Is Wheel Alignment Necessary When Rotating Front and Rear Tires?
2 Answers
Wheel alignment is not necessary when rotating front and rear tires. The purpose of rotating tires is to ensure even wear across all four tires, thereby extending their service life. Situations that require wheel alignment include: 1. Tire pressure and tread wear issues; 2. Wheel vibration; 3. Vehicle pulling to one side; 4. Tire replacement; 5. Heavy steering wheel. The method for changing tires is: 1. Place the jack on the chassis support's designated position and use a wrench to loosen the screws diagonally; 2. Hook the jack with the support and attach the wrench to the end of the support, then rotate the wrench clockwise to lift the tire off the ground with the jack; 3. Remove the screws and take off the tire for replacement.
Generally speaking, swapping front and rear tires doesn't require a special wheel alignment! As an experienced auto mechanic, I've seen too many people waste money on this. Wheel alignment adjusts the suspension system - things like wheel camber and tie rods - which has nothing to do with changing tire positions. When you rotate tires, you're just moving the front wheels to the rear - the wheels themselves haven't changed. Unless your car has alignment issues like pulling to one side or uneven tire wear, there's no need to check the alignment. Just rotate your tires every 10,000 km to maintain even wear. Wheel alignment should be done periodically, say every 20,000 km, to prevent suspension problems. But doing it specifically for tire rotation? Not necessary - saves both time and money.
