How are you supposed to rotate your tires


How to rotate tires | Mobil™

By Wayne Scraba,www.automedia.com

Rotating tires is important (and always has been) for car maintenance. If you rotate the respective wheels and tires on a given axle, tire wear is even. The result is almost always balanced traction and handling over a period of time. Most tire warranties demand the tires be rotated on a specific mileage schedule. And many tire manufacturers recommend rotation at between 3,000 and 5,000 miles.

Tire balancing

Making each tire function in as many of the vehicle’s wheel positions as possible makes evening out tire wear feasible. Naturally, this can’t make up for tire wear caused by tired or malfunctioning mechanical components or improper inflation. When considering the mechanics of a motor vehicle, keep in mind that the front end often has a more difficult task than the rear. For example, in a front-wheel-drive car, the tires are tasked with steering, stopping, moving up and down, and, of course, pulling the vehicle forward. In a high-performance rear-wheel-drive car, you’ll likely find that the rear tires take more abuse than the front. Four-by-four vehicles and all-wheel-drive models bring their own tire wear peculiarities to the party. The bottom line: No matter what the car or truck, the wheel position can cause different rates and types of wear on a tire.

 

Replacing four versus two

As a tire wears, the tread depth is reduced. If all four tires wear out at more or less the same time, you can replace four tires at once. This is actually advantageous when compared to replacing tires in pairs, simply because you’ll always have equal fresh rubber on all four corners. Additionally, you have to consider that the manufacturers are constantly releasing new and improved tire configurations. The result is that your old tires could become obsolete by the time they’re worn. If replacing only two at once, there’s a good chance you’ll end up with mixed tire technology that could negatively affect how your vehicle drives.

 

Tire rotation pattern

So far so good, but tire rotation isn’t anything like it was a few decades ago. Way back when, most cars had identical wheels and tires on all four corners, and the spare was also a full-size job that matched the road wheels. That’s a difficult combination to find today, with space-saver spares, spare tires mounted on dedicated steel wheels (with the rest of the rolling stock on aluminum wheels), different wheel offsets and sizes front and rear, mixed tire sizes, and so on. Because of this, the rotation process differs. Here’s a look at some of the many different tire rotation pattern options.

 

Four same-size tires, non-directional

If the tires are non-directional and the tires and wheels are all the same size, there are three different four-tire rotation patterns most commonly used:

  1. Front-wheel drive : Rotate the tires in a forward cross pattern. This means that the left front goes to the left rear and the right front goes to the right rear. The left rear goes to the right front and the right rear goes to the left front.
  2. Rear-wheel drive or AWD/four-wheel drive : Left rear goes to right front. Right rear goes to the left front. The right front goes to left rear. Left front goes to the right rear. 
  3. (Alternate) Rear-wheel drive or AWD/four-wheel drive : The left rear goes to left front. The right rear goes to the right front. The left front goes to the right rear. The right front goes to left rear.

Different-size directional tires, or different offsets

What if the vehicle in question has different-size directional wheels and tires or is equipped with wheels with different offsets (wheel backspace) front and rear? In this case, the tires will definitely require dismounting, remounting and rebalancing in order to rotate the tires. Four other typical rotation patterns are as follows:

  1. Same-size directional wheels and tires: The left front goes to left rear. The left rear goes to left front. The right front goes to the right rear. The right rear goes to the right front. 
  2. Different-size directional tires with different-size wheels: Tires must be dismounted and remounted on the appropriate wheel/direction of rotation.
  3. Non-directional wheels and tires with different sizes front and rear: The left front goes to the right front. The right front goes to the left front. The left rear goes to the right rear. And the right rear goes to left rear. 
  4. Five-tire rotation: Yesteryear, a five-tire rotation was possible, simply because the spare was full size. That’s seldom the case today. Even many light trucks are equipped with spare wheels that do not match the drive wheel combination. If, however, the spare matches the drive wheels and tires, and all tires are the same size and are not directional, then you can perform a five-tire/wheel rotation as follows:

 

Front-wheel drive : The left front goes to the left rear. The left rear goes to the right front. The right rear goes to the left front. The spare goes to the right rear. The right front goes to the spare.

 

Rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive: The left rear goes to the left front. The left front goes to the spare. The spare goes to the right rear. The right rear goes to the right front. The right front goes to the left rear.

 

The idea here is to distribute the wear over five tires throughout their life. This is particularly important on many all-wheel-drive vehicles in that all tires, including the spare, are, in theory, worn identically.

 

How and Why to Rotate Your Tires

Tire rotation, that is routinely repositioning your vehicle’s tires in specific patterns from front to back or side to side, is an important element of tire upkeep and safety. Additionally, rotating your tires may also be required to keep your tires covered under warranty. For a quick visual summary of tire rotation, check out our Tread Life episode about tire rotation. Read on for more information about what tire rotation is, why tire rotation patterns matter, and the correct pattern for your vehicle’s needs.

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WHAT IS TIRE ROTATION?

Tire rotation means periodically changing the position of each of the tires on your vehicle. You should rotate your tires as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer, or every 5,000 miles. For many of you, that will mean when you get your vehicle’s oil changed.

Regularly rotating your tires also gives you a good opportunity to visually inspect them for damage, check their air pressure, have them rebalanced if you’re noticing any vibration, and check their tread depth.

WHY IS TIRE ROTATION IMPORTANT?

There are several reasons why tire rotation is an important element of your standard tire care. First, by routinely rotating your tires, wear is spread evenly across all four tires, and their tread life is maximized. That’s because each specific position on your vehicle requires a different give from each tire—(for example, tires on the front of a front-wheel drive vehicle will take a larger proportion of the torque and friction that’s needed for turning, accelerating and braking)—and can lead to more, or less, wear on the tire. It is especially important to rotate new tires by 5,000 miles because deep, fresh tire tread is more susceptible to uneven wear.

Secondly, even tread wear keeps the tread depth on your tires uniform, which can help keep traction and handling consistent across all four tires. This will improve cornering and braking performance and keep your vehicle safer for driving overall.

Finally, if your vehicle has all-wheel-drive, evenly worn tires lower the stresses on the drivetrain, reducing wear on expensive drive components.

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Ecopia H/L 422 Plus

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Confident all-weather protection

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Ecopia EP422 Plus

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Dueler A/T REVO 3

Take on the intensity of on and off road driving

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Ready for heavy-duty hauls

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Potenza RE980AS PLUS

High performance driving all year long

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Dueler H/P Sport AS

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Potenza SPORT

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Potenza RE050A

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Potenza S007A RFT

Take your sports car for a spin

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Dueler H/P SPORT

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Potenza RE-71R

Feel the rush with tires inspired by racing

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Blizzak LM001

For winters worst

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Blizzak LM-32

Luxury takes on winter

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Potenza RE-71RS

Chase your competitive spirit

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Blizzak DM-V2

Navigate through snow and ice in your SUV, CUV, or truck

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Blizzak LM005

Impressive grip and control

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Duravis R238

Ready for the long haul

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Duravis M700 HD

Built to keep you and your workload going

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Blizzak LT

Built for blizzards and winters worst in a commerical light truck or van

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Duravis R500 HD

Built for the demands of commercial highway driving

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Blizzak WS90

Built to get you through this winter

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Blizzak W965

Keep your commercial truck or van in commission all winter

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WHAT TIRE ROTATION PATTERN SHOULD I UTILIZE?

The tire rotation pattern that’s best for your vehicle will depend on the type of tire you’re using, whether your vehicle is front, rear, all, or four-wheel drive, whether your tires are directional or non-directional, whether or not your tires are the same size on the front and rear of your vehicle, and whether you have a full-size spare that can be rotated through as well, unlike a temporary spare. . Let’s take a look at tire rotation patterns recommended by the standardizing body of the tire industry, The Tire and Rim Association, Inc., for all of these possibilities.

SAMPLE VISUAL:

FOR TIRES THAT ARE OF UNIFORM SIZE AND NON-DIRECTIONAL:

1.     REARWARD CROSS

For vehicles that are 4-wheel, all-wheel, or rear-wheel drive, the rearward cross pattern is recommended. Rear tires are moved to the forward axle and kept on the same side of the vehicle while the front tires are moved to opposite sides of the rear axle.

2.     X-PATTERN

Recommended for front-wheel drive vehicles such as light-weight trucks and sedans, all tires are moved diagonally, meaning tires are switched from one axle to the opposite as well as being repositioned from one side to the other.

3.     FORWARD CROSS

This is the most common pattern for front-wheel drive vehicles. The front axle tires are moved directly back while the rear tires are moved up diagonally to the opposite side of the front axle.

FOR TIRES THAT ARE OF UNIFORM SIZE AND NON-DIRECTIONAL WITH A FULL-SIZE SPARE TIRE:

In order to insure that all of the tires on your vehicle have even tread wear, you’ll want to be sure to rotate your full-size spare tire along with the other four. This is especially vital for all-wheel or 4-wheel drive vehicles where even small differences can put undue strain on your car’s drive train.

1.     REARWARD CROSS (REAR-WHEEL OR 4-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES):

Both rear axle tires move directly forward to the front axle while the spare tire moves to the right side of the rear axle. The right front tire moves diagonally back to the left side of the rear axle while the left front tire becomes your new spare tire.

2.     FORWARD CROSS (FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES):

Rear tires are moved diagonally to opposite sides on the front axle while the right front tire becomes the new spare tire. The spare tire is positioned on the right side of the rear axle while the left tire on the front axle is moved directly back into the left rear position.

SAMPLE VISUAL:

FOR HIGH PERFORMANCE AND DIRECTIONAL TIRES:

1.     SIDE-TO-SIDE (FOR DIFFERENTLY-SIZED PERFORMANCE TIRES ON THE FRONT AND REAR AXLES)

All tires are switched with their same-sized partner and remain on the same axle. The two rear tires switch to the opposite side with one another while the two front tires do the same.

2.     FRONT-TO-BACK (FOR DIRECTIONAL TIRES)

All tires are moved from one axle to the other but remain on the same side of the vehicle. For example, the front left tire is moved to the left side of the rear axle while the rear left tire is repositioned on the left side of the front axle.

how to determine whether the rubber is directional or not


  • Introduction

  • What is the feature of the directional tread pattern?

  • Advantages and disadvantages of

    directional tires
  • How to properly install directional tires

  • Conclusion


When choosing good tires, you often face the problem of not only a huge number of models, but also a variety of tread patterns, which also need to be sorted out. One of the most popular patterns is the traditional directional pattern, which has been used on the tread surface of a wide variety of tires for decades.

What are directional tires and why are they still in demand not only among motorists, but also among professional motorcycle racers? In the article, we will reveal all the secrets and technologies of directional tires, as well as show you how to install them correctly. Here, nuances and discoveries await us at every step.


There are four types of car tire tread pattern:

  • directional symmetrical,

  • non-directional symmetrical,

  • non-directional asymmetrical,

  • directional asymmetric.


Each drawing is designed for its own version of the road and has its own set of advantages. Different tread patterns have different functionality and behavior on the road. When mounting tires on wheels, their own installation principles also work, which will need to be strictly observed so as not to create an emergency. We will talk about them in the corresponding section.

The essence of the directional tread design is clear at a glance: the blocks, ribs and tread grooves of the V-pattern are directional, spinning the wheel in a certain direction. Most often, directional tires are found in winter models, but there are many of them among summer ones. In symmetrical tires, both halves of the directional tread are mirrored, in an asymmetric design, both halves have a different structure and different functionality.

It is necessary to mount the wheels only in the right direction, otherwise all the advantages will come to naught, and at the same time problems with handling and accelerated wear will be added. Excessive strong pressure will accumulate in the center of the working area, due to which the tire will begin to rise above the road and harm traction in how many areas.


The directional tread pattern is best suited for wet tarmac, as the grooves that widen from the center to the sides are much better at shedding water from the contact surface. This not only improves grip on wet surfaces, but also works in favor of protection against the effect of hydroplaning. This works even better for a rear-wheel drive car - the front wheels will quickly clear the water before the rear axle sets foot on the road. Accordingly, contact with the track in such a car will be much more thorough.

The directional pattern of the winter models excels in raking snow and removing dirt from the contact surface - ideal for snowy trails in the winter.

On a dry summer surface, they also give the car a couple of advantages - first of all, it concerns directional and lateral stability. For high-speed tires, this is one of the most relevant designs, as directional tires have a positive effect on the reactions of the car at high speed.

However, their driving disadvantage is the increased noise level during active work on asphalt, and the higher the speed, the stronger the rumble. Also, directional tires are more expensive than non-directional tires, but cheaper than asymmetric ones. It is better not to install directional tires if you often drive on dirt roads or are completely forced to drive off-road. They will not show effective work on soft and medium hard surfaces. For rural areas, a tread pattern with a non-directional arrangement of large lugs is better suited. Remember that, being put on disks, wheels with directional rubber can only be changed from the front axle to the rear and vice versa, but not rearranged on the sides. To do this, the tires will have to be disassembled and put as needed.

Although we've talked about directional tires, it's the symmetrical design that's most common. Asymmetric directional pattern is very rare. This is due to the fact that such tires are not only much more difficult and expensive to manufacture, but they have one serious drawback for car owners. Due to the very strict installation scheme for the car, constant difficulties arose with spares - I had to constantly carry two spare wheels with me instead of one, because you never know which tire will be damaged, and you can’t change directional asymmetric tires with sides. In addition, the warehouses constantly accumulated tires for only one side, which are completely useless without a paired wheel.


As mentioned above, one of the "secrets" of directional tires is their installation pattern. Simply put, you need to find the inscription Rotation (from the English. "Rotation") with an arrow on the sidewall. It is this marker that is an indicator - in which direction the tire pattern should “look” when installed on a car. If you make a mistake with the direction of rotation and put the rubber against the arrow, then the drainage system will rake in water like a mill, and not discard it, leveling all the advantages of the model, or even exacerbating them. The fact that the tires are installed incorrectly will tell you a sharply increased noise in the cabin.

If for some reason you could not find this marker, then you can do it even easier - pay attention to the tire tread pattern itself. The rubber of the directional design is a kind of "herringbone" that is directed forward. Simply mount the tires so that the tread pattern faces the direction of travel of the vehicle.

Rubber with an asymmetric device should only be mounted according to the marking, since each individual side is designed for its own tasks and should never be confused. The correct direction of asymmetric tires will help determine the labels:

  • Outside, or the outer side of the tire, must face outward.

  • Inside, or the inner side, respectively, looks inside the car.


Right and left asymmetric tires are much less common. Left (or simply L) will be written on one tire - it means that it must be placed to the left of the body, Right (R) - to the right. You can change them only on one side of the body - front with rear and vice versa.

But much more often, directional tires can be mounted on a rim on either side, the main thing is to follow the direction of the pattern.


And don't forget to balance freshly assembled wheels - tires will never show their advantages and characteristics without good balance. Only after that you can proceed to the installation on the hubs. After installation, go around the car in a circle and check the markings. Recall that we need the rotation direction under the Rotation arrow. If you have an asymmetric directional tire, then make sure that only the Outside is visible. Left (Left) and right (Right) asymmetric tires must show the sides of the body in the direction of travel.

You can learn a couple more tips about directional tires from this video:

How to determine the direction of the tire tread

The direction of rotation of the tire

Repeated wheel alignment is made, but the problem does not disappear? This may mean that the tires are not installed correctly.

Before installing tires, you need to determine the direction of the tire, because almost every tire has a unique tread pattern that fully reveals itself only when installed correctly.

Classification

Content:

  • 1 Classification
  • 2 Definition
  • 3 Rotation
  • 4 Installation

All automobile tires are divided in the direction of the tire drawing, forming several classifications: 9000 9000

Important: when installing the wheels, it is necessary that all the inscriptions "Inside" are installed in the direction of the driver!

Definition

Correctly determining the direction of rotation of the tire is quite simple - when the car moves forward, the herringbone (tread pattern) should be the first to touch the road surface. When stopping, it is necessary that the tread pattern look in the opposite direction to the movement.

The determination method is suitable for both summer and winter tyres.

Rotation

Direction of tire rotation

Some tires (eg Bridgestone) can be interchanged. This is done only crosswise. This means that it is possible to drive 45-60 thousand kilometers, and after that change the location of the wheels. In place of the right rear, it is possible to put the front left, and in the left rear - the front right. This can be done with the front wheels, but in a strictly defined order.

If the direction of tire movement is set, the wheels are rearranged on one side, i.e. front tires are changed to rear, and vice versa.

When the tires are symmetrical, it is possible to change the arrangement in any order.

Mounting

Asymmetric Tires

Installing asymmetric Bridgestone tires does not require highly skilled skills, if you remember a few points. The inscriptions "Inside", "Outside" must be strictly installed according to the rules.

Directional tires must be installed so that when driving, the wheel moves in the direction indicated by the arrow. When installing, it is necessary to focus on moving forward.

Symmetric (non-directional) tires are optional. Therefore, they do not have any instructions for installation.

Important: if at least one wheel is installed incorrectly, then driving will deteriorate sharply, and tires will quickly become unusable!

Installation is best done as follows:

  1. Loosen the mounting bolts. To raise

    Correct installation of asymmetric tires

    machine, requires a jack and a level surface. After that, the old wheels are removed and new wheels are installed.

  2. In order not to get confused during the installation process, it is recommended to change one tire at a time. New tires are better to immediately put in place of the old ones.

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