Can you remember the last time you rotated your tires? For most people, the answer is no. This simple yet important maintenance task is often overlooked. Forgetting to rotate your tires will be more expensive and potentially dangerous in the long run.

Tire manufacturers say you should rotate your tires every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. If you aren't sure, you can check your owner's manual or with a maintenance professional.

Why Rotate?

Each wheel has a different task while you are driving. This means they each have a different wear pattern. By rotating your tires from side to side and front to back your tires will wear down evenly.

Front tires usually wear down from turning left and right. The tires that receive the power to move your car also receive extra wear. You'll know which ones these are by determining if your car is front, rear, or all-wheel drive.

Benefits

If your tires have an even amount of tread, your car will have better traction and handling. This is especially important through turns or on wet roads. The tread in the tires directs the water away from the wheels. This won't happen if the tread is worn down in some places and not others.

By rotating your tires, you will ensure all four tires are replaced at the same time. You need to do this to maintain optimum handling. You don't want to have one tire with much thicker tread and the other with shallow tread. It may not look like a big difference, but it will be noticeable in the ride of your car.

Dangers of Not Rotating

All too often, rotating your tires isn't a concern until something bad happens. You don't want to be traveling at a high speed when a thin spot on your tire finally gives out. These blowouts can be dangerous and cause loss of control.

You may notice a strange noise while driving. This happens when the tire doesn't have uniform contact with the road. The different tread depths will cause the tire to create noise. Uneven road contact can also cause vibration in your steering wheel. The extra vibration will put unnecessary stress on the rest of your car.

If you can't remember the last time you rotated your tires, it's time to give us a call here at Christian Brothers. With 35 years of experience, we will inspect your tires to determine the best rotation pattern to extend their life. Once rotated, make a record so you know when to schedule your next rotation. Contact our professionals today to schedule your appointment.