Tyre Rotation

To operate optimally, modern cars require tyre rotation at 10 000km intervals.

- Jake Venter

In days gone by, tyre rotation used to be optional. Today, it is almost essential. Tyre wear changes the diameter of a tyre slightly, and a modern car may misbehave unless all four wheels have almost exactly the same diameter.

THE CASE FOR NON-ROTATION

If you decide not to rotate, you need buy only two tyres at a time. But inevitably, one set of wheels will then have less traction than the other, a problem that shows up on a wet surface.

If the car is a front-wheel drive, the front tyres will wear out faster, and the car will tend to break away at the front on a wet road. Most drivers will reduce the throttle opening, which is the correct thing to do

If the car is a rear-wheel drive, the rear tyres will wear out faster and the car will tend to break away at the rear. Very few drivers know that they have to reduce throttle and countersteer at the same time, making this a more dangerous situation.

In addition, any of the tyres could develop a wear pattern that causes tyre noise and vibration, reducing tyre life.