Tyre Rotation

What is Tyre Rotation?

Tyre rotation is the process of changing the position of the tyres on your vehicle, often done by swapping front and rear car tyres. Ideally, tyres should be rotated at intervals of 6000 miles for cars and around 4000 miles for 4x4 vehicles, unless the manufacturer states otherwise.

It is important to note that this is only recommended for vehicles where all tyres are the same size and are not directional. If you choose to fit two new tyres at any time, put the new ones on the rear axle. 

Tyre Rotation




There are various ways you can rotate your tyres, usually dependant on your vehicle.

Front Wheel Drive Cars:

  • Front tyres should be moved to the back and remain on the same side,
  • Rear tyres should be brought forwards and crossed from one side to the other, for example your rear left tyre will become your front right tyre.
Rear Wheel Drive Cars:
  • Rear tyres should be brought forward and remain on the same side,
  • Front tyres should be moved to the back of the car and crossed from one side to the other, for example your front right tyre will become your rear left tyre.

4x4 Cars:

  • All four tyres should be rotated in a crossed direction, so your front right tyre will become your rear left tyre and rear left tyre will become your front right tyre,
  • The process is repeated with your front left tyre and rear right tyre.
Tyre rotation diagram




Why Rotate Car Tyres?

You should rotate your car tyres because the tyres at the front of your vehicle often wear out faster than the ones at the back. By changing them frequently it helps your tyres wear more evenly and lets you get the most out of their tread life. Rotating your car tyres will also ensure you’ll achieve best possible performance when your tyres begin to wear.

Note: rotating your tyres won’t correct wear problems caused by incorrect inflation pressures or irregular wear due to wheel alignment issues.

When to Rotate Car Tyres?

It’s a good idea to rotate your tyres roughly every 10,000km / 6,000 miles. There are other factors that may mean you need to rotate your tyres more frequently:

  • High speeds, heavy loads, long distances: if you regularly drive at high speed over long distances, or carry heavy loads, then extra strain might mean slightly more frequent rotations
  • Uneven wear: you should rotate your tyres as soon as possible if you notice uneven wear
  • Humming sound: should your tyres create a humming sound when driving on smooth road surfaces, it is important to inspect for any signs of heel and toe wear caused by poor wheel alignment. Tyre rotation alone will not resolve the issue


How to Rotate Car Tyres

We recommend that you go to your dealer or a garage to have a professional do it.



However if you wish rotate your car tyres yourself, it’s easy enough to do. 

You don’t need any specialist tools – just some space and a few hours. And always check your vehicle owner’s manual for any recommendations by your vehicle manufacturer.

Things to consider if rotating yourself:

  • Rotating front to back: you should only rotate tyres front-to-back if the tyres are all the same size.
  • Different sized tyres: some vehicles come with different sized tyres on the front and rear axles.
  • Directional tread patterns: when rotating tyres that have a directional tread pattern, make sure you follow the arrows on the tyre’s sidewall.
  • Dismount, mount and rebalance: you’ll need to do this if your vehicle uses different-sized directional tyres, or wheels with different front and rear offsets. 




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