A tire rotation is this: we switch the front two tires with the rear tires. Most drivers know they need to rotate their tires; but WHY?
Timely tire rotations will save you money in the long run because your tires will take longer to wear out. It’s the difference between your tires last 4 years, or FIVE years.
Why Bother Rotating Your Tires?
Tires wear unevenly. Uneven tires will throw off your car’s alignment big time, problems that will cost you much more money in the long run.
All vehicles need tire rotations at one point or another. No car wears tires out perfectly evenly (we wish they did), so you’re not exempt even on a shiny new tesla.
“Why do tires wear out unevenly?” – a few reasons:
- alignment of the wheels.
- weight of the engine – front tires wear out differently than back tires because the front of your car is heavier than the back due to the engine.
When Should You Rotate?
Rotate your tires every 15,000 – 24,000 km.
Each car is different though, so check the manual of your car online (or out of the glove box if you’re still dragging that thing around).
Most people can get 5 years out of regularly-rotated new tires. However, this will vary based on:
- The type of tires (winter, summer, racing, etc.)
- How much you drive.
- The conditions of the roads you drive on.
- Your style of driving.
- Whether your steering is aligned properly or not
What Is Tire Tread Depth?
Tire tread depth is the measurement between the top of the tread rubber to the bottom of the tire’s deepest grooves. It’s those same grooves you see on all the car commercials that keep drivers stopping quickly.
Here’s an example. On the left you have new tires, and on the right you have super worn tires. Notice how the groove isn’t as “deep”? That’s tire tread DEPTH!
