How Should Tires Be Rotated?
3 Answers
Tire rotation methods vary depending on the vehicle type: 1. Rear-wheel drive vehicles: When rotating tires, the left front tire should be moved to the right rear, the right front tire to the left rear, the left rear tire to the left front, and the right rear tire to the right front; 2. Front-wheel drive vehicles: When rotating tires, the left rear tire should be moved to the right front, the right rear tire to the left front, the left front tire to the left rear, and the right front tire to the right rear; 3. Four-wheel drive vehicles: All left and right tires should be crossed and swapped. If the same specification tires are used, the left and right tires can be directly swapped. Important notes for tire rotation include performing a four-wheel alignment after rotation and regularly maintaining the tires.
I often rotate my car's tires myself, swapping them every few thousand kilometers—it's quite fun. The tools needed are simple: a jack, a lug wrench, and wheel chocks. Park on level ground, engage the handbrake, and use the chocks to block the rear wheels when lifting the car with the jack. Note the original positions when removing tires. For my front-wheel-drive car, I follow the manual's recommendation for a cross rotation: left front to right rear, right front to left rear. After swapping, remount the tires in their new positions, and always tighten the bolts with a torque wrench to avoid uneven pressure. This DIY job saves shop fees and lets me check tire pressure and wear, extending tire life and cutting costs. Once it becomes a habit, the car drives more steadily, especially with better wet-weather traction. The whole process takes just half an hour—totally worth it.
I just learned how to rotate tires and found it not as difficult as I imagined as a regular car owner. A while ago, I watched tutorial videos online and started the operation: first, parked the car steadily on a flat surface in the garage, then found the appropriate mode according to the manual (for my small front-wheel-drive car, it was simply swapping the front and rear tires directly). After preparing the tools, I lifted the vehicle and removed the tires, taking it slow and steady. When putting them back, I made sure to tighten the bolts securely. Rotating the tires helps wear them more evenly, reducing the hassle of frequent replacements, and the car feels smoother to drive. Beginners are advised to start with simple steps and ask experienced drivers for advice or seek help from a quick repair shop if unsure—safety comes first, don't push yourself too hard. Doing it yourself can save some money, but safety is the top priority.
