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The effects of not rotating vs. rotating regularly

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The effects of not rotating vs. rotating regularly

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Today's tires have become so trouble-free that many drivers ignore them completely, skipping critical inspections and maintenance procedures until there is a problem. Among the steps often ignored is tire rotation.

Tire Rotation Defined

Tire rotation involves moving tires from one position on a vehicle to another. A typical tire rotation would move the front tires to the rear, and the tires at the rear of the vehicle to the front.

Often in this procedure, one set of tires also changes sides. For example, the left and right rear tires would change sides when moved to the front of the vehicle, while the front tires would stay on their respective sides when moved to the rear.

There are, however, numerous rotation patterns. You should follow the pattern outlined in your owner's manual.
Typically, tire rotation is called for every 5,000 to 7,500 miles, though there are exceptions.
Again, the owner's manual will spell out what should be done for your vehicle.

Why Rotate Tires

Tire rotation is undertaken to ensure that the tires wear evenly. This can extend tire life and save you money.

Even tire wear is also important for balanced handling. For example, failure to rotate tires on a front-wheel-drive vehicle will eventually result in the front tires having significantly less tread than the rear tires. In an emergency, this could make the vehicle more difficult to control, especially if the road is wet.

Some cars with no suspension or alignment problems may also inflict unusual wear patterns on tires that are not rotated, shortening their life. Tread cupping, which can cause high noise levels and vibration, is one such unusual wear pattern that can be eliminated by rotating the tires.

There is one final reason for rotating the tires on a regular schedule: The tire maker may require it to keep its warranty in force.

Front-Wheel Drive

Tires wear differently depending on their location on the vehicle and the vehicle's drivetrain.

Front-wheel-drive vehicles wear front tires more quickly than rear tires, since the front tires transfer power to the road and steer the vehicle.

In order to correctly rotate the tires of a front-wheel-drive vehicle, you have to move the front tires to the rear and the rear tires to the front. However, when moving the rear tires to the front, they should be placed on opposite sides of the car; you should move your rear right tire to the front left, and the rear left tire to the front right.

Rear-Wheel Drive

Rear-wheel-drive vehicles provide more balanced wear, since the rear tires deliver power to the pavement while the front tires do the steering. Even with this division of labor, however, the different functions, front and rear, produce different wear patterns that make rotating the tires advisable.

When rotating your tires in a rear-wheel-drive vehicle, you should pretty much do the opposite of what you would do with a front-wheel-drive vehicle. The rear tires should be moved to the front but stay on the same side. Your front tires should be moved toward the rear; you should move your front left tire to the rear right, and the front right tire to the rear left.

All-Wheel Drive

All-wheel- or four-wheel-drive vehicles may present the strongest case for rotating the tires to keep tread wear even. In many of these vehicles, significant differences in tread depth can place an unnecessary strain on the drivetrain.

For it's all-wheel-drive vehicles, Subaru recommends that the maximum variation in tread depth be kept to about 2/32 of an inch. Since many crossover all-wheel-drive vehicles are actually in front-wheel-drive mode most of the time, rotating the tires on these vehicles should be done often, since the front tires can be expected to wear more rapidly than the rear tires.

Tread wear variances of more than 2/32 of an inch suggest that the tires should be rotated more frequently.

When rotating the tires of an all-wheel-drive or four-wheel-drive vehicle, you will follow the same process as if it was a rear-wheel-drive vehicle. The front right will go to the left rear, the front left will go to the right rear, and the two rear tires will move to the front without switching sides.

Do It Yourself?

Tire rotation can be done at home. Requirements include a hard, flat, and level work area, a jack, jack stands, wheel chocks to keep the car from rolling, a torque wrench to make sure that the lug nuts or bolts are tightened properly, and a standard set of hand tools. You will need some muscle power, too, and remember never to get under a vehicle supported only by a jack.

Whether you do it yourself or pay to have the tires rotated, the following should be done:

* Thoroughly examine each tire for possible tread or sidewall damage. Remember to check both the inner and outer sidewalls.

* Check the date code. Since tires deteriorate over time, eventually becoming unsafe, many safety experts and automakers recommend not using tires older than six years of age, even for standby duty as a spare. Others place this time limit at 10 years. To determine a tire's age, check the last four digits of the DOT code. A code of 3517 means the tire was made during the 35th week of 2017. You can find out what the rest of the numbers on a tire mean by clicking here.

* Use a torque wrench when tightening the lug nuts. This will ensure that the wheels are properly mounted on the vehicle. Too little tightening and the lug nuts could loosen, possibly resulting in wheel separation while driving. Too much tightening risks possible brake rotor warping, resulting in vibration while stopping and longer stopping distances. It also could mean that, in the event of a flat, you would be unable to remove the lug nuts when using the short wrench that comes with many vehicles, since it provides little leverage. Typical tightening specifications call for 75 to 100 pound-feet of torque, though some cars call for much more. The owner's manual should have this specification.

* Check the air pressure, or on cars that require different pressures in the front and rear tires, adjust the air pressure, when performing a tire rotation. Use a quality gauge when the tires are cold to get an accurate reading.

Other Issues

* Staggered wheels are found on vehicles with larger tires at the rear than the front. Here, a front- to-rear rotation is impossible. Side-to-side rotation is used instead.

* Dually trucks, or pickups with dual rear tires on each side, may include all six tires in their rotation pattern. Check the owner's manual.

* A five-tire rotation pattern is possible when a vehicle has a spare tire and spare wheel that are identical to its other four tires and wheels. A five-tire rotation puts the spare tire into regular service.

* Studded winter tires should never be switched from left to right.

* Some cars with tire pressure monitoring systems that display the air pressure at each wheel may require a reset to display tire pressures properly after the tires are rotated.

* While tire rotation is important, it will not correct uneven wear caused by previous suspension, alignment, or inflation problems.

More Shopping Tools From U.S. News & World Report

In addition to ownership advice like this, U.S. News offers a wealth of buying advice. Use our new car rankings and used car rankings to find your next vehicle. Use our car deals page to find the best manufacturer incentives. Our Best Price Program can help you negotiate the lowest price at your local dealer.

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How Often Should You Rotate Your Tires ... and Why It's Necessary | U.S. News & World Report

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Today's tires have become so trouble-free that many drivers ignore them completely, skipping critical inspections and maintenance procedures until there is a problem. Among the steps often ignored is tire rotation. Tire Rotation Defined Tire rotation involves moving tires from ...

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How to know when your tires need rotated

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How to know when your tires need rotated

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Tire rotation is an essential part of maintaining your vehicle. It may not seem as important as changing motor oil, but not rotating your tires regularly can cost you just the same. If this task is put off for too long, you are at risk for losing traction or even suffering a blow out.

Tire rotation can be a simple step in your regular vehicle maintenance. Most people opt for rotation when they go in for an oil change or need other, more extensive services. Although there is no general rule of thumb because every set of tires and every driver's habits are different, in general you can play it safe by rotating your tires at least twice per year.

Sometimes you can't wait for a regularly scheduled tire rotation. There are situations when you might notice things which should compel you to act immediately. Here are three signs your tires need to be rotated.

Uneven Wear

Whenever you notice a particular tire having more wear and tear than the others, it is time to go in for rotation. It is completely normal for the front pair to be worn more quickly than the rears. This is because the front tires bear the load of the engine, direct your vehicle through turns, and take the brunt of braking. When you see the treads wearing out on the front tires, you must change them as well as the rear ones. If your front and rear tires are not the same size, rotating them will be much less effective and your new tires will wear more quickly.

Vibrations

Another major sign that you're due for a rotation is a vibration that occurs when driving. When all your tires are in perfect condition, you should not experience any strange shimmying or vibration. But, if they are worn unevenly, you vehicle will shake with every revolution. You may only experience this at higher speeds, but regardless, this is the time to have your tires rotated.

Losing Pressure

If you notice that one tire is losing air pressure for no apparent reason, it may be time to have them all rotated. This tire is likely being subjected to more pressure and wearing unevenly, giving you just cause to visit your local auto shop.
If you notice any of these warning signs on your vehicle's tires, stop by Grease Monkey in Battle Ground for a quick rotation today, no appointment necessary!

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3 Signs Your Tires Need To Be Rotated - Clean Machine Car Wash

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Tire rotation is an essential part of maintaining your vehicle. It may not seem as important as changing motor oil, but not rotating your tires regularly can cost you just the same. If this task is put off for too long, you are at risk for losing traction or even suffering a blow out.

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how to rotate tires with two jack stands

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How to Rotate your Tires Yourself Correctly

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If youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢re going to be rotating your own tires, find out what supplies youÃ¢â‚¬â„¢ll need and the correct rotation pattern to get the job done right.

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Changing a tire is a relatively simple affair and most cars come with the equipment to perform the procedure as part of a basic vehicle-maintenance package. The car's owner's manual should also have instructions on where your tire changing equipment is located and the proper procedures.

A basic a tire changing kit typically includes:

Additional tools, depending on the make, model and year of your vehicle may include:

Jacks come in several varieties -- scissor jacks, floor jacks, bottle jacks and even bumper jacks. A scissor jack is the most common type and uses a mechanical scissor mechanism to lift the car. A bottle jack is more powerful but less compact and uses hydraulic fluid to lift the car.

The tire rim is held to the wheel hub by lug nuts screwed on to wheel studs. Before the spare tire can be fitted to the car the old rim and flat tire needs to be removed. Before this is accomplished, the lug nuts must be loosened and this is done with the lug wrench. A lug wrench is essentially a large socket wrench with one socket that matches the size of the lug nuts on your wheels. The length of the handle adds mechanical advantage -- the longer the handle, the more force you can exert on the nut. The pry bar on the other end is used to remove the hub cap and sometimes to pry the rim off the wheel hub if it's stuck on with rust or dirt.

Finally, there's the spare tire. Spares are either full-size or temporary (often called "donut" or "space saver") spares. A full-size spare offers more advantages as far as safety is concerned, but it's difficult to store, especially in smaller cars. It also weighs more and is harder to manage onto the wheel hub at ground level. A donut spare is easier to store and easier to manage on to the hub. However, it's generally less safe, usually limiting driving speed to less than 50 miles per hour (80.5 kilometers per hour) and a range of less than 60 miles (96.6 kilometers). Good car maintenance means checking the air pressure in the spare tire on a regular basis, too. It only takes a couple of minutes but may save you hours of aggravation someday.

The additional items listed are needed by certain cars rather than all cars. Wheel locks are a specially keyed lug nut socket designed to keep thieves from stealing your wheels. While a good idea, the locks are often lost, misplaced or simply disregarded until necessary -- but by then it's too late. If your car has wheel locks, tape the socket to the jack or to the inside of your glove box so it won't be lost.

Some car models store the spare under the car. The spare is lowered to the ground by turning a post that lowers the spare on a wire. This post is turned with an extension bar that's also used to help drag the spare out from under the car. This part of the car is often neglected during routine automotive maintenance. Every so often, and before long trips, make sure the spare will lower and the action on the mechanism is not rusted or corroded.

Many European cars use wheel bolts rather than wheel studs. Wheel studs stay on the hub and serve as a mounting surface for the spare. Wheel bolts screw into the hub and come off with the tire. With this type of system, putting the tire back on the car means having to manage the tire with a bolt through a rim hole and being able to wrestle the whole thing into position to screw the bolt in. This system is difficult to deal with even in controlled conditions, let alone on the side of a busy road. Wheel studs are a lot easier to deal with as the studs remain attached to the wheel hub and allow you to hang the tire on them and then replace the lug nuts.

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Changing a tire is a relatively simple affair and most cars come with the equipment to perform the procedure as part of a basic vehicle-maintenance package. The car's owner's manual should also have instructions on where your tire changing equipment is located and the proper procedures.

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How to change a tire on a small car

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Thump, thump, thump.

That's the sound of the tire that just blew as you were traveling 70mph down the highway. Now what? Well, hopefully you're prepared because tires can blow anytime, anywhere.

Step 1: Be Prepared

You should know if your car has a spare tire or a "fix-a-flat" kit. A lot of new cars don't come with a spare tire for various reasons, so check to make sure you have one.

You also need to check this spare tire every semi-regularly. A tire without any air in it does you no good, so check the air pressure and condition before road trips or longer drives. As for items you might want, a flashlight/headlamp, tire gauge, and paper towels should suffice. You can use a floor mat if you need to keep your clothes relatively clean, but don't expect a roadside tire change to leave you ready for a black-tie event.

Step 2: Pick Your Spot

It's not always easy to get to a good spot for changing a tire safely. Aiming for a level, hard surface with separation between the road and the car is the best-case scenario. But don't drive a mile on your rim too long or you'll be paying for a new wheel, too.

Throw the flashers on while navigating to your chosen spot. Once there, set your parking brake.

Step 3: Check and Remove All of Your Tools

This step is a moot point if you already perform regular checkups on the spare tire and toolkit that comes with it. But if not, make sure all the tools are there and the tire is filled to spec.

Step 4: Get the Lugs Loose

Start by chocking a wheel opposite the side of the car you're going to jack up. A piece of wood or rock on the side of the road would do if you don't carry an actual wheel chock in your car. This makes sure the car doesn't roll anywhere once you have it in the air.

If there's a second person in the car with you, then they can get out and be your spotter at this point. Changing a tire on the highway isn't a safe endeavor, and a split-second warning of a vehicle coming your way can be a lifesaver.

Then, lay a floor mat down and grab your lug wrench. You may need to pry off a lug nut cover, but most of the time you can get right to business. Loosen, but don't remove all the lug nuts. You may need a lug key adapter for one or all of the lugs depending on your vehicle.

Step 5: Jack It Up

Find the jack point or spot weld under the car by the wheel you're taking off. Position the jack such that the jack handle points out then crank it up clockwise with the jack handle tools provided.

As soon as you can see light between the ground and the tire, you'll know it's up high enough to take the tire off.

Step 6: Remove the Tire

Spin the already loosened lug nuts the rest of the way off and put them somewhere safe. Then, remove the wheel from the car. Ideally, it'll just fall right off, but a few well-placed kicks to the sidewall from the right angle can break it free if it's being stubborn. Bring the wheel back behind your car out of the way after taking it off.

Step 7: Grab the Spare

Get your spare from wherever it might be now. For most cars and SUVs, it'll be under the loading floor. Trucks might keep it suspended under the bed, but there will most likely be a center nut holding it in place you'll have to screw off to free it regardless of its location.

Line up the studs and holes then shove the wheel on. Put all the lugs back on next. You'll want to get these finger tight, but don't take the wrench to them yet. Once the wheel is seated properly it's time to get the car on the ground.

Step 8: Lower the Car

Turn the jack handle the opposite direction now to slowly lower the car back to the ground. Once it's settled you can take the jack out from under the car and grab your lug wrench again.

Step 9: Tighten the Lugs

Arguably the most important job is making sure you tighten all the lugs down nice and snug. Tighten them in a crisscross pattern, going across not in a circle when you change the lug you're wrenching on. Repeat this process a couple times to make sure you have them as tight they can be. You most likely won't have a torque wrench with you, so just make sure they feel snug and you should be good to go.

Step 10: Clean Up and Drive Home

Gather up all the tools you've been using plus your flat tire and secure them in the trunk. Wipe your hands off a bit to avoid smearing tar and dirt all over your interior.

Now that you're most likely driving on a tiny space saver spare, it's time to follow the rules that go along with that. Most of the time the tires are only rated for a max speed of 50-55 mph. That means driving faster than that could cause another blowout, something you'll likely want to avoid.

The car will handle and brake much differently, too, so be cautious and feel out the new driving dynamics of the tiny tire. Space savers are only designed to travel a low set number of miles, so you're going to want a new tire ASAP.

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How To Change a Flat Tire: A Step-By-Step Guide

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Thump, thump, thump. That's the sound of the tire that just blew as you were traveling 70mph down the highway. Now what? Well, hopefully you're prepared because tires can blow anytime, anywhere. Step 1: Be Prepared You should know if your car has a spare tire or a "fix-a-flat" kit.