Keep Your Tires Wearing Evenly

Professional Tire Services in Columbia

Your tires wear unevenly when you drive the same routes through Columbia every day, especially with frequent turns, stop-and-go traffic, and the mix of highway miles and city streets that define your commute. Over time, the front tires handle more of the braking and steering forces, while the rear tires wear differently depending on whether your vehicle is front- or rear-wheel drive. That difference shows up as bald patches, reduced traction in rain, and a rougher ride that you feel through the steering wheel.

T&G Auto Repair LLC provides tire rotation, balancing, and installation to extend the life of your tires and keep your vehicle handling the way it should. Rotating your tires moves them to different positions on your vehicle so they wear more evenly across all four corners. Balancing corrects weight distribution so your tires spin smoothly without vibration. If your tires are worn beyond safe limits, we install new ones that match your vehicle's specifications and your driving conditions in Columbia.

If you've noticed vibration at highway speeds or uneven tread depth, contact T&G Auto Repair LLC to schedule tire service in Columbia.

What Happens During a Tire Service

When you bring your vehicle to our shop in Columbia, we remove each tire, inspect the tread depth and sidewall condition, and rotate them according to your vehicle's drive type and wear pattern. We then mount each tire on a balancing machine, which spins it to detect weight imbalances and tells us where to attach small lead weights to the rim. Once balanced, we reinstall the tires and torque the lug nuts to manufacturer specifications.

After the service, your steering wheel should feel steady at highway speeds, your vehicle should track straight without pulling to one side, and your tires should wear more evenly between rotations. Proper rotation and balancing also improve fuel efficiency by reducing rolling resistance, which means you'll spend less on gas during your daily drives around Columbia.

We recommend rotating your tires every 5,000 to 7,000 miles, which typically aligns with your oil change schedule. If you need new tires, we'll help you choose the right size and tread pattern for the roads you drive most often, whether that's interstates, rural highways, or city streets. Tire service doesn't include alignment correction, but we'll let you know if we notice signs that your alignment needs attention.

Questions About Your Tires Are Normal

These questions address the most common concerns we hear from drivers in Columbia before they schedule tire service.

Black arrow pointing to the right.
How do I know when my tires need to be rotated?
You should rotate your tires every 5,000 to 7,000 miles, or whenever you notice uneven tread wear between the front and rear tires. Most drivers align this service with their regular oil changes.
Black arrow pointing right.
What does tire balancing fix?
Balancing corrects uneven weight distribution in your tire and wheel assembly, which eliminates vibrations you feel in the steering wheel or seat at highway speeds. We use a computerized balancer and attach small weights to the rim to correct the imbalance.
Black arrow pointing right.
When should I replace my tires instead of rotating them?
You should replace your tires when the tread depth reaches 2/32 of an inch, when you see cords or belts showing through the rubber, or when the sidewalls have cracks or bulges. We measure tread depth during every rotation and let you know if replacement is necessary.
Black arrow pointing right.
Why do my front tires wear faster than the rear ones?
Front tires handle most of the braking force and all of the steering forces, so they wear faster on most vehicles. Regular rotation moves them to the rear before the wear becomes excessive, which extends the life of the full set.
Black arrow pointing to the right.
Can tire service improve my fuel economy?
Yes, properly inflated and balanced tires reduce rolling resistance, which helps your engine work less to maintain speed. You'll notice the difference most clearly on highway drives between Columbia and surrounding areas.

If your steering wheel shakes at highway speeds, your tires show uneven wear, or it's been more than 7,000 miles since your last rotation, T&G Auto Repair LLC can inspect your tires and complete the service while you wait. Call (803) 566-2431 or visit our contact page to schedule tire service in Columbia.