Four (4) Tire Rotation
What tire rotation
pattern should be followed? The Tire & Rim Association has identified three
traditional rotation patterns covering most vehicles (equipped with
non-directional tires and wheels which are the same size and offset). The first
being the "Rearward Cross" (Figure A); the second being the
"Forward Cross" (Figure C); and the third is the
"X-Pattern" (Figure B). The X-Pattern can be used as an alternative
to A or C.
Today’s performance
tire and wheel trends have provided the need for two additional tire rotation
patterns.
- The "Front-to-Rear" (Figure
D) pattern may be used for vehicles equipped with the same size
directional wheels and/or directional tires.
- A "Side-to-Side" (Figure
E) pattern may be used for vehicles equipped with different sized
non-directional tires and wheels on the front axle compared to the rear
axle.
If the last two
rotation patterns do not provide even wear, dismounting, mounting and
rebalancing will be necessary to rotate the tires.
Vehicles that use
different sized directional wheels and tires, and/or wheels with different
front and rear offsets with directional tires will require dismounting,
mounting and rebalancing to rotate tires.
Five (5) Tire Rotation
While many vehicles
are equipped with temporary spares that cannot be included in a tire rotation
program, if the vehicle’s four wheels and tires on the ground match the spare
wheel and tire (if non-directional and not branded "for temporary
use"), they should be included in the tire rotation pattern. Follow the
vehicle manufacturer’s recommended tire rotation procedures, or if not
available, insert the spare in the right rear position at every rotation. Place
the tire that would have gone to the right rear in the trunk as the spare until
the next tire rotation.
- On front-wheel drive cars with
full-size matching spare, rotate the tires in a forward cross pattern (Figure
F)
- On rear-wheel or four-wheel
drive cars with full-size matching spare, rotate the tires in a rearward
cross pattern (Figure G)
Five tire rotation
results in equally distributed use that will help maintain equivalent tread
depths on all five tires throughout their life. When applied to many four-wheel
drive and all-wheel drive vehicles, this is required to prevent driveline damage
if a flat tire forces a new spare to be put into service with partially worn
tires on the other three wheel positions.
Once again, any time you make adjustmnents to tie rods, suspension, wheels, rims and tires, please use your QuickTrick™ alignment product to check your measurements and adjust if needed!
Be safe, Be fast & Be careful!
See you next week!
Mr QuickTrick™
