An easily overlooked car maintenance item sits between your car and the road below: your tires. They are your front-line offense against rough pavement, potholes, and sharp debris. Tires deserve to be treated well. Many drivers know the importance of monitoring their tire pressure and tread life, but one of the easiest things you can do to extend the life of your tires is to have them rotated on a regular basis.
Here’s what you need to know about tire rotation.
Why is Tire Rotation Important?
Tire rotation means moving the tire (and typically the wheel it’s mounted on) from one corner of the vehicle to another. This is important for three main reasons, all of which will contribute toward tires with consistent wear that will ride, handle, and brake their best.
First, regardless of your vehicle manufacturer, tire rotation will help your tires last longer. Rotating your tires on a regular basis helps ensure even tread wear for your four tires—or five if you have a full-size spare and choose to incorporate it in your rotation process. Each tire has a slightly different job description, so to speak. The tires up front turn with the steering wheel, but those out back aren’t just along for the ride.
Wear patterns can vary greatly by vehicle. A typical front-wheel-drive (FWD) vehicle, like most compact sedans, has more weight over the front axles, wheels, and tires than the rear axles, wheels, and tires, contributing to greater front tire wear. Additionally, those tires do the hard work of turning, which can lead to excess wear on the outer edge of the tire as it grips the road. Rear-wheel-drive (RWD) vehicles can go through tires quicker at the rear than at the front since that pair of tires is tasked with motivating the vehicle. Lastly, all-wheel-drive (AWD) or four-wheel-drive (4WD) vehicles have their own complications; they need a similar amount of tread on each tire to reduce the risk of long-term drivetrain damage. Suffice it to say that your tires will need to be rotated on a regular basis if you want them to last a long time.
Second, regular tire rotation may be a stipulation for your tire warranty. If you can’t prove that you have regularly rotated your tires, the tire manufacturer may deny a warranty claim.
Last, tires that exhibit signs of uneven wear are problematic for a host of reasons. The simplest is typically a suspension or steering system that is out of alignment, which may subtly be pushing the car toward one direction. A service center can address this by performing a professional alignment. A bigger concern is hidden damage underneath your car that may contribute to poor alignment. A service center can advise you as to what repairs are necessary.
When Should You Rotate Your Tires?
A typical car with all-season tires should have its tires rotated every 5,000 to 8,000 miles, though it’s always best to check your owner’s manual for any specific recommendations from the car manufacturer. Additionally, the owner’s manual kit your car was originally supplied with may contain a separate addendum from the tire manufacturer that may have more detailed instructions.
For many vehicle owners, it makes sense to rotate tires with every oil change or—if living in a wintry climate—when putting on or taking off snow tires.
If you don’t know how long it has been since the last time your car’s tires were rotated, a service center can do a quick inspection to determine if the tire tread is beginning to show signs of uneven wear. They can also advise you on the tire’s tread depth to help you estimate how much life is left on the tires.
High-performance summer tires may need tire rotations more often since their softer rubber compound will wear down quicker. The same is generally true for directional tires as these tend to be aimed at high-performance vehicles. Any vehicle used regularly for a specific purpose like on-track or off-road may need more regular tire rotations, too, as these activities can amplify tire wear.
Tire Rotation Patterns
For non-directional tires, there are three ways a service center might rotate: rearward cross, X-pattern, or forward cross.
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Rearward cross means taking the front tires and sending them backward, and switching them from left to right (or right to left). Confusingly, this also means sending the rear tires forward—but without changing the side of the vehicle.
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Forward cross is the opposite of rearward cross. The rear left tire goes to the front right, while the rear right tire goes to the front left. The front left goes to the rear left, and the front right goes to the rear right.
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X-pattern is simpler. In this situation, switch the left front with the right rear and the right front with the left rear.
Confused? A tire rotation service center can advise you on the correct method for your vehicle. Rearward cross is typically used on rear-wheel-drive vehicles, while forward cross is, predictably, meant for front-wheel-drive vehicles. The X-pattern is best for four-wheel-drive and all-wheel-drive vehicles.
If you have a full-size spare tire, you may also choose to incorporate it in your tire rotation pattern to ensure that all five tires wear down at the same rate. Rotating in the spare wheel is particularly important for all- or four-wheel-drive vehicles as each tire that hits the ground needs to have roughly the same amount of tread left to reduce the risk of drivetrain damage.
Complicating matters, directional tires—which have a tread pattern that can only be mounted on one side of the vehicle—can’t be rotated in either of those three methods. Also, some higher-performance cars may have staggered-width tires that are wider at the rear than at the front. They can only be rotated from side to side.
How Much Does Tire Rotation Cost?
Tire rotation costs vary. Some shops may charge less than $50, while others may want twice as much. Mobile tire service usually costs more, but the price to pay for the convenience of having someone come to you may be worth it.
Car dealerships and independent service centers often bundle a tire rotation with an oil change, too, so you may be able to wind up with a discounted rate. Some service plans and extended warranties may even include a free tire and wheel alignment.
A basic rotation simply involves removing the wheels and tires and then shifting them around the vehicle in the prescribed tire rotation pattern. If you feel a vibration in the steering wheel when driving, you may have a wheel that is out of balance. Be sure to mention this to the service center, as the rotation itself generally won’t correct this issue. You will need to have at least one wheel rebalanced.
How Long Does it Take to Rotate Tires?
The actual process of rotating tires may only take a service center half an hour. Service centers can easily lift the vehicle off the ground, and they have powerful tools that can remove the lug nuts or studs holding the wheels in place. From there, it’s as simple as moving the tire and wheel to the correct position, reinstalling the lug nuts or studs, and torquing them in place correctly.
You can rotate tires at home, too, but you will need to be sure that you safely support the vehicle when it is off the ground and that you re-torque each wheel’s lug nuts or studs to the manufacturer’s specifications.
