How to Lengthen the Life of Your Tires

Ah, winter in Wisconsin. The snow collects, the snow melts, the temperature rises to a sunny and warm 35 degrees, and just when we think we’re in the clear—whammo! We get hit with the sad realization that spring won’t actually arrive until maybe July around here. (March 20, the spring solstice, is simply a lie!)

So, being that it is still winter, how has your car been handling in the snow? If you’ve been noticing some extra slipping and sliding, your tires may be too worn. And if you notice yourself buying new tires more often than you think you should, it’s time to evaluate how you take care of your current ones.

The easiest way to lengthen the life of your tires is to have them regularly rotated. This is something my own father never fails to interrogate me about, so I’m passing the information on so he can ask you, too. Rotating your tires means that all four will wear down at roughly the same pace; not rotating your tires means that one or more (usually your front tires) will wear faster than the rest, and you’ll be buying just one or two new tires at irregular times, wasting your time and money.

Your tires may have specific guidelines on how often they should be rotated, but in general, you want to get it done every 5,000-10,000 miles. Make it easy and save yourself some time by requesting a rotation with your regular oil change (of course, if your car only needs an oil change once a year or every 12,000 miles, you’ll need to make an extra trip or two to your mechanic).

If you’re not already on a regular rotation schedule, when it’s time to buy new tires, look for a dealer that offers free rotations when you purchase a full set from them. For example, if you purchase a full set of 4 tires after Jan. 1, 2010 here at Concours, you’ll get free rotations for the life of the tires! It makes rotation a no-brainer, leaving you no excuses not to get it done and keeping you safe on the road all year long.