Why is Tire Rotation Important?

Having your tires rotated regularly is important to extending the life of your tires. So, what does tire rotation do exactly? It prevents any single tire from wearing out faster than the other tires. Learn more about rotating tires, as well as what would happen if you neglected to do this for your vehicle, with the service team at Biggers Mazda. Looking to schedule a tire rotation? Schedule service at our Elgin service center today!

How Does Drivetrain Affect Tire Rotation?

When you turn corners or go around curves, the acceleration, braking, and turning of the wheels provide friction between your tires on the road. Depending on the drivetrain your vehicle has, this will cause your tire treads to wear out at different rates. These include the following:

• Front-wheel drive vehicle: Engine power is directed to the front wheels, which are responsible for steering, starting, and most of the stopping force. Therefore, the front tires will wear out the fastest.
• Rear-wheel drive vehicle: Engine power is directed to the rear wheels, but the front wheels are still responsible for steering and much of braking. The rear tires will still wear out faster than the front tires, although at a generally slower rate.
• All-wheel drive vehicle: Engine power is more evenly distributed, but there are many experts out there that maintain that the rear tires will still wear out faster.
• Intelligent all-wheel drive systems: Going around curves means different levels of strain and friction on the inside tires vs. outside tires. Some advanced all-wheel drive systems can even direct power to an individual wheel while driving around a curve for better cornering, which will further affect tire life.

What Happens if I Don’t Rotate My Tires?

It’s recommended that drivers have their tires rotated every 5,000-7,500 miles or so. If you don’t have this service completed regularly, your tires can wear out faster than they should. If you fail to rotate and replace the tires at the proper times, this can lead to more serious maintenance issues, including:

• Poor traction and skidding on the roads
• More rapid deterioration of brake pads
• Flat tires and blowouts

Keep Your Vehicle in Good Shape at Biggers Mazda

The best place to learn more about tire care is with us at the Biggers Mazda service center and tire center. If you want to know more about tire care, how to check your tire tread depth, or get any other service tips such as how to check car oil, or even to learn about the Mazda6 configurations, contact our team. Once you’re ready to bring your vehicle in for a tire rotation, be sure to check out our service specials to help you save even more.