Have you ever noticed that tires are the only part of your vehicle that comes in direct contact with the road? That’s why good tire performance is essential. Tires impact steering, the smoothness of your ride and even fuel economy. When something matters this much to your safety and comfort, we pay special attention to it. Because at Jiffy Lube®, providing attentive tire maintenance is how we roll.
SO, WHAT IS A TIRE ROTATION?
Simply put, it’s periodically changing the position of each tire. Think of your vehicle as a rectangle. The weight is not distributed evenly to all four corners, so tires wear differently depending on their position. Similarly, the tire’s position determines the job it has to do and contributes to the wear that occurs. For example, the tires on the front of a Front-Wheel Drive (FWD) vehicle take a greater portion of the torque and friction needed to turn, accelerate and brake. Regularly rotating your tires helps them wear more evenly.
REGULAR ROTATION ENHANCES TIRE PREFORMANCE
Since they wear more evenly, regularly rotated tires retain their traction for a longer period of time. This enables the tires to hug the road better, giving you greater control — which is especially important on wet or icy roads. What driver doesn’t want to feel more secure behind the wheel?
There are more benefits of tire rotation, too:
On vehicles equipped with All-Wheel Drive (AWD), unevenly worn tires can place added stress on the drive train. Regularly rotating your tires not only extends tire longevity, it helps reduce wear on expensive drivetrain components.
By helping prevent premature wear, a tire rotation can prolong tire life.
When the time comes, you can replace all four tires as a set, rather than in pairs. Purchasing four tires at once is easier than trying to match a pair of older tires with new ones.
Now that we’ve answered the question what is a tire rotation and why it’s a good idea, the next logical question is when should it be done? You should rotate your tires as recommended by the tire manufacturer, usually every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. If you can’t find the manufacturer’s recommendations, feel free to ask a trained Jiffy Lube technician for advice. Since oil changes are often scheduled approximately every 6,000 miles, it could be convenient — and a good way to help maintain tire tread and traction — to have your tires rotated whenever you bring your vehicle in for the Jiffy Lube Signature Service® Oil Change.
WHY CHOOSE JIFFY LUBE?
A Jiffy Lube technician will change the position of your tires, as recommended for your particular vehicle and your particular tires. For example, the rotation of directional tires should be handled differently from non-directional tires. Directional tires, often favored by drivers with performance cars, are designed with a tread pattern that should only rotate in one direction. Therefore, they should only be rotated from front to back on the same side of the car. Non-directional tires can be moved from front to back or left to right.
Not sure what kind of tires you have or which way they should be rotated? You don’t have to know! Jiffy Lube technicians have completed state-of-the-art computer-based instruction, supervised on-the-job training and proficiency testing. You can feel confident that when you bring your vehicle to a Jiffy Lube location, you’ll be in good hands.
Let’s look at what tire rotation is at Jiffy Lube. It all starts with a conversation. Surprised? Don’t be. Knowing how you drive (do you regularly carry heavy loads?) and where you drive (on gravel, dirt, tar or asphalt?) can help the Jiffy Lube technician give your tires the proper attention they deserve.
Then that attention turns to your vehicle:
Tire treads are checked for both depth and condition
Sidewalls (both inner and outer) are visually inspected
Tires are inflated to the proper level, as indicated in the vehicle owner’s manual or on the tire placard (or sticker) in the doorjamb or glove box
The vehicle goes up on a lift
All four tires are removed
Tires are moved (rear to front and front to rear, or right to left and left to right)
Tires are installed and their fasteners are torqued to manufacturer specifications
As an additional safety check, fastener torque is rechecked by a second member of the team
WHAT IS WHEEL BALANCING, AND DO YOU NEED IT?
Also known as tire balancing, it’s a bit different from tire rotation. A Jiffy Lube technician will attach weights to your vehicle’s wheels and spin balance them until they are within manufacturer specifications. Is your vehicle vibrating or shaking as you roll along? Your wheels may be out of balance, and this service was developed to solve the problem. Why endure bumps if you don’t have to? Wheel balancing can be added to your tire rotation service after you discuss it with the technician. Rest assured, no work will be done without your full knowledge and consent.
REMEMBER, YOU CAN ALWAYS TURN TO JIFFY LUBE FOR PREVENTATIVE MAINTENANCE
The team at Jiffy Lube help you follow the tire industry’s recommendations so your car, truck, SUV or minivan can retain its “as designed” performance.