Tire Rotation

Rotation means moving each tire and wheel assembly to a different position on the vehicle. Drive wheels and steering wheels take more punishment than the others, so without rotation two tires wear out long before the other two. Rotating spreads wear evenly, so the whole set reaches replacement together and you get more usable miles from each tire.

Every 6,000 to 8,000 miles, or 10,000 to 12,000 kilometers, unless your owner's manual specifies otherwise. Rotate sooner if you spot irregular wear developing. Some tire warranties require documented rotations at set intervals, so keep the receipts if your tires carry a mileage warranty.

On AWD all four wheels receive power and wear more evenly than on two-wheel drive, but rotation is still necessary. The typical pattern is a rearward cross or X pattern, moving tires between axles and sides. Because AWD systems are sensitive to differences in rolling circumference between tires, keeping wear even through regular rotation matters more on AWD than on other drivetrains.

Directional tires have an arrow molded into the sidewall showing the required direction of rotation. They can only move front to back on the same side of the vehicle, never crossed side to side, unless you dismount and remount them on the wheels. Always confirm the arrows point in the direction of forward travel after any rotation.

Yes, with a proper jack, jack stands, and a torque wrench. Never work under a vehicle supported only by a jack. Loosen the lug nuts slightly before lifting, lift and support the vehicle, swap the wheels to the correct pattern, then torque the lug nuts in a star pattern to your manufacturer's specification. Recheck torque after 50 to 100 miles.

Rotation redistributes wear but does not fix its cause. Wear on both shoulders points to underinflation. Center wear points to overinflation. Wear on one edge points to alignment. Cupping points to imbalance or worn shocks. Fix the cause first, or the same pattern repeats in the next position.