There are many ways to extend the service life of your tyre and keep your car performing at its best – one of these is tyre rotation. However, many vehicle owners think that this service offers little value and only contributes to their expenses. But if you ask mechanics, mobile tyre service specialists, and even carmakers, all of them will tell you that wheel rotation can have significant long-term benefits.

What is Tyre Rotation?

Tyre rotation is basically the practice of rearranging and moving each of your vehicle’s wheels from one position to another. As a preventative maintenance task, it can help in equalising tread wear and thus, ensure a longer life and consistent performance.

Why is it Necessary?

To understand why this service is important, let us first examine how the weight or load of our vehicle is distributed among our tyres.

In rear-wheel drive cars, weight distribution between front and back wheels is typically balanced, close to 50/50. On the other hand, in front-wheel drive vehicles, the front wheels typically carry majority of the weight, with a typical distribution of 60:40 from front to rear. The result of this is that the front tyres take the bulk of the damage, often degrading at almost twice the rate of rear tyres. Add to that the stress that comes from braking and you’ll end up with worn-out front wheels in no time. Tyre rotation is the remedy to this problem.

When you rotate your tyres regularly, especially for front-wheel drive cars, you allow even tread wear which is critical to ensuring maximum tyre life. Tyres that wear at the same rate also ensure a safer and smoother driving experience.

When and How is it Done?

The frequency of this task depends on the manufacturer’s recommendations. Generally, manufacturers recommend wheels to be rotated every 8,000 to 12,000 kilometres or when uneven tread wear is evident. Rotation patterns also vary and depend on a few factors, such as whether you have directional or non-directional tyres, and if your vehicle is front-wheel, all-wheel, rear-wheel or four-wheel drive.

Common Patterns

Common rotation patterns include the Rearward Cross, the Forward Cross, Front to Rear, X pattern, and Side to Side.

Tyre rotation may sound simple at first glance, but it actually takes specialists to ensure the tyres are rotated and fitted properly. For all your tyre-related concerns, talk to the experts in mobile tyre repair and service, Road Runner. We can supply, fit, balance and align your wheels seven days a week, no matter where you are in Sydney, Melbourne or Brisbane. Contact us to book our services or to buy tyres online today.