Tires & Wheels: Tire Rotation
Description: Tire rotation refers to the regular practice of switching the position of each tire on the car.
Purpose: Tire rotation helps to equalize tread wear and is critical to gain the maximum life from your tire investment.
Maintenance Tips/Suggestions: Refer to your owner’s manual for the recommended rotation interval and pattern; generally a rotation interval of 6,000 miles is recommended. The rotation pattern varies with different makes and models, which shows the tire locations during rotation. Some vehicles have different size tires on the front and back or directional tires. This limits the locations that a tire may take on the vehicle. When in doubt, check the owner’s manual or consult one of our professional technician for guidance. Tire rotation time also offers a good opportunity to have the tires and wheels balanced. It’s another step you can take to maximize your tire investment.
What do those numbers on your tires represent?
The numbers in the tire size refer to its width, aspect ratio, and wheel diameter. “185/75R14″ means the tire is 185 mm wide, has an aspect ratio (that is, the width divided by the height) of 75%, and fits on a 14” rim.
“R” means radial tire. They’re all radials nowadays. Speed ratings are usually inserted before the “R.” The most common speed ratings are HR (good for 130mph), VR (149 mph), and ZR (more than 149 mph).
Featured Tires:
Servicing all of your tire needs from tire repair or replacement to wheel alignment, tire balancing, and rotation. While we are servicing your tires, we can inspect your brakes and suspension.
We offer a wide range of tires for your vehicle. Let our professionals help you find the right tires for your car.
Improve your vehicle’s handling, increase tire life, and drive with safety by checking your tires every month to insure that they are inflated with the right amount of air pressure.
TPMS – Tire Pressure Monitoring System
As part of the effort to increase awareness of the need to maintain proper tire pressure, the U.S. government has taken steps to make it easier for drivers to be aware of potentially unsafe low pressure in their tires. As of the 2008 model year, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) now requires that all passenger cars and light trucks feature the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS). In conjunction with the new requirements, the Alliance of Automobile Manufacturers (AAM) has initiated a consumer safety campaign focusing on the importance of maintaining proper tire pressure.
We service Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS)
TPMS is an automated system that monitors the air pressure in a vehicle’s tires. When air pressure in one or more tires drops 25 percent or more below the correct pressure, a warning indicator alerts the driver. TPMS typically delivers these alerts to the driver through one of two types of warning lights on the dashboard.
1. The first uses the official TPMS symbol, which is a cross-section of a tire with an exclamation mark in the center.
2. The second is a top-view graphic image of a car that indicates which tires are low.
Tire pressure is monitored through one of two methods: direct or indirect. Direct TPMS monitors the actual air pressure inside each tire via a sensor mounted within the tire. Indirect TPMS measures tire pressure by monitoring the speed and rotation of each individual wheel. When a significant variation in speed and rotation is detected in one or more wheels when compared with the others, it is often an indication of underinflation. This information is then transmitted to the vehicle’s on-board computer, and the driver is alerted.
However, while TPMS systems offer increased safety to drivers through low pressure warnings, they are not meant to be a substitute for proper tire pressure maintenance.
We service Tire Pressure Monitoring Systems (TPMS)
Sources: NHTSA, AAM, Intelligent Tire Conference