BlogRAT

When considering the importance of vehicle maintenance, tire rotation frequency deserves as much attention as oil changes. Adhering to appropriate tire rotation frequency and understanding the appropriate tire rotation pattern for your vehicle will help ensure you get the most from your tires. Proper tire maintenance leads to long tire life, minimizes road noise issues as the tire tread wears and provides an opportunity for frequent inspection of the tires to address any developing safety concerns.




For those who have read my article about oil change intervals, I recommend keeping your tires rotated every other oil change, or about every 6,000 miles. Though it’s a good idea to reference the owner’s manual for your vehicle, if the recommended interval exceeds 6,000 miles, I encourage you to stick with my 6,000 mile recommendation. Keeping tire rotation schedule tied to every other oil change helps make it easier to remember and keeps your tires performing at their best. Extended rotation intervals generally lead to uneven tread wear, resulting in excessive road noise or safety concerns.



Equally as important as rotation frequency is the rotation pattern. The vast majority of vehicles on the road today have four radial tires of the same size on all four corners. These vehicles will benefit from a standard “cross” rotation pattern, with a forward cross being used for front wheel drive vehicles and a rearward cross being used for rear wheel drive and four wheel drive vehicles. With the forward cross, the two front tires are moved straight back, remaining on the same side of the vehicle (e.g. left-front to left-rear) and the rear tires are crossed to the front (e.g. right-rear to left-front). The rearward cross is just the opposite. The rear tires are moved straight forward and the front tires are crossed to the back.



There are some unique tire rotation needs to be aware of:



Some tires are unidirectional, meaning that they are designed to rotate in one direction only. These tires can only be rotated front to back and vice versa on the same side of the vehicle.

Some vehicles have different size wheels and tires between the front and back but the tires can rotate in either direction. These tires can only be rotated side to side on the same end of the vehicle (e.g. left-front to right-front).

Finally, some vehicles have different size wheels and tires between the front and back that are also unidirectional. These tires cannot be rotated.

Anytime you rotate your tires, be sure to check and adjust tire pressure as necessary. Additionally, inspect the tread closely for any abnormal wear. The tread should be wearing uniformly and evenly. Any “feathered” edges or wear that is uneven in appearance can indicate the need for other vehicle repairs, including: shocks and struts, wheel alignment, or even something more serious, such as a ball joint or tie rod end. Additionally, check the depth of the tread to ensure there is sufficient tire tread remaining. Tires should be replaced when there is 4/32” or less of tread remaining.



More on determining the correct tire pressure for your vehicle and measuring tread depth in upcoming articles!

More info