WHAT IS THE PROPER TIRE ROTATION PATTERN?

 

Routine tire rotation contributes to vehicle safety in addition to tire longevity. It helps prevent the front tires from wearing out prematurely and possibly experiencing balding issues and blowouts. What is the proper tire rotation pattern? What tire rotation pattern should you use to maintain your vehicle? Review our guide today to determine the best tire rotation pattern for your model and enjoy safer drives in Dallas and the surrounding areas. Our service department in Plano is here whenever you require professional tire rotation services. 

How to rotate tires

With a tire rotation, your vehicle’s tires are shifted from front to back and vice versa, so that your tires all get a similar distribution of wear and tear over time. If you are planning on completing this service on your own, you will want to ensure you do it properly. What is the proper tire rotation pattern? Let us at Sewell INEOS Grenadier help.

What tire rotation pattern should you use?

When rotating tires, you will need to know which pattern to use on your model. There are a few different patterns you should choose from when performing this kind of maintenance. These include:

• Forward Cross: With this common and best option for front-wheel drive vehicles, you take the front tires and bring them back, and bring the back tires forward. When doing this, though, be sure to take the rear left tire, put it on the front right side, and bring the right rear tire forward to the left front side. The front tires that move back may stay on their respective sides.
• X-Pattern: This tire rotation pattern is similar to the forward cross, except you take the front tires and switch sides when bringing them to the rear, as well. This is a pattern that is also well-suited for front-wheel drive vehicles.
• Rearward Cross: With the rearward cross pattern, this is the opposite of the forward cross, and best suited for rear- and four-wheel drive vehicles. For this pattern, you would bring the front tires to the rear and the rear to the front, all the while switching sides of the front tires when bringing them back. The front right tire now becomes the left rear tire, and the left front tire becomes the right rear tire. Just like the forward cross pattern, you do not need to switch the sides for the rear tires that move forward.

Directional vs. non-directional tires

Before you go and rotate your tires, it is important to know whether your tires are directional. Tires that are made with a one-way pattern are made specifically for either the left or right side of a vehicle. Thanks to the arrow or triangle marking on the tire’s sidewall, you may determine which side of the vehicle the tire is meant for as well as which direction the wheel should turn. What tire rotation pattern should you use for directional vs. non-directional tires? Explore your options:

• Directional Tires: If you have directional tires, then swap the front right tire with the rear right tire, and the front left tire with the rear left tire.
• Non-Directional Tires: As for non-directional tires, you may swap your tires in any direction and leave them on any side. With non-directional tires, you may want to use the X-pattern for the best results.

Learn more with Sewell INEOS Grenadier in Plano

Now that you know what tire rotation pattern you should use, is it time to rotate the tires on your vehicle? Call or make a reservation online today. Our certified technicians are here to help you maintain your investment and stay safe on roads in Fort Worth and Frisco. If you have questions about tire rotations or other vehicle maintenance, simply let us know. For additional maintenance reads, review how often you should rotate your tires and what causes uneven tire wear. We also invite you to review the INEOS service schedule.