Wheels certainly do go round – but ‘tyre rotation’ means switching up the position of tyres. It helps them to last longer, and it keeps the vehicle’s occupants safer because the tyres have better traction.

“A vehicle’s tyres should be rotated every 10,000km or so, and for those who drive a fair amount, that will probably coincide with their vehicle’s oil change and service,” says Chris Lett, owner of Branigans Tyres and a qualified auto engineer with decades of experience. “While the tyres are getting moved around, they can be thoroughly inspected for wear and damage and replaced if necessary and it’s also a good opportunity to get wheel balancing done.”

Why Tyre Rotation Works

Tyres don’t wear out evenly. In front-wheel-drive cars, the front tyres will bear the brunt of the torque and friction whenever the driver accelerates, brakes, or turns. As a result, they wear much faster than the rear tyres. If the front tyres are rotated to the rear of the car, the fresher rear tyres will go to the front, allowing for more even tyre wear and less frequent replacement. Apart from helping tyres to last the distance, even tread wear translates to better traction and better handling for a safer drive.

More Than One Way to Do It

There are different types of tyre rotation, and the one to choose depends on a lot of factors. The type of tyre wear to be expected from a front-wheel drive has already been discussed, but even a four-wheel drive or all-wheel drive needs tyre rotation.

The type and size of tyres is important. Some tyres are “directional” and some cars have different size tyres on the front and rear axles. There’s also the question of the spare tyre – if it’s a full-size tyre that can be included in the rotation. By looking at these factors, tyre professionals know which type of rotation to apply. Here’s a quick summary.

Non-Directional, Same Size

When all tyres are non-directional and of the same size, a rearward cross, forward cross, or X-pattern can be adopted.

Rearward cross rotation is good for four-wheel-drive and rear-wheel drive vehicles. The front tyres go to the rear axle and their sides are switched. The rear tyres go to the front axle and are kept on the same side. Forward cross rotation works the other way round as is usually best for front-wheel drive cars. X pattern rotation means that all tyres switch both axles and sides and is often used on light trucks with front-wheel drive.

Directional Tyres and High-Performance Tyres

So far, non-directional, same-size tyres have been covered, and it’s easy to understand how their rotation should be done. Directional tyres, and tyres that aren’t the same size on both axles are even easier since there are fewer options.

With directional tyres, sides cannot be switched, but it’s possible to switch axles, so this type of tyre rotation is termed front-to-back rotation. When a vehicle has different tyre sizes on the front and rear axles, tyres can be switched to opposite sides but should not be transferred from one axle to another.

Don’t Forget the Wheel Balancing

Wheel balancing is usually done along with tyre rotation, but it isn’t always a must. If motorists decide to do their own tyre rotation, they should look out for signs that their wheels need rebalancing. If they notice vibration on the steering wheel after tyre rotation, it’s a sure sign that the wheels need balancing.

Alternatively, drivers are welcome to leave the whole job to Branigans – it takes minutes and will save a lot of struggling with spanners plus the worry that wheel balancing might be out afterwards. “Many drivers don’t rotate their tyres at all,” says Chris. “They could save a substantial amount of money over time if they did.”  

Branigans Tyres has well-established workshops in Burleigh Heads and Southport in the Gold Coast region. Check out their full range of services or current featured promotions. Branigans award-winning affordable tyre subscriptions package start at $7.97 and help motorists budget for their ongoing tyre needs. To guarantee customer satisfaction when it comes to tyre servicing and vehicle maintenance, vehicle owners are encouraged to drive in at their convenience as no pre-bookings or appointments are required. The branches are Burleigh Heads: (07) 5535 2660 situated at 13 Flagstone Drive or Southport: (07) 5591 8633 situated at 1/277 Southport-Nerang Rd.

One of the best things about being kind to the environment is the fact that it can actually save you money. “When people talk about reducing emissions, for example,” says Chris, “they’re basically talking about improving fuel efficiency. And a more fuel-efficient car is going to get vehicle owners further for less.”

1.Branigan’s Specialty: Nearly New Tyres

It’s almost unbelievable that nearly-new tyres, even famous brand ones, are sometimes simply discarded. “A new car owner may decide to go for custom rims, or prefer a particular brand of tyres over the ones the car came with, and sometimes, brand-new cars might be involved in accident,” says Chris. “Whatever the reason, Branigans uncovered the reality that nearly-new tyres were being discarded.”

“While there have been some advances in environmentally-friendly tyre disposal, throwing away tyres that are practically new is simply a waste. Through motor industry contacts, Branigans Tyres Southport has acquired a number of sources that allows it to purchase tyres that are in good condition with tread depth still at 50 to 90 percent. Technicians inspect the tyres, and if they pass a thorough safety check, cost-savings are passed on to customers, along with a product that has environmental benefits.”

2. Maintaining the Car for Optimum Fuel Efficiency

Basic maintenance of a vehicle, be it regular servicing or wheel balancing and alignment not only help the car to run more smoothly and reliably, but optimise fuel efficiency. Less use of fuel equates to a greener ride plus money savings, so everybody benefits, including the planet itself. 

As an added benefit, being diligent with vehicle maintenance will extend the useful life of a car and help to get better resale prices if the owner opts for selling it to get a newer one. What’s more, with fewer components at risk of undue wear and tear, the overall cost of keeping a car on the road is reduced. 

3. Keep Tyres at the Right Pressure

Checking your tyre pressure at regular intervals and maintaining it to specification doesn’t just save on tyre wear – it also improves fuel efficiency. “It’s a simple thing to do,” says Mr Lett, and it’s also a green thing to do. You reduce waste from too-frequent tyre replacement, and you use less fuel. That means less pressure on a non-renewable resource as well as reduced emissions plus cost savings.” When drivers stop at the filling station, they should check the tyre pressure. It’s the right thing to do!

Caring for the Environment Means Caring for One’s Car – and it Saves Money

While vehicle owners might not be able to afford the latest in fuel-efficient, hybrid, or electric cars, simply taking care of the vehicle they already own will make a positive difference to the environment. Since it also reduces vehicle maintenance and running costs, it’s also good for their pocket. 

At Branigans Tyres, clients can be sure of leaving the workshop with all the wheel and tyre-related maintenance they need completed in line with the highest industry standards. They get nearly-new tyres with wheel balancing included in the cost, and they get their wheel alignment sorted out for a smoother, greener ride.

For further information, visit or call Chris and his team at Second Hand Tyres Gold Coast |Branigans Budget Tyres by contacting the Service Centres in Burleigh Heads (07) 5535 2660 or Southport (07) 5591 8633.

Syndicated by Baxton Media, The Market Influencers, Your Digital Marketing Agency.

Tyres don’t come cheap and knowing a few things about these babies will go a long way. That way, one can expect maximum performance and longevity from the tyres on a car.

• Fact #1 – The inscriptions on the sidewall of a tyre indicates the maximum pressure value. In a car, one should refer to the inner side of the door where the recommended tyre pressure value is mentioned. In this case, the recommended tyre pressure for the front and rear is 35 and 32 PSI respectively.

• Fact #2 – Chris also wanted to crack the myth about valve caps by saying that “valve caps do not prevent the tyre from losing air but are present to keep dust, water and mud from entering the valve and cause air loss.”

• Fact #3 – With low tyre pressure, the tread or grooves gets shut, or the gaps between the groove or tread become less and do not deliver optimum water discharge. As a result, the car could lock up and skid even more.

• Fact #4 – The tyre heats up when PSI is reduced which causes the tyre wall to flex or bend. It is imperative to maintain the company-recommended PSI even during the summer months.

• Fact #5 – During winter, one should look at increasing tyre pressure by 2 PSI for every three to four-degree drop in temperature. This is because the pressure of the tyre decreases by 1 PSI for every such drop in temperature and can shorten the life of the tyre and can lead to serious safety hazards.

• Fact #6 – Tyre patterns aren’t just there for aesthetic purposes. While a tyre’s tread pattern plays a key part in appearance, “its major role is actually to discharge water on wet surfaces, ” adds Chris.

• Fact #7 – The exterior surfaces of the sidewall and tread of the tyre can give only a hint about the tyre compound as there are many other layers beneath the exterior surface that gives the tyre its hard or soft compound characteristics.

• Fact #8 – Winter tyres are not just required on snow or icy roads. A vehicle driving in a location where the temperature is below 10 degrees, it is suggested to opt for winter tyres as these tyres have a more optimal tread pattern in addition to special rubber that prevents them from getting stiff due to the cold.

• Fact #9 – Air pressure should be checked weekly as tyres lose pressure naturally.
• Fact #10 – Slick tyres provide better grip and handling only in dry conditions because of a larger contact patch with the road surface. That is why one sees Formula 1 and MotoGP machines making use of tyres with no tread pattern. It is not advisable to install these tyres on regular cars as the vehicle may lose traction very easily on a wet surface.

For further information, visit or call Chris and his team at Second Hand Tyres Gold Coast |Branigans Budget Tyres by contacting the Service Centres in Burleigh Heads (07) 5535 2660 or Southport (07) 5591 8633.

Syndicated by Baxton Media, The Market Influencers, Your Digital Marketing Agency.