Tire rotation vs. Tire alignment
You’ve heard you need a tire rotation. You’ve also heard you need to make sure your tires are aligned. Is there a difference and why are they both important?
Here’s a great way to remember the difference: Rotation is about how the tires wear down and alignment is how the tires sit on the road.
Rotation: “Sharing the load”
Your front and rear wheels do different jobs. Front tires usually handle the steering and the weight of the engine, causing them to wear out faster.
In a rotation, our service tech moves your tires – front-to-back, left-to-right. The goal – ensure all four tires wear down evenly so you don’t have to replace two ‘bald’ tires while the others are fine.
Tip: Usually performed every 5-8,000 miles (schedule with an oil change).
Tire alignment: “Pointing the Right Way”
A tire alignment isn’t an adjustment of the tires themselves, but rather the vehicle’s suspension. Over time, potholes and curbs can knock your wheels out of their precise angles.
What happens? A technician adjusts the angles of the wheels so they are perfectly parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ground. This helps to stop the car from pulling to one side.
Tip: Typically performed once a year or whenever you notice steering issues.
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