Why You Should Get A Tire Rotation With Your Next Speedy Oil Change
Even with all the technological advances that the automobile industry has developed to make vehicles safer and more secure theres one thing that hasnt changed since the days of the Ford Model A: tires are the only parts that touch the road.
That means that tires are still the some of the most important components of your vehicle. And that means that regular tire maintenance during a speedy oil change is one of the best ways to make sure that your automobile is operating in as safe a manner as possible.
But youve probably heard all that before from your speedy oil change technician. And youve probably heard from that speedy oil change technician that rotating your tires regularly is essential to keeping your tires running at the optimal level. Getting regular tire rotations is an easy maintenance procedure that can be done during a speedy oil change and can help a vehicles fuel efficiency increase the level of safety and lengthen the life of your tires.
But what does tire rotation actually mean? What does it do? After all dont tires rotate all the time when the vehicle is in motion?
Yes they do. But thats not really what tire rotation as it is called during a speedy oil change means. Tire rotation simply means speedy oil change technicians swap your front tires for your back ones. The rims arent removed and no new tires are added. Some cars like certain sports cars and hot rods have rear tires that are larger and different from the front. So tire rotation at a speedy oil change is unavailable for those vehicles. But if you have a normal car truck or SUV then getting a tire rotation at your next auto change service should not be a problem.
But why should do you this? Why does the simple swapping of tires during a speedy oil change help those tires last longer? And why is it safer? Arent you just using the same old tires?
Yes you are. But keep in mind that most vehicles are either frontwheel drive or rearwheel drive. A car that features a frontwheel drive will demand more from the front tires because things like acceleration and braking all fall on the front tires. Since they do all the work theyll get more wear and tear than the tires in back which are allowed to take it easy. Rearwheel drives of course experience the opposite situation where the back pair takes the brunt of abuse.
And tire rotation during a speedy oil change can even benefit fourwheel drive vehicles. Even though theres a more even division of labor between the wheels on a fourwheel drive there are still significant differences in the way front tires operate when compared to the back tires. And its a good idea to swap sides as well as tires can experience wear depending on which side of the vehicle theyre on. Thats why most speedy oil change technicians will swap sides when they move the back tires to the front.
Most speedy oil change centers also offer lowcost or free tire rotation services for the entire life of your vehicles tires. These programs are usually a good idea. Speedy oil change and tire dealers want your business so theyll often give you breaks on things like tire rotation service. You might have to pay more if youre still using the original tires that came with your vehicle but those should be able to be rotated with a speedy oil change.
So how often should you have your vehicles tires rotated? The consensus from speedy oil change technicians seems to be that if you are using synthetic oil which requires less frequent changes then a tire rotation at every speedy oil change will keep your tires healthy and your car safe. If youre using regular petroleumbased oil then every other speedy oil change will do. In other words you should have your tires rotated anywhere between 6000 to 10000 miles.
These standards are usually adhered to when you schedule regular service checks with your speedy oil change center or dealership. Since they may keep track of your mileage and your service schedule you wont have to worry too much about your tire rotation schedule.
One easy additional automobile service that should be performed with every tire rotation at a speedy oil change is checking the tire pressure. The raising and lowering of surrounding air temperature like the changes that take place in the summer and winter will often make the air pressure in the tires increase or decrease. These fluctuations can cause strain on a vehicles tires and if left unchecked can lead to tire failure. But not all tires will lose pressure at the same rate. Again factors like the tires placement on the car on the front as opposed to the rear and the amount of wear of the tire can also affect the internal pressure of that particular tire. In other words you may have three tires with an adequate pressure and one thats in need of some air. A tire with less than optimal tire pressure can create a dip in fuel efficiency thus a greater chance of tire puncture and dangerous situations like insufficient car handling and breaking.
If you think that your cars tires may not have optimal tire pressure the good news is that checking tire pressure can easily be done at home or at any speedy oil change center. All that is required is a tire gauge that can be bought at most hardware and drug stores for just a couple of bucks.
But new tires arent cheap. A set of four tires can set you back 250 to 800 depending on your vehicles specifications which is why it is important to extend the life of your tires. An average car will have to have its tires changed every 30000 to 75000 miles which usually means getting a new set of tires every two to four years.
So how do you know when it is time to get a new set of tires? Most speedy oil change service technicians will recommend a decidedly easy and lowtech test. Take a penny and stick it into one of your tires treads with Lincolns head going in first. If you can still see the top of his head it means less than 2/32 of tread depth is remaining and it is time to get a new set of tires.
When you get your tires rotated your speedy oil change service technicians get the chance to glimpse inside your car and discover any other important automotive issues such as suspension problems. If your speedy oil change service technician finds uneven tread along your tires it could mean a vehicles improper alignment or some other steering problem.
Regular tire rotation and general tire maintenance can result in a healthier car that enjoys a long and efficient life. Youll also have peace of mind knowing that you are doing all you can to keep your vehicle running safely.
About the writer:nbsp;nbsp;Tim LaGanke Jr. is president of QuickChange Oil a 10 minute oil change company in Cleveland Ohio. QuickChange is currently seeking applicants to own an oil change franchise.
gankquickchangeoil.com
Related posts: