Many car owners diligently change their oil, but still tend to overlook one important maintenance task: tire rotation. In fact, this simple habit plays a big role in maintaining driving comfort, performance, and safety. Tire rotation helps ensure that tread wear is more even, so that tires last longer.

In daily use, front tires generally work harder than rear tires. Braking, steering maneuvers, and power distribution cause front tires to wear out faster. If left unchecked, uneven wear can reduce tire grip, especially when driving on wet roads.

Uneven tire wear is not only a matter of shorter tire life, but also a safety risk. Decreased traction can cause skidding or aquaplaning, a dangerous condition where the tires lose contact with the road surface due to puddles. This is where tire rotation plays an important role in maintaining optimal performance.

However, tire rotation cannot be done randomly. The rotation pattern needs to be adjusted to the type of tires used. For non-directional tires, cross rotation can be done so that all tires experience different workloads. Meanwhile, for directional tires, the direction of rotation must be maintained, so rotation is only done from front to back on the same side.

If the vehicle uses a full-size spare tire, the spare tire can also be included in the rotation. The goal is simple: to ensure that all tires experience a relatively balanced level of wear. This way, tire performance is more consistent and tire replacement can be done simultaneously.

For maximum results, tire rotation should be done in conjunction with wheel alignment and balancing. Wheel alignment helps keep the wheels straight and precise, while balancing ensures that the wheels rotate smoothly without vibration. This combination of maintenance makes the car more comfortable to drive and allows the tires to perform optimally in various road conditions.

So, when performing routine maintenance, don't just focus on the engine. Make sure tire rotation is included in the maintenance list. Well-maintained tires are not only about efficiency, but also the key to safer and more comfortable travel every day.

Indonesia 🇮🇩

Jangan Asal Putar, Ini Panduan Rotasi Ban Mobil yang Benar

Banyak pemilik mobil rajin ganti oli, tapi masih suka melewatkan satu perawatan penting, yakni rotasi ban. Padahal, kebiasaan sederhana ini punya peran besar dalam menjaga kenyamanan, performa, dan keselamatan berkendara. Rotasi ban membantu memastikan keausan telapak terjadi lebih merata, sehingga usia pakai ban bisa lebih panjang.

Dalam penggunaan harian, ban depan umumnya bekerja lebih berat dibanding ban belakang. Proses pengereman, manuver setir, hingga distribusi tenaga membuat ban depan lebih cepat aus. Jika dibiarkan terus-menerus, keausan yang tidak merata bisa menurunkan daya cengkeram ban, terutama saat melaju di jalan basah.

Keausan ban yang tidak seimbang bukan cuma soal umur ban yang lebih pendek, tapi juga risiko keselamatan. Traksi yang menurun dapat memicu selip atau aquaplaning, kondisi berbahaya ketika ban kehilangan kontak dengan permukaan jalan akibat genangan air. Di sinilah rotasi ban berperan penting untuk menjaga performa tetap optimal.

Namun, rotasi ban tidak bisa dilakukan asal tukar. Pola rotasi perlu disesuaikan dengan jenis ban yang digunakan. Untuk ban non-directional, rotasi silang bisa dilakukan agar semua ban merasakan beban kerja yang berbeda. Sementara untuk ban directional, arah putaran harus tetap dijaga, sehingga rotasi cukup dilakukan dari depan ke belakang di sisi yang sama.

Jika kendaraan menggunakan ban serep berukuran penuh, ban cadangan juga bisa diikutsertakan dalam rotasi. Tujuannya sederhana, agar semua ban mengalami tingkat keausan yang relatif seimbang. Dengan cara ini, performa ban lebih konsisten dan penggantian ban bisa dilakukan secara bersamaan.

Agar hasilnya maksimal, rotasi ban sebaiknya dilakukan bersamaan dengan spooring dan balancing. Spooring membantu menjaga arah roda tetap lurus dan presisi, sementara balancing memastikan putaran roda tetap stabil tanpa getaran. Kombinasi perawatan ini membuat mobil lebih nyaman dikendarai dan ban bekerja secara optimal di berbagai kondisi jalan.

Jadi, saat melakukan servis rutin, jangan cuma fokus ke mesin. Pastikan rotasi ban masuk dalam daftar perawatan. Ban yang terawat bukan hanya soal efisiensi, tapi juga kunci utama perjalanan yang lebih aman dan nyaman setiap hari.