Why is it necessary to rotate car tires?
Regular tire rotation will help the vehicle maintain better balance, prevent skidding and loss of control, and extend the lifespan of the entire tire set.
What is tire rotation?
Tire rotation is the process of changing the position of car tires to ensure even wear among the different tires on a vehicle. A set of tires that wear evenly will last longer than a set of tires that wear unevenly.
Tires that are too worn will need to be replaced, while tires that are not too worn will show a difference in wear compared to a newly installed tire.
Benefits of tire rotation
The primary cause of uneven tire wear is the difference in weight distribution between the axles. Except for a few exceptional cases (racing cars, high-performance sports cars), where the weight distribution is 50/50 between the front and rear axles, most cars have front-mounted engines. Therefore, the front axle usually bears a heavier load than the rear axle.
In front-wheel drive vehicles, the two front wheels serve both the propulsion and steering functions. Therefore, the front wheels tend to wear out faster than the rear wheels.
Another reason is that in countries with right-hand traffic networks like Vietnam, right-hand turns are usually sharper than left-hand turns. At the same time, when turning right, the left wheel travels a longer distance than the right wheel, so the left tire tends to wear out faster than the right tire.
With the right-hand wheel, additional wear frequently occurs on the side of the tire due to contact with the curb when parking, while the left-hand side of the tire experiences virtually no such wear.
Typically, car manufacturers recommend rotating tires every 5,000-10,000 km, depending on the tire type. For simplicity, you can use an average of 7,500 km, or rotate tires every time you change the engine oil, or follow the manufacturer's specific instructions. Failure to rotate tires regularly will lead to increased wear on some tires, potentially causing tire blowouts at high speeds or loss of control on slippery roads.
Proper tire rotation improves safety, extends tire life, and can save approximately 3% on fuel.
Steps for rotating tires
Step 1: Inspect the tire surfaces, pressure, and wear.
When rotating tires, you should also visually inspect the tire surface and sidewalls, checking for blisters. If the tire's ply layer is exposed, you should replace the entire set of tires.
Step 2: Dynamically balance the tires.
Tires and rims are manufactured with some degree of inaccuracy, causing weight distribution to be uneven across the entire surface, with some areas being slightly lighter than others by just a few grams. This causes the tire to rotate unevenly around its axle, resulting in vehicle vibration. Therefore, dynamic balancing and the attachment of lead weights to the lighter areas on the rim are necessary to balance the tire.
Step 3: Rotate the tires according to the plan for a front-wheel drive vehicle. The two front tires are moved straight down to the rear. The two rear tires are then moved diagonally to the front.
It is especially important to note that for radial tires with unidirectional tread patterns, only the front and rear tires should be rotated. Do not rotate the left tire to the right or vice versa. Do not use a temporary spare tire for tire rotation.
After rotating the tires, make sure both the front and rear tires are inflated to the correct pressure and that the lug nuts are tightened securely.
Step 4: Adjust the wheel alignment.
