Tire Rotation Service

What is a Tire Rotation?

A tire rotation is the routine processes of moving your tires from one position on the vehicle to another to ensure even wear. During the tire rotation procedure, we will:

• Rotate the tires straight back from front to rear and rear to front unless a different rotation pattern would be appropriate for your vehicle and the condition of your tires.
• Inspect the tires for signs of damage and premature wear.
• Check for punctures from nails, screws or other debris.
• Inspect the sidewall for heat rings or impact breaks that might indicate the tire is damaged internally.
• Remove larger stones and debris that might be stuck in the tread to prevent future punctures.
• Check for uneven wear patterns that might indicate there are worn mechanical parts such as shocks or struts (tire rotations won’t correct a mechanical problem caused by worn out parts).
• Set the air pressure in all tires to the vehicle manufacturers recommended inflation.
• Visually inspect your brakes and other parts that are easy to see when the tires are off the car.
• Hand torque the lug nuts.

How Often Should I Rotate My Tires?

Most vehicle and tire manufacturers recommend that you rotate your tires every 5,000 to 8,000 miles even if they do not show signs of uneven wear. For your convenience, we recommend that you schedule your tire rotation “On the Fives,” (60,000, 65,000, 70,000, 75,000 etc…) and get your oil changed at the same time.

Why Should I Rotate My Tires?

• Regular tire rotations will help all four of your tires wear at an equal rate and will minimize wear patterns that could affect ride quality, tread pattern noise, and stopping distance.
• The tires on the front axle of a vehicle need to accomplish vastly different tasks than the tires on the rear axle. This can result in built in wear patterns if the tires sit in one position for too long.
• Each wheel position on a vehicle may experience different types of wear and differing wear rates.
• It’s important to catch irregular wear patterns early, as going too long between rotations may make the irregular wear pattern permanent. Plus, irregular wear is a red flag for misalignment, which could wear your tires out very quickly.
• As a tire’s tread wears down, all four tires will respond to the driver’s steering and braking inputs more quickly if they have equal tread depths.
• Rotating tires helps maintain a tire’s handling and cornering capabilities.
• Vehicle and tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires in sets of four so that the handling and corning capabilities engineered into the tire will be maintained in all four corners of the vehicle.
  

How Much Does a Tire Rotation Cost?

Suburban Tire will rotate your tires for FREE if you have bought your tires from us and call ahead to make an appointment. If you purchased your tires elsewhere, or if you still have the original tires on the car, we charge $20 or a batch of warm cookies for most cars and light trucks. Tire rotations for box trucks and heavy-duty work trucks are $40 whether you bought the tires from us or not.

More About Our Tire Rotation Service

• Minor differences in tread depth of one or two 32nds between the front and rear tires will not disrupt the vehicle’s hydroplaning balance and should not stop you from rotating tires. However, If the difference in tread depth between the front and rear tires is greater than 2/32nds of an inch, our policy is to not rotate the tires, as it may cause vehicle instability in wet weather conditions.
• Many tire mileage warranties require routine tire rotations to keep the warranty valid. If neglected, you can expect that any tread life warranty on your tires will not be honored by the manufacturer.
• Every year, we get busy around the time of the first significant snow fall. Because getting a tire rotation is not an emergency and can be deferred for a bit, during the first few weeks of winter weather we may ask you to postpone your tire rotation appointments so that we can serve our customers who urgently need service or tires for safe winter driving. We apologize in advance for any inconvenience.
• After we rotate your tires, you may notice changes in the ride characteristics of the tires as the tire’s tread evens out and they adjust to their new position on the vehicle. If the ride quality seems significantly worse and stays that way, please bring your vehicle back so we can see what is up.
  

What is The Proper Tire Rotation Pattern?

As shown in the diagram below, the standard tire rotation pattern is to move the tires straight back from front to rear and rear to front, but there are numerous other tire rotation patterns that might be better suited to your vehicle needs. When you arrive for your appointment, you can consult with one of our seasoned tire professionals to determine which rotation pattern is best for your vehicle.