How To Rotate

Proper tire rotation is important. If you notice irregular or uneven tread wear, the tires should be rotated to alleviate the problem. Remember: it is important to check your tires and wheels for signs of possible damage, and to check your vehicle for any mechanical problems and correct if necessary. You should follow the rotation pattern or procedure indicated in your limited warranty and the vehicle’s owner's manual. We recommend that you rotate tires on front-wheel-drive vehicles and/or all-season tires on any vehicle every 5,000 to 8,000 miles to equalize the rate of wear. You should rotate your tires earlier if signs of irregular or uneven tire wear arise. Have the vehicle checked by a qualified tire service professional to determine the cause of abnormal wear conditions. The first rotation is the most important.

You can slow down uneven tread wear by rotating your tires, which simply means moving them around so that they "trade places" on your vehicle in a systematic way. Rotation is important because each tire on a car carries a different amount of weight, making them wear at different rates. By rotating them, you basically even out those differences. Your owner’s manual will tell you how often to rotate your tires, but as a rule of thumb, it should be done every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. You might want to rotate them sooner if you see signs of uneven wear. Misalignment and other mechanical problems can also cause such wear, so check with your mechanic to determine the cause.

There are various patterns for rotating tires (see below). A common one for front-wheel-drive vehicles involves moving the tires in a criss-cross fashion, with the left front tire trading places with the right rear, and the right front trading with the left rear. If you have a full-size spare, you can include it in your rotation pattern – but don’t do so with a small "temporary-use" spare, because those are meant only for low-speed, short-distance emergency use.

NOTE : If your tires show uneven wear, ask your tire service professional to check for and correct any misalignment, imbalance, or other mechanical problem involved before rotation. Before rotating your tires, always refer to your vehicle’s owner’s manual for rotation recommendations. If no rotation period is specified, tires should be rotated approximately every 5,000 to 8,000 miles.