What maintenance task is important to prevent tire damage?

Tire rotation and balance is a crucial maintenance task for preventing tire damage. Regularly rotating tires ensures that they wear evenly, which is essential because tires on the front and rear of a vehicle can experience different wear patterns due to weight distribution and driving dynamics. By rotating tires, you promote uniform tread wear across all tires, extending their lifespan and maintaining optimal traction, handling, and fuel efficiency.

Balancing the tires helps to prevent vibrations that can occur if the tires are not evenly weighted. Imbalances can lead to uneven wear and can cause damage to the vehicle's suspension components over time. Both of these tasks are essential in prolonging tire life and ensuring safe operation of the vehicle.

The other options, such as changing oil frequently, upgrading brake systems, and checking the air conditioning system, are important maintenance tasks for different aspects of vehicle performance and safety but do not directly relate to preventing tire damage.