Beyond flat repairs and replacements, tires require regular maintenance to extend their road life and keep them performing their best. However, many drivers don’t realize the importance of tire maintenance, which can contribute to excessive wear and tear—and spending more money on tires over the lifetime of their vehicle. Here are three services you should have performed regularly to keep your tires in great shape for as long as possible.

Tire Rotation

Tire rotation refers to periodically changing the position of your tires to keep them wearing evenly. Tires tend to wear unevenly due to various factors, such as weight distribution, driving habits, and even road conditions. Front tires typically wear out faster than rear tires due to factors like steering, acceleration, and braking.

During tire rotation, the tires are removed and rotated to another position on the vehicle; the exact pattern they’re rotated in can vary depending on whether your vehicle is front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, all-wheel drive, or has a full-size spare tire.

By rotating the tires at regular intervals (usually every 5,000 to 7,500 miles), the wear is distributed evenly among all tires. This helps extend tire life, maintains proper traction, and enhances the overall performance and safety of your vehicle. Regular rotations also allow our technicians to visually inspect your tires for damage, check the air pressure, or see whether they need to be rebalanced.

If you notice any of the following signs, your tires may need to be rotated:

• Uneven wear
• Vibrations when traveling at 45 mph and higher
• Unexplained pressure loss in one of the tires
• Handling issues or loss of traction

Tire Balancing

Tire balancing is an important procedure that evenly distributes the weight around the tire and wheel assembly. This helps your tires rotate smoothly and uniformly as you drive and minimizes any vibrations that could impact your vehicle’s performance or comfort. In addition to reduced wear and a safer, more comfortable driving experience, tire balancing also helps minimize vibrations that can cause excess wear and tear on your suspension and steering components.

Balancing is needed because tire and wheel assemblies aren’t perfectly uniform; they can have manufacturing imperfections, or be affected by tire wear and other factors. Even minor irregularities can lead to imbalances of weight distribution, which need to be corrected by adding small counterweights to the wheel.

Balancing should typically be performed when you’re having new tires installed or experiencing issues like:

• Vibrations in the seats or steering wheel
• Unusual humming or buzzing noises while driving that gets louder as you pick up speed
• Wobbly handling or difficulty controlling your vehicle
• Uneven tire pressure

It’s also a good idea to have it be part of your regular maintenance—consider having your tires inspected and rebalanced every time they are rotated.

Wheel Alignment

Wheel alignments involve adjusting the angles of the wheel to the manufacturer’s specifications so that they’re perpendicular to the ground and parallel to each other. This helps optimize handling, increases tire longevity, and improves the overall performance of your vehicle.

 Misalignment can happen for various reasons: driving on rough or uneven roads, driving over potholes, hitting curbs, or getting into an accident. Regular wear and tear in the suspension system can also cause misalignment. When this happens, you may notice:

• Uneven tire wear
• Poor fuel efficiency due to increased rolling resistance
• Poor handling
• Your vehicle pulling to one side, even when driving straight
• The steering wheel is off-center

It’s generally recommended to have your vehicle’s wheel alignment checked every 24 to 30 thousand miles or as recommended in your vehicle’s manual. However, you should always have your alignment checked after a large impact on your tires or suspension, such as hitting a large pothole or curb or getting into a collision.

Schedule Your Tire Maintenance at Accurate Automotive Attention

Routine tire rotation, alignment, and balancing are essential for extending the life of your tires and improving fuel efficiency—but more importantly, they contribute to safer driving through better traction, handling, and braking. If you’re due for any of these services or have noticed any of the issues we mentioned, schedule an appointment at Accurate Automotive Attention!

Established in 1969, we’re Yuma’s only AAA-approved auto repair and service shop. We care about our customers and never put profit before people. Whether you visit us for a simple tire rotation or a major repair, your car will be treated as if it were our own. Contact us today at our Central Yuma location, or request an appointment online.

Want more great advice on saving money on car repairs? Order Russell McCloud’s book Knowledge is Power by clicking here.

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