August 10, 2021
6 Patterns for Rotating Vehicle Tires
Photo by cottonbro studio under Pexels License
Tire rotation and tire balancing are among the most important aspects of vehicle maintenance. They can preserve the balanced handling of your car and maintain its traction. This is essential, particularly when driving along slippery roads.
Tire rotation and tire balancing also help you prevent tire wear, thus prolonging your tires’ lifespan.
Tire rotation should be done based on the recommended schedule as specified in your vehicle owner’s manual. Typically, it is done every 5,000 to 7,000 miles of your car’s mileage. For some vehicles, manufacturers require tire rotation for the continued validity of the warranties they provide.
Here are two specific reasons why tire rotation should be done.
- Achieve proper alignment.
To ensure that your tires wear evenly, you need to perform tire rotation to ensure proper tire alignment. Tires that do not wear evenly are prone to damage that will adversely affect your car’s performance.
- Ensure balance.
Tires that are not balanced cause unnecessary vibrations in your car, prematurely damaging your tires and affecting your driving performance.
The 6 Patterns of Tire Rotation
Different types of vehicles require different tire rotating patterns. Here are 6 patterns based on the types of vehicles.
- Front-wheel drives
Rotate the tires in a forward cross pattern. You can also adopt the X pattern.
- Four-wheel drives
Rotate the tires in a rearward cross pattern figure. Alternatively, you can also use an X pattern.
- Same-sized directional wheels
For vehicles with directional tires, the front to rear pattern is adopted for alignment.
- Different sized and non-directional wheels
For vehicles that have different sized non-directional wheels on the front axle and the rear axle, the side-to-side pattern is adopted.
- Fifth wheel
If your vehicle’s spare tire matches the size of the actual tires, it should also be included in the rotation. For front-wheel-drive cars, rotate the tires in a forward cross pattern. For rear-wheel or four-wheel drives, rotate the tires in a rearward cross pattern.
- Dual rear wheels
For vehicles that have dual rear wheels, use a rotation pattern that looks like two triangles, one on the driver’s side and one on the passenger’s side. Move the outer dual tire to the inner position, the inner dual tire to the steer position and the steer tire to the outer dual position. Do this for each side.
3 Steps in Balancing Wheels
Wheel balancing is done in three steps. It requires a balancing machine in a vehicle servicing center.
- Step 1: The tire mounted on a wheel is attached to a tire balancing machine.
- Step 2: The wheel is spun and vibration measurements are noted. This determines if the weight is spread evenly.
- Step 3: If an imbalance is determined, the technician rebalances and adjusts the weight.
How to Solve Your Clunker Problems
If you have a car that not only has damaged tires but other defects as well and you’ve been told by your mechanic that you’ll need to shell out a fortune for its repairs — with no guarantee that they would solve all your car problems — perhaps it’s time to get that clunker off your hands. Trying to resell it might only cause more trouble than you can imagine while sending it to the junk shop will be such a waste. What’s your best option? Simply donate it to a charity that supports a worthy cause and one that will give you the best benefits.
When you hand over your old and unwanted vehicle to us at Veteran Car Donations, we will use it to improve the lives of the suffering veterans in your local area.
These are the heroes who fought and risked their lives for us so we can live in freedom and peace. Sadly, many of them are suffering from homelessness, chronic unemployment, disabilities, and illnesses, including mental health problems.
We’ll sell your donated vehicle through an auction and use the proceeds to support the vital programs and services being provided by our veteran-focused charity partners to their beneficiaries. These IRS-approved 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations provide deserving veterans and their families with free quality health care, financial aid, housing assistance, employment opportunities, family support, educational scholarships, psychotherapy services, and many other benefits.
It’s so easy to donate a vehicle to us; we’ll take care of most of the work for you! Simply give us a call through our toll-free line at 877-594-5822 and one of our donation specialists will walk you through our donation process.
Donating to Veteran Car Donations entitles you to receive valuable rewards, such as getting free professional towing service and the maximum tax deduction. You’ll benefit just as much as the needy vets in your area when you donate to us!
We’re not choosy on the type and condition of the vehicle you intend to donate. We accept nearly all vehicle types, including those that won’t even start anymore.
You can donate wherever you are since we operate in all 50 states.
Head over to our FAQs page to find more information about our mission, donation process, and other important information. If you have certain inquiries not found on that page, feel free to give us a ring at 877-594-5822 or send us a message online.
Turn Your Headache-Giver into a Life-Changer
Free yourself from the trouble of owning a run-down vehicle that’s giving you nothing but headaches. Transform it instead into a life-changing instrument that will benefit the needy veterans in your area. Call Veteran Car Donations at 877-594-5822 or fill out our online donation form today!
Last Updated: March 8th, 2023