Tire rotation is one of the easiest procedures to get done on your car, at least relatively speaking. It takes less time than an oil change, does not require any new parts, and most importantly costs less than basically anything else you can have done to your car. But how do you know when you need one?

Well, there are a few ways to know when to get a tire rotation. And since tire rotations are necessary for keeping your car rolling on the road, it is not only a great skill to learn how to spot one, but it is a great starting point for learning how to take care of your car. So, here is a few ways to spot when it is time to get one.

Uneven Wear on Your Tires

This one is subtle, but it is a great indicator of what is going on with your tires. The thing about this tip is that it is great for getting into the “car care” mentality. Most people do not invest much energy or attention into their cars because cars feel so chaotic. How are you supposed to keep track of everything that can go wrong?

Well, it will feel like a lot at first, but cars can only be in so many situations. This is never more obvious than when you look at your tires and see uneven wear on them. All of your tires are going through the same environments, all the time. They should look almost identical.

Even though there is a lot going on with cars, some things are consistent, such as wear and tear.

Frequent Tire Pressure Loss

This is a problem that can develop quickly, so it is best to pick up on it fast. Unrotated tires can put a lot of strain on one particular tire, making it wear down much faster than the others. This will manifest itself in that tire flattening quickly. You do not want your tire popping, so address this as soon as you can.

Vibration in Your Vehicle

There are a lot of things inside your car that can cause it to tremble and shake. Transmission issues, engine misfires, and so on and so forth. But when your tires are unstable, the trembling in your vehicle will feel quite different. Rather than just shaking all around, it will feel like your vehicle is almost waving side to side.

You Have Gone 10,000 Miles Without a Rotation

This “sign that you need a tire rotation” is less obvious than the others. Because if you have gone 10,000 miles without getting your tires rotated, it might not seem like you need a rotation at all. But that is because this is the most preemptive of all the ways you can identify an issue with your tires.

Oil needs to be changed every 5,000 miles, air filters need to be replaced every 15,000 miles, and tires need to be rotated every 10,000 miles. Fortunately, this means you do not have to be doing everything at once. Instead, you have a road map of what you need to be doing every 5000 miles.