Do different vehicles get their tires rotated in different ways? Which tire rotation pattern is right for me? We outline each tire rotation pattern below to help you identify which one is best for your vehicle type.
- Why Are There Different Tire Rotation Patterns? - Different Rotation Patterns - Non-directional Tires With the Same Size and Offset - Directional And/or Staggered High-Performance Tires and Wheels - Rotation With a Spare (Five Tire Rotation) - Where Can I Find Tire Rotation Services?
Not all vehicles and tires are made equal. Given the variety of options on the market, there are a few different factors that contribute to the specific rotation pattern your vehicle may need:
- Type of Tire: Directional tires (designed to rotate only in one direction) or non-directional tires (designed to rotate in either direction with equal performance) - Type of Vehicle: Front-wheel drive (FWD), rear-wheel drive (RWD), 4-wheel drive (4WD), or all-wheel drive (AWD) - Type of Spare: Full-size spare tire or a mini-spare - Tire Size: Staggered fitment tires (different sizes and/or offsets on front and rear) or tires with the same size and offset
It’s these vehicle specifications that contribute to the right tire rotation pattern for you.
The Tire and Rim Association identifies three main rotation patterns for vehicles within this category.
Forward cross (Suggested for FWD vehicles)
- The front tires move straight back to the rear - The rear tires cross to opposite front positions - Used when the rear tires show uneven wear
X pattern (Suggested for AWD and 4WD vehicles)
- The front tires cross to opposite rear positions - The rear tires cross to opposite front positions - Used when there’s uneven wear
Rearward cross (Suggested for AWD, RWD, or 4WD vehicles)
- The rear tires move straight up to the front - The front tires cross to opposite rear positions - Used when there’s uneven front-tire wear
In addition to the three main rotation patterns listed above, there are two rotation patterns that can be used for high-performance tires and wheels.
Front-to-rear (Suggested for same-sized, directional tires)
- The rear tires move to the front on the same side of the vehicle - The front tires move to the back on the same side of the vehicle - Used when the wear is normal and also when tires have directional tread (are designed to roll in one direction)
Side-to-side (Suggested for different-sized, non-directional tires)
- The front two tires are swapped to opposite sides on the front axle - The rear two tires are swapped to opposite sides on the back axle
If your vehicle has a full-size, non-directional spare tire (one that’s not “for temporary use”) and a wheel that's the same size as your four main tires and wheels, you may want to consider these rotation patterns to keep all five tires evenly worn.
Forward cross for FWD Vehicles (Suggested for non-directional tires with a full-size matching spare)
- The rear tires move to the opposite front positions - The left front tire moves to the left rear position - The spare tire moves to the right rear position and - The right front tire becomes the spare
Rearward cross for RWD or 4WD Vehicles (Suggested for non-directional tires with a full-size matching spare)
- The left rear tire moves to the left front position. - The right rear tire moves to the right front position. - The right front tire moves to the left rear position. - The spare tire moves to the right rear position and the - The left front tire becomes the spare.
Have more questions about tire rotations? Check out our tire rotations guide or give us a call!
Rotating your tires may seem like a chore, but we can help make it fast and easy for you. We promise to take good care of you and your car! Find us at one of our many Michigan locations or in Calumet City, IL and Rensselaer, IN.
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