Tire Rotation Service

Tire Rotations at Stanley Ford Gilmer

Even if your automobile is properly aligned, you should rotate your tires for optimal wear performance. Wheel rotation compensates for the uneven wear characteristics of each wheel position on the vehicle. If your vehicle's manufacturer does not advocate rotating your tires on a regular basis, you should take your car to a reliable tire shop or automotive service center every 5,000 to 7,000 miles. All of your tire needs will be met by the professional service technicians at Stanley Ford Gilmer. If you're in the Gilmer, Tyler, or Longview areas, stop by and let our staff check your tire wear and air pressure and make sure you’re driving safely at all times.

Service Specials

Schedule Service

Front-Wheel and Rear Wheel Drive Vehicle

All of the power is directed to the front wheels, leaving the back wheels to just roll. The rear-wheel-drive distributes power to the back wheels while the front wheels steer. Front-wheel-drive cars apply the brake, turning, and driving forces to the front axle tires. Because the front axle tires are subjected to significantly larger braking forces than the rear axle tires, they wear out much faster. Another way to look at it is pushing vs. pulling. A rear-wheel-drive car pushes forward from the back wheels, whereas a front-wheel-drive vehicle pulls forward from the front wheels. While many sedans and SUVs are configured this way, finding a front-wheel-drive truck can be challenging. Trucks and high-performance cars frequently use the rear-wheel drive.

Four-Wheel Drive

Vehicles with permanent four-wheel drive and "on command" four-wheel-drive that is driven mostly in four-wheel-drive mode are the ideal candidates for a four-tire cross rotation. In this manner, the tires from both axles are crossed and placed on the opposing axle. Straight rotation was invented in the early days of radial tires. This approach rotates the tires from front to rear but not side to side; it is used for tread patterns with directed tread patterns. If your spare tire is a matched full-size tire rather than a temporary spare, move it to the right rear position to keep it in rotation. Then, in the spare location, insert the tire that would have gone to the right rear.

Modified Cross Rotation

The "Modified Cross Pattern" can be performed by any front- or rear-wheel drive vehicle with four non-directional tires (directional tires must be rotated front to rear only). The free-rolling axle tires are crossed and mounted on the drive axle, while the drive axle tires are carried straight to the free-rolling axle (without crossing). As the expression goes, "cross to drive." Directional treads are designed to only work in the direction stated on the sidewall of the tire. To ensure that the rotation orientation does not change, they must always be turned front to back, regardless of the vehicle on which they are mounted.

Proper Alignment Maintenance

If your car's wheels are out of alignment, your tires will wear unevenly, leading to premature tire replacement. A car that is out of alignment could be a sign of additional mechanical problems that are affecting tire performance. For the greatest results, choose a company that uses precise computer-assisted technology and get a printout of the adjustment angles for your service records.