You may be surprised, but many drivers believe the answer to this question is “no.” Walk around Glenwood, and you’ll see their neglected tires everywhere. Tires that haven’t been rotated develop black brake dust that covers the front wheels. According to the Glenwood tire rotation service, the front brakes on most cars are larger than the rear brakes, so they do most of the braking and produce more dust from the brake pads.

Regardless of the type of drive system your car utilizes, the tires need to be changed regularly, as the load on the front and rear tires is uneven, resulting in uneven tire wear. Most cars use front-wheel drive or have an all-wheel-drive system that mostly uses front-wheel drive. In both instances, the front tires handle a heavier load than the rear tires.

The front tires have to support the weight of the engine and transmission, which are typically mounted above the front axle. Applying the brakes shifts more weight to the front of the car. Acceleration and steering are also responsible for wear on the front tires. When the vehicle corners, the force transfers weight to the outside of the turn. You can see that in a front-wheel-drive vehicle, the rear tires don’t get stressed nearly as much as the front tires.

Vehicles that use rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive distribute weight more evenly than front-wheel drive vehicles. The rear tires handle more of the load, but the front tires must accommodate the engine’s weight and wear from steering.

Check your car’s owner's manual to find the tire rotation interval recommended by the manufacturer. At the Jim Cook Chevrolet Service Center, our service technicians will rotate your car’s tires when you come in for your scheduled maintenance visit.

There are a few rotation patterns that are used for different vehicles. The most common pattern for cars with front-wheel drive is one that moves the front tires to the back and transfers the back tires to the front. Then the new front tires move to opposite sides of the vehicle. Other patterns are used for vehicles with rear- and four-wheel drive. Vehicles with front and rear tires of different sizes change sides, but the front and rear tires don’t get switched.

No matter which type of car, SUV, truck or van you drive, bring it to the auto experts at the Jim Cook Chevrolet Service Center for your next tire rotation. Call us to schedule an appointment or use our website’s Service Appointment page. We’re just 15 minutes from Glenwood, at 1075 North Main Street in Marion. We’ll rotate your vehicle’s tires quickly and correctly, so you can drive safely.

Visit Jim Cook Chevrolet for all your automotive service needs. We look forward to seeing you soon!