Tire rotation, that is routinely repositioning your vehicle’s tires in specific patterns from front to back or side to side , is an important element of tire upkeep and safety. Additionally, rotating your tires may also be required to keep your tires covered under warranty.
What happens if you run a directional tire the wrong way?
A directional tire is, quite simply, a tire that is engineered to roll in only one direction. ... If mounted incorrectly, a directional tire cannot be expected to work properly in wet or wintry conditions . If mounted improperly, directional tires may also wear irregularly and prematurely, and produce excessive road noise.
What direction should tires be rotated?
Front-wheel drive : Rotate the tires in a forward cross pattern. This means that the left front goes to the left rear and the right front goes to the right rear. The left rear goes to the right front and the right rear goes to the left front. Rear-wheel drive or AWD/four-wheel drive : Left rear goes to right front.
Do tires have to face a certain direction?
Another way to check if your tires are directional is to look for the mounting direction. Since directional tires can only be installed facing a certain direction , an arrow or indicator is placed on the sidewall of the tire to indicate the direction the tire should be mounted.
Does tire rotation direction matter?
On standard tires with symmetrical tread patterns, it does not matter which way the tire is fitted on the rim and in which position it is fitted on the car. ... This side of the tire must be on the outside, and the tire must roll forwards in the direction of the arrow for optimum tire performance.
Can rotating tires mess up alignment?
Rotating your tires does not in any way affect your wheel alignment . In fact, it is even recommended that you do it often to assist in checking tire wear and tear. If you fail to rotate your tires regularly, the treads can wear down unevenly in order to create a sort of tough and potentially unstable driving surface.
How much does tire rotation cost?
Tire rotation costs tend to vary from place to place, but in general it’s one of the cheapest repairs you can make. Rotating your tires costs between $24-120 depending on where you take your car, and some places will even do it for free if you buy a new set of tires from them.
What happens if you put tires on backwards?
If directional tires get mounted backward, you won’t get the hydroplaning resistance and other performance driving benefits the tread is designed for . Front and rear tires often wear at different rates. ... When you have directional tires, you can only easily swap fronts for rears on the same side of the car.
How do I know if my tires are directional or nondirectional?
Directional tyres are marked on the side , i.e. on the tyre’s sidewall. You will see the word “Rotation” or “Direction” written here. Next to it, there is a small arrow which indicates the tyre’s forward direction (rolling direction). Directional tyres are marked on the side, i.e. on the tyre’s sidewall.
Can I rotate my tires front to back?
4. Front-to-back. Directional tires are designed and constructed so that they always rotate in the same direction due to their tread pattern. If your tires are directional, they should only be rotated from front to back (or vice-versa) on the same side of the vehicle.
When should you not rotate your tires?
Though every vehicle and tire type is different, many experts recommend tires be rotated at least every six months or every 6,000 to 8,000 miles .
Can you rotate tires too often?
Most vehicle manufacturers recommend that the tires be rotated on the same schedule as oil changes. ... Rotating the tires between front and rear a couple of times a year spreads out the burden so the tread can wear evenly.
How long does tire rotation take?
Usually, the average length of time that a tire rotation will take is around an hour and it’s recommended every six months or 6,000 to 8,000 miles.
Do radial tires have a direction?
Determine if your tires are unidirectional or multidirectional Many of the radial tires sold today are unidirectional, meaning they should only roll in one direction . ... Rotate the tires on cars with different sized front and rear tires If your car has different sized unidirectional tires, you can’t rotate them at all.
How do I know if my tires were rotated?
The easiest way to tell if the dealer has rotated your tires is to mark each tire with a marker (RL, FR, etc. ) , indicating its original location, and then checking it after the rotation. If it doesn’t match with the original, they have rotated your tires.
