Does it not get on your nerves when two of your tires beg for a replacement before the other two or when your spare wheel is not in the best state to do what it was meant to do in emergencies. Well, I have got you covered with this blog on tire rotation.
What is tire rotation?
Tire rotation is the practice of moving the tires of a vehicle from one position to another in order to extend the usability of the tire and have equal wear on all the tires. These tire positions are pre-determined patterns to follow depending on your vehicle’s drivetrain, tires, etc.
Why is it needed?
Tire rotation is advised by manufacturers and tire companies to extend the life of the tire while maintaining equal wear on all wheels for maximum performance. As in FWD and RWD cars, the front and rear tires are more susceptible to uneven wear which may cause the vehicle’s cornering, braking performance, etc. to deteriorate. It helps to keep the vehicle safer for driving overall. If the vehicle is an AWD (All Wheel Drive) one then tire rotation may help to reduce stress on the drivetrain, reducing wear on expensive drivetrain components.
When?
Tire rotation is recommended every 6,000 to 8,000 miles (approximately 9,500-13,000 km) or every six months or every time you go to get your vehicle’s oil changed. It also allows you to check for air pressure, leaks, tread depths or to get the tires rebalanced if you are noticing vibrations. For new tires, however, tire rotation should be done at 5,000 miles (8,000 km) as their tread is more prone to uneven wear.
Patterns
There are different tire rotation patterns depending on the drivetrain, tires (directional or non-directional and same sized tires on the front and rear) of the vehicle.
1. For uniform size and non-directional tires
- REARWARD CROSS
Recommended for RWD, 4WD and AWD vehicles. In this pattern, rear tires are moved to the front axle (kept on the same side) while the front tires are moved to opposite sides of the rear axle.
- X-PATTERN
Recommended for FWD vehicles such as light-weight trucks. In this pattern, all tires are moved diagonally i.e. the tires on the front are moved to the rear axle exchanging their position diagonally and vice-versa.
- FORWARD CROSS
Recommended for FWD vehicles. In India (my country), most of the cars are FWD, so this pattern is to be used in most cases. In this pattern, the front tires are moved directly back while the rear tires are moved to the front diagonally.
2. For high performance and directional tires
- FRONT-TO-REAR
*FOR DIRECTIONAL TIRES
This one’s pretty basic. The front tires are moved directly to the rear (keeping them on the same side) and vice-versa.
- SIDE-TO-SIDE
*FOR DIFFERENTLY-SIZED PERFORMANCE TIRES ON THE FRONT AND REAR AXLES
As the name suggests, tires in this pattern are switched with the same sized tire on the opposite side of that axle. Refer diagram for better understanding.
3. Five-tire Rotation Pattern
*Including the spare wheel in tire rotation is usually not recommended as it should be used only in case of an emergency and be replaced by another tire as soon as possible. But there are five-tire rotation patterns too which includes the spare wheel.
It is especially beneficial for 4WD and AWD vehicles. Take a look at the diagram cause these five-tire rotation patterns may play with your mind a bit.
- FORWARD CROSS (FWD VEHICLES)
In this pattern, both the rear tires are moved to the opposite sides of the front axle and the right front tire becomes the new spare wheel. The left front tire is moved directly to the rear and the old spare wheel moves to the right side of the rear axle.
- REARWARD CROSS (RWD OR 4WD VEHICLES)
In this pattern, both the rear tires are moved directly forward and the left front tire becomes the new spare wheel. The right front tire is moved to the opposite side of the rear axle and the old spare wheel moves to the right side of the rear axle.
*There is also a Six-Tyre Rotation but that is for vehicles that have dual rear wheels. It’s basically for trucks.
Rant-
Tire Rotation in my country (India) isn’t taken seriously! Even my dad does not pay attention to this system. The spare wheel is used for normal driving by many and is not replaced by another tire. There is no system of rotation as the tires are changed only when their tread has worn out completely. Rotation is done at times but not in the correct manner as I described there are many types of rotations depending upon the drivetrains etc. This is not a good practice as it leads to accidents on-road and also a waste of money because the tires are not used to the extent they could’ve been if tire rotation was followed. This practice needs to end and people must be made aware of tire rotation and its benefits. My personal experience with my car made me write this article. A car which was so fun to drive and cherished being pushed into a corner had suddenly become aloof.
Do people in your country follow tire rotation correctly and did you learn something new today? Let me know in the comments section below.
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