Perhaps not many drivers realize that the only contact that their vehicle has with the blacktop is those four relatively tiny patches under each tire.
Tire technology has indeed kept pace and brought about better tire compounds with enhanced traction, increased wet weather grip, fuel economy, and better tire lifespan to keep us safe.
However, the responsibility of caring for your vehicle's tires to keep everyone safe still rests on the shoulders of vehicle owners. Read on as we share some important advice on Mazda tire rotation.
What is Tire Rotation?
Mazda tire rotation is simply the regular rotating of your vehicle's tires from back to front and from side to side to ensure even wear on all tires.
Why is Mazda Tire Rotation Necessary?
Whether your Mazda is front-wheel drive, rear-wheel drive, or all-wheel drive, the power and torque your engine produces is transmitted through the tires to get you moving.
Along with acceleration duties, your tires help your vehicle to grip the road surface in turning left or right, during braking and coming to a stop.
All those actions require the tire to provide traction or grip on the road surface, and in doing so, the rubber compounds of the tread wear out. Front-wheel drive-only vehicles will wear out their front tires quicker than those on the rear axle, and vice versa for rear wheel drive vehicles.
To get the most mileage and even wear out of the sets of tires, regular tire rotation offers owners many benefits.
Benefits for Vehicle Performance
Our vehicles need tires that perform at their best at all times to keep us safe on the roads.
Obviously, brand-new tires offer the best handling, braking and acceleration grip, along with the ability to disperse water in heavy rain. Still, these benefits can be extended by ensuring that the tires wear evenly, allowing the tires maximum tread area to be available for longer. This provides enhanced acceleration, braking and grip during cornering.
Along with regular tire rotation, your vehicle's tires will benefit from regular wheel alignment checks to ensure that the wheels are all running at the correct manufacturer's camber, toe in or toe out, and castor angle specifications and not subjecting the tires to unnecessary and uneven wear from misaligned wheels.
Your tires will offer better braking, acceleration, and handling performance for longer with the appropriate care. Plus, the risks of tire failure will be reduced.Â
There should be no compromises made when it comes to your family's safety and the safety of other road users.
Enhancing Tire Lifespan
Unfortunately, too many vehicle owners see putting on new tires as a grudge purchase to avoid at all costs, often resulting in the purchase of tires being put off until the very last moment, which is not the greatest approach to safety.
Enhanced tire lifespan as a result of regular tire rotation is a great way to save money by avoiding the need for premature replacement.
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Recommended Mazda Tire Rotation Schedule
Mazda recommends that owners rotate their vehicle's tires every 5,000 miles to assist in increasing tire life and to distribute tire wear more evenly.
The regular tire rotation schedule is also a great time to inspect the tires for any uneven wear patterns and damage that reduces the tires' ability to provide the best possible grip and handling.
Mazda Tire Rotation Patterns
Along with the recommended tire rotation interval, Mazda's engineers have also established Mazda tire rotation patterns that you should follow.
Front-to-Back
The front tires are moved to the rear and the rears are brought to the front with the tires remaining on the same side. This rotation method is used if your tires are of the directional variety, as they should only be rotated from front to back or vice-versa on the same side of the vehicle.
Cross Pattern
The cross pattern is a good option for front-wheel drive Mazda vehicles, with the front-driven tires moving to the rear but staying on their side while the rear tires move to the front but cross sides as this is done.
A variation of this pattern is used on AWD vehicles or rear-wheel drive vehicles with the rotation pattern as follows: the left rear goes to the right front, the right rear goes to the left front, and the right front goes to the left rear.
Side-to-Side
Uneven wear across the tread width may necessitate swapping tires from side to side but keeping them on the respective front or rear axles.
Choosing the Right Pattern for Your Mazda
Taking your car to any authorized Mazda Service will remove any doubt as to what Mazda tire rotation pattern to use, as Mazda's technicians are trained to carry out all services according to Mazda's OEM requirements.
Owners should also consult their Mazda owner manual to establish the correct tire rotation for their particular model when they are not 100 percent certain about how to rotate the tires.
Signs It's Time for a Tire Rotation
A visual inspection will reveal any uneven wear between tires, unusual vibrations when driving, and experiencing the vehicle pulling to one side, which are all clear signs that a tire rotation is needed.
When to Seek Professional Help
If you suspect that your tires have not been rotated for a while and display any of the signs mentioned above, or you simply cannot remember when last it was done, it's best to take your vehicle to a specialist tire workshop or book your vehicle in at a Mazda dealership for a complete Mazda tire rotation service.
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Schedule Your Tire Rotation with Central Mazda
Delaying your Mazda's tire service can easily result in damage to your Mazda's tires and suspension.
Rather, schedule a service with our professional service team at Central Mazda in Plainfield, CT, an authorized Mazda Dealer where we will provide the best possible service for your Mazda, including tire rotation and wear checks to ensure your continued safety and to maintain your vehicle's best performance.
