Tire rotation is the practice of moving the wheels and tires of an automobile from one position to another to ensure even tire wear, which extends the useful life of a set of tires. The benefits of achieving even tire wear using rotation are disputed, but many car and tire manufacturers recommend tire rotation frequency and pattern, typically every 5,000 to 8,000 miles depending on the tire manufacturer and vehicle make.

During tire rotation, each tire and wheel is removed from the vehicle and moved to a different position to ensure that all tires wear evenly and last longer. A common rotation pattern is to move the back wheels to the front, and the front to the back but crossing them when moving to the back. If the tires are unidirectional, the rotation can only be rotated front to back on the same side of the vehicle to preserve the rotational direction of the tires, unless they are remounted. More complex rotation patterns are required if the vehicle has a full-size spare tire that is part of the rotation, or if there are snow tires.

Tire rotation is important because each specific position on a vehicle requires a different give from each tire, and can lead to more or less wear on the 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, which can cause uneven tire wear. By routinely rotating tires, wear is spread evenly across all four tires, and their tread life is maximized. Additionally, regularly rotating tires 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.