Tyre rotation should be done every 5000km.
If you bring your car to the authorised dealer for servicing, tyre rotation is something they’ll automatically do.
You’ll even see a label on the inside of your windscreen. It tells you when the next tyre rotation is due.
The reminder is usually for tyre rotation to take place every 5000km. But why do we have to rotate them in the first place?
WE WANT BALANCED WEAR.
Tyre rotation is required because your car’s tyres don’t wear evenly. That is to say, some tyres experience greater wear than others.
But we’ll get to that later.
Rotating your tyres regularly allows them to wear evenly. Having tyres that are more worn than others is dangerous!
Imagine a rear-wheel-drive car whose rear tyres are more worn than the front ones. The driver would have less traction at the back. This creates a possible oversteer scenario.
While great for drifting on a racetrack, this could lead to a fatal accident in everyday driving. Especially since we’re prone to rainy weather.
If the tyres wear evenly because tyre rotation is performed regularly, then you have a safer car. Conveniently, you also change sets of tyres, instead of just pairs.
WHY DO TYRES WEAR UNEVENLY?
There are many reasons. But the main one is because the front and rear tyres perform different functions.
The front tyres, for instance, undertake steering duties in addition to transferring power to the road. This is in the case of a front-wheel-drive car.
A very powerful rear-wheel-drive car, on the other hand, can wear out its rear tyres faster.
But generally speaking, the front tyres tend to wear faster. This is why tyre rotation is important.
WHAT ELSE MAKES THE FRONT TYRES WEAR OUT FASTER?
In most cars, apart from being steered, the front tyres also bear the extra weight of the engine.
And during braking, the front tyres have to deal with weight transfer as well. So, extra weight, braking, steering and power being put down on the road.
It’s a lot to deal with! So, be kind to your tyres. Rotation should be done every 5000km. This will help extend their service life.
