There is a close working relationship between your tires and several mechanical
systems in your vehicle. Tires, wheels, brakes, shock absorbers, drive train, steering
and suspension systems must all function together to give you a comfortable ride
and good tire mileage.
Balance
An unbalanced wheel and tire assembly may create an annoying vibration when you
drive on a smooth road and may result in irregular tread wear.
Alignment
Misalignment of wheels in the front or rear, improperly operating brakes or shock
absorbers, bent wheels, worn bushings and other mechanical problems cause uneven
and rapid tread wear and should be corrected by a qualified mechanic. Front-wheel-drive
vehicles, and those with independent rear suspension, require special attention
with alignment of all four wheels.
These systems should be checked periodically as specified by the vehicle owner’s
manual or whenever you have an indication of trouble.
A bad jolt, such as hitting a pothole, can throw your front end out of alignment
even if you had it checked an hour earlier. Such an impact can also bend the rim,
causing a loss of air pressure, and damage your tires with little or no visible
external indication.
Tire Rotation
Sometimes irregular tire wear can be corrected by rotating your tires. Consult your
car owner’s manual, the tire manufacturer or your tire dealer for the appropriate
pattern for your vehicle.
If your tires show uneven wear, ask your tire dealer to check for and correct any
misalignment, imbalance or other mechanical problem involved before rotation.
Sometimes front and rear tires on a vehicle use different pressures. After rotation,
adjust individual tire air pressure to the figures recommended by the vehicle manufacturer
for the tire’s new wheel position – front or rear – as shown on the tire placard
in the vehicle.
The purpose of regularly rotating tires is to achieve more uniform wear for all
tires on a vehicle. Before rotating your tires, always refer to your individual
owner’s manual for rotation recommendations. If no rotation period is specified,
tires should be rotated approximately every 6,000 miles, or sooner if signs of irregular
or uneven tire wear appear. Have the vehicle checked by a qualified technician to
determine the cause of the wear problem. The first tire rotation is the most important.
Some examples of popular rotation patterns are shown in the diagrams shown here.
Do not include a “Temporary Use Only” spare tire in any of the rotation patterns
shown. If you have a matching full-size tire as a spare and wish to include it in
the rotation process, use one of the patterns shown. Insert the spare in the right
rear position and place the tire that would have gone on the right rear in the trunk
as the new spare.
Some tires cannot be rotated in the manners described. Such tires included uni-directional
tires and tires with asymmetric tread designs. Also, some vehicles may have different-sized
tires mounted on the front and rear axles, and these different-sized tires also
have rotation restrictions. Check your owner’s manual, or with your tire dealer
or tire manufacturer, for the proper rotation recommendations for these special
cases.