What Is Tire Rotation?

Tire rotation is a common car maintenance procedure where the rear and front tires are swapped.


Significance

The idea behind tire rotation is that switching the front and back tires will distribute wear and allow for longer tire life.
Function

Since front tires are used in steering, they take more wear than the rear ones. Both sets take on wear from contact with the road.
X Pattern rotation

Experts recommend that tires be rotated in an X pattern, where the tires being moved to the drive axle be moved to opposite sides of the car. This is not recommended, however, for directional tires, which will have an arrow indicating the direction the tires should turn when on the car.
Frequency

According to Goodyear, tires should be rotated every 6,000 to 8,000 miles, while four-wheel drive vehicles may need rotation sooner, every 4,000 miles.
Warning

If tires are not rotated, issues such as misalignment or other mechanical problems may arise.

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