Your tires are a significant part of your vehicle. They account for how you steer, accelerate, and brake. They can lead you down the road in comfort, or they can become misaligned and worn, leading to terrible ride quality. Keeping track of tires is a good maintenance tip for your vehicle so that they do not cause any significant problems in the future. Knowing what tire rotation and tire alignment are and how often you should have your vehicle serviced is something you will achieve from reading this blog!
What is Tire Alignment?
Tire alignment is different from tire rotation. To outline the difference, tire alignment is the adjustment of the vehicle’s suspension. Having improper alignment can cause your wheels to wear out more quickly than they’re supposed to. It can also cause your steering wheel to pull to the side when driving straight. This can be extremely dangerous because your vehicle is trying to go in a direction you are not trying to go. This can be a significant safety concern and should be fixed promptly. Tire alignment or wheel alignment, as it is sometimes referred to, adjusts your vehicle’s steering system and alignment so that your vehicle can continue driving straight down the road! Wheel alignment does not do anything to your tires but instead the suspension on your vehicle. Technicians move the position of the wheels to resolve any tire alignment issues.
What is Tire Rotation?
Tire rotation involves moving the tires on your vehicle. Depending on whether your vehicle is a front-wheel-drive or a rear-wheel-drive, your tires are rotated in a different fashion. The purpose of rotating your tires is to prevent uneven wear on your wheels. This is because generally, vehicles are heavier in the front. The recommended length of travel before having your tires rotated is every 5,000 miles. By doing this, we’re also able to check your tires for any damage, air pressure, and tread depth so that you’re as safe as possible when traveling on the road.
How to tell you if need Tire Rotation
Having your tires rotated regularly can help you in many ways. Some benefits of tire rotation are:
- A comfortable drive
- Better fuel economy
- Enhanced safety
- Makes your tires last longer
You should be rotating your tires regularly in part of your preventative maintenance for your vehicle. Every six months is also a reasonable time to receive tire rotation. Some vehicle manufacturers could have different suggestions on the number of miles or time between a tire rotation, but the general rule is every 5,000 miles or six months. If you start noticing uneven wear between your tires, vehicle vibration, or pressure loss, you could need a tire rotation.