Tire Rotation: Patterns for Cars, Pickups and Duals

Dual rear wheels add positions. Common practice is to keep the tires on each dual pair closely matched in diameter and tread depth, because a mismatched pair loads the larger tire and drags the smaller one. When rotating, many shops match pairs by tread depth rather than following a fixed pattern. Commercial fleets with duals usually build this into their tire program; see building a fleet tire program.

The owner's manual gives an interval, often tied to oil changes on many vehicles. A practical habit is to rotate at roughly every other oil change, or whenever the manual says, whichever comes first.

Rotate sooner if you notice:

• The front tires visibly more worn than the rears, or the reverse
• Uneven wear across a single tire
• A new noise or vibration that was not there before

Rotation spreads wear. It does not correct the cause of uneven wear.

One shoulder worn on a tire usually points to alignment. Rotating that tire to another position moves the problem rather than solving it. Have the alignment checked with car and light truck alignment.

A vibration after rotation often means a tire that was fine at the rear is out of balance at the front, where it is felt through the steering. Tire and wheel balancing addresses that, and many drivers have tires balanced at the same visit.

Cupping or scalloped wear usually points to worn suspension parts.

The tires tell you how the last few thousand miles went, and it is worth looking before they move.

Even wear across the tread. Pressure and alignment are probably fine. Rotate as normal.

Both shoulders worn, center good. The tire has been running low. Check pressures more often; the tire pressure check article covers how.

Center worn, shoulders good. The tire has been running too high, often from inflating to the sidewall figure rather than the placard figure.

One shoulder worn. Alignment, as above. Fix it before or at the rotation.

Patchy, cupped wear. Usually worn shocks, struts or other suspension parts, and sometimes balance.

One tire much more worn than its partner on the same axle. A pressure difference, a dragging brake, or a mechanical problem on that corner.

A note of the tread depth at each position, taken at every rotation, turns this into a record. Over a year it shows whether the vehicle is wearing tires the way it should.

Some drivers mark tires with chalk or a paint pen before a rotation, noting the old position. It sounds fussy, but it helps when a vibration appears afterwards, because you know which tire moved where. Fleets often record it on the unit's tire sheet for the same reason.

Tire rotation is not one of the services Purcell lists, so ask your Purcell store whether it rotates tires for your vehicle when you book a fitting, balance or alignment. While the tires are off, it is also a natural time for a pressure check and a look at tread depth.