Tire Rotation 101

Driving around Stroudsburg, Lehigh Valley, or Nazareth requires a reliable vehicle. To ensure a car's dependability, it helps to get a regular tire rotation. However, why exactly is a tire rotation so important, and how often should it be done?

 To help answer those questions, our team at Ray Price Lincoln created this tire rotation 101 guide. We'll go over everything you need to know about this essential service. Read all it below, and contact us if you have any questions.

Importance of Tire Rotations

The tires are some of the most important parts of your vehicle. That's because they're the only components that actually touch the ground to propel your car forward.

The more you drive, the more the tires will wear. Plus, they'll wear at different rates, which all depends on the type of car you have and your driving patterns.

If you drive a front-wheel vehicle, then they'll wear out almost twice as fast as the rear tires. Furthermore, the left front tire wears faster than the right front one. This is because right turns are typically tighter, and many ramps are right-hand curves. The left tire will need to travel at a greater distance around those turns, resulting in a quicker wear rate.

The more the tires wear unevenly, the more dangerous it'll be to drive. Understeer or oversteer could occur, and you could even get a tire blowout. To avoid those situations, it's imperative to get your tires rotated regularly.

How Often Should Your Tires Get Rotated

A good way to determine when your vehicle's tires should get rotated is to check the owner's manual. Still, a good rule of thumb is to get a rotation with every oil change, which is usually about every 5,000 miles.

The longer you put off a tire rotation, the more likely you'll need to get your tires replaced, which can get very costly. How do you know when a tire would need to get replaced? Below are some warning signs you could keep an eye out for...

• Tire noise and vibration: Uneven tires typically cause increased road noise and vibrations. These are most commonly felt in the steering wheel.
•  Bulges and blisters: The tire sidewalls can often bump or rub against curbs when parking. If they start to weaken, you'll notice bulges or blisters extending out from the tire's surface.
• Sidewall cracks: If you see cracks or cuts in the sidewall, then the tire is developing a leak.
• Low tire tread: The shallower the tread, or thickness, of the tire, the less grip you'll have to the road. This could cause you to easily lose traction when driving on slippery roads. To determine low tire tread, stick a penny upside down into the groove between the tread ribs. If Lincoln's head is completely visible, then that tire will need to be replaced.

To prevent any of the above-mentioned issues from occurring, be sure to get your tires rotated as soon as possible at our reliable tire center.

Schedule a Tire Rotation Today!

If you live in the Stroudsburg, Lehigh Valley, or Nazareth areas and need a tire rotation, then schedule a service appointment at Ray Price Lincoln. We're proud to help drivers in the area with all their tire needs, and we look forward to doing the same for you.