Regular tyre rotation evens out wear and extends the life of your tyre set. Learn when to rotate, the correct patterns to use, and why it matters.
Tyre rotation involves moving tyres to different positions on your vehicle to equalise wear across the full set. Because front and rear tyres perform different functions — fronts handle steering and often bear more braking load, while rears primarily provide drive on many vehicles — they wear at different rates without rotation.
As a general guideline, tyres should be rotated every 5,000 to 10,000 miles, or in line with your vehicle manufacturer's recommendation. On most front-wheel-drive vehicles, a straight front-to-rear rotation on the same side is the standard approach, though some vehicles benefit from cross-rotation depending on the tyre type.
Directional tyres — designed to rotate in one specific direction as indicated by an arrow on the sidewall — can only be moved front to back on the same side. Asymmetric tyres have designated inner and outer faces, so they must also remain on the same side of the vehicle during rotation.
Combining regular rotation with correct inflation pressure and periodic wheel alignment checks can add several thousand miles to the overall life of your tyre set. Glasgow Mobile Tyre Guys can inspect your wear patterns and advise on whether rotation would benefit your current set during any service visit.
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