Whether on a smooth highway or a bumpy country road, your tires and suspension must be in top shape to keep you on the road. Regular tire rotations and wheel alignments are vital for extending the life of your tires and suspension. While these two services are typically scheduled and performed simultaneously and are essential to keeping your vehicle rolling along smoothly, they are two different services.
So, let's take a closer look and delve into the difference between having your tires rotated and your wheels aligned.
Tire Rotation
The primary purpose of a tire rotation is to extend the lifespan of your tires by ensuring they wear evenly. As the name implies, each tire on your vehicle is moved to a different position during a tire rotation. Rotating your tires helps balance the distribution of stress and pressure on each tire, promoting even tread wear.
Regular tire rotations are essential to maximize the lifespan of your tires and maintain peak performance. Tire rotations are a basic service, usually performed during routine maintenance, that ensures your tires wear evenly and contributes to better handling and traction.
Wheel Alignment
A wheel alignment helps improve your vehicle's handling, stability, and safety by adjusting the angles of your wheels. The process involves aligning the wheels vertically and horizontally according to the manufacturer's specifications to ensure that your wheels touch the ground properly while driving.
A wheel alignment ensures your steering wheel is centered and enhances stability during driving. In addition, regular wheel alignments prevent premature tire wear and ensure predictable handling.
Working Together
Tire rotations and wheel alignments are crucial to your vehicle's recommended maintenance schedule. While each is a unique service, we usually perform them together because they complement each other. At Subaru, certified technicians perform tire rotations and wheel alignments according to manufacturer specifications to ensure your vehicle responds and handles perfectly.
Regularly scheduling both services with our expert technicians keeps your vehicle safe and ensures your tires last longer. Contact our service center today to schedule your next tire rotation and wheel alignment.
