Do My Tires Need Rotating?

Question

I have a 2004 Jeep Liberty Sport. I'm wondering if I have a slow leak in my tires or if it's something else. My two tires on the right seem to need air every few weeks and more recently. After I fill the tires with air it rides perfectly smooth until I hit a rough patch or bump in the street then the ride is bumpy, I fill it up with air again and it's smooth sailing until I hit another bump in the road. What's happening? Do I need new tires or do they need to be rotated or is it a slow leak?

Answer 1

You should rotate them about every 6 months (approximately every 6000 miles). Front tires wear along the edges because of cornering. You rotate your tires so the front ones don't wear out before the back ones, which wear more evenly or slightly more in the middle of the tire.

As for your problem, check the tread. If the tread is nearly gone (i.e. - the tires are old), then the leak could be caused by age and the tires need replaced anyway.

If the tire isn't worn out by age, you can still have a problem that may or may not be repairable. There's at least a possibility the tires could be repaired.

Since both tires on the right only lose air after hitting a bump, I kind of wonder if you didn't drive through or over something that damaged your rims so they won't hold a good lock with the tires.

Either way, you're probably replacing something on your Jeep.

Answer 2

Tires are generally recommended rotated at 5,000 miles or as required depending on your driving habits. Interstate miles will make the tire tread to wear more evenly across the width of the tread where as city driving that involves a lot of turning or cornering will make the tires, especially the stearing tires, to wear faster on the inner and outter edges.

If your two right side wheels (passenger side) or tires seem to have a problem then I would recommend a rotation with inspection. You might have a steel belt that is broken internally and is only showing itself by causing loss of tire pressure slowly and or wobbling when you hit a pot hole or some other large bump.

The only other thing that they might check is the brakes to make sure they are not dragging or not fully releasing when you take your foot off the brake pedal (creating excessive heat in the wheel and tire) and they should look for a possible wheel bearing problem to make sure the bearings are in perfect condition. I recall that they had a problem with the front wheel bearing on the Dodge Durango so you might share a similar part problem.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

Rotating the tires has nothing to do with the two tires losing air pressure. You have a leak, either in the tread, the vlave stem, or around the bead. You can take a water solution mixed with a lot of dish washing soap and apply it to the tires and look for any air bubbles that appear.

tires usually are rotated every 3 thousand miles. You can have them rotated when you change the oil. good luck.

Answer 4

Here ya go:
Get a bucket with really soapy water.
Dump it over your tire and rim, it will bubble if there is a leak.

You can then get it fixed - you will know exactly where the problems are at.

Answer 5

i believe you have a slow leak either around the valve stem or the tire bead

Answer 6

you should rotate every 3000 miles and have your alignment done twice a year. your psi should be no more than 35 psi