We hope you're having an excellent summer and enjoying your travels across West Michigan! Maybe, you even have an adventure or two coming up! However, with all that driving, it's important that you don't neglect your tires - especially when it comes time to rotate them. It might seem like a small thing, but rotating your tires on schedule and keeping them properly inflated will pay dividends - especially if you do a lot of traveling. In this article, we'll explain how keeping your tires in good shape is simple and easy maintenance. We'll also explain how it not only makes your tires last much longer, it keeps you and others safer on the road.
What Rotating Your Tires Means
We've all heard the joke, "why do I need to rotate my tires? They rotate every time I drive!" While it's technically true, what a tire rotation actually means is the wheels are removed and placed on a different wheel hub. The rear tires are moved to the front and the front tires to their opposite side rear. This ensures that all four tires wear evenly, and increases the longevity of each. It's a fast and simple procedure, and if your vehicle is already on the lift, it makes sense to do it. Removing the wheels also gives our techs easy access to the brakes and hubs, potentially uncovering hidden issues.In most vehicles, the front tires receive far more wear than the back ones, mainly due to them being the driven wheels, bearing the weight of the engine, and because they're the tires negotiating turns. The tires on rear-wheel drive vehicles will wear differently because of this, but you should still rotate the tires on schedule.
How Often Do I Need a Tire Rotation?
We recommend rotating your tires every other oil change, but you should rotate newer tires more frequently than that. This is because the increased tread depth makes the tires more susceptible to uneven wear. We will make recommendations based on your service history, but most manufacturers recommend rotating them every 7,500 to 10,000 miles.What Happens If I Don't Rotate My Tires?
Failing to rotate your tires, in the best-case scenario, means you're replacing them more frequently. While we always have great deals on tires at the Borgman Service Center, we recognize that tires are costly. However, the risks go beyond financial. Tires worn down unevenly can build up excess heat, which expands the air in the tire and can potentially cause it to "pop." You'll also notice poor performance in slippery conditions such as rain, snow, and ice. Also, if you have worn down thin spots on your tires, that makes it even easier for a nail or piece of glass to puncture the tire. You'll also be more susceptible to cracking and pitting, which lets air out gradually.What Role Does Proper Inflation Play In Tire Wear?
Making sure your tires are properly inflated is just as important to their longevity. We recommend getting an inexpensive, digital-read air pressure gauge and checking your tires every other time you get fuel. This way, if one is losing air, you can catch it before driving on it for days or weeks, which can damage the tire permanently. Properly inflated tires wear more evenly, which as discussed above, ensures they last longer before wearing out.Your vehicle was designed around the tires maintaining a certain air pressure, so when the tires fall below that, some features may not work as well as intended. These could include but are not limited to curve assist, lane-keeping assist, braking assist, and vehicle stability systems / anti-skid features. Properly inflated tires also perform better on turns, in inclement weather, and even boost your fuel/battery economy!
Get Complete Tire Care at the Borgman Service Center in Grand Rapids, MI
Whether you're coming back from a summer of adventuring or are planning more, the Borgman Service Center has you covered. We'll make sure your tires, brakes, oil, and fluids are all where they should be before you set out on another adventure. Tire rotation is a fairly painless procedure if you're already in for an oil change, so if you can't remember the last time it was done, it's worth the extra few dollars.To get started, simply use our easy online scheduler and then check out our latest coupons. If you have any questions before your visit, feel free to Contact Us. Come see why we're still the Best in the West after 60 years in the Grand Rapids area!