By Rick Popely, Cars.com
Routine maintenance can indirectly keep your car safe. Here's how.
The most frequent maintenance recommended by manufacturers are oil changes and tire rotations. At most service facilities, performing those two tasks usually involves putting a vehicle on a lift, and that gives the technician a chance to also check the steering, suspension, brake fluid, gas lines and other parts that are normally out of sight (and usually out of mind) for the owner. In addition, rotating the tires is an opportunity to inspect them for damage and allows looking at the brake pads and rotors.
Keeping track of all those systems certainly helps to ensure that you won't be stranded by the side of the road somewhere, potentially standing in harm's way.
Because regular oil and filter changes will extend the life of an engine, many owners make that the focus of their routine maintenance, and that is certainly valid.
But not having the tires rotated at the same time, or not rotating them on a regular basis invites trouble.
First, the tires are the only parts that touch the road, so they must be kept in good shape. Second, rotating them extends their life.
Rotating the tires also gives a technician a chance to fully inspect them for wear or damage. When the tires are on a vehicle, you may not be able to see a nail that's stuck in the tread or physical damage. Excessive or uneven tread wear is usually an indication of alignment, suspension or steering issues that might need to be fixed to prevent further wear or a tire blowout.
Cynics might say that putting a vehicle on a lift at some service facilities gives unethical mechanics license to gouge unwary owners. If in doubt, you should get a second opinion. It's far better to be safe than sorry.
