the opposite way while driving it will over time wear out the inside or outside wall of your tires.
Tire Rotations are really important
No vehicle has a perfect balance. When you brake or turn a corner the vehicle’s weight shifts. This is why your front brakes will always wear out before your rear brakes do. The same is true for your tires. A tire rotation on any vehicle will make this wear more even. Tire rotations on AWD’s should be every 5-7k miles. THe same is true for 2wd vehciles.
