Everything You Need To Know About Tire Rotations And More At Evans BMW

Vehicle maintenance can feel overwhelming, and many people dread going to the mechanic for fear of being taken advantage of and pushed to spend hundreds or even thousands of dollars more than they actually need to. On top of it all, there is advice coming from all directions about what you need to do for your car and when - and a lot of drivers wonder how much of the “required maintenance” is truly necessary for your vehicle’s well-being.

For example, a tire rotation. While something like this is commonly suggested to drivers when they go in for an oil change, many people are unclear on what exactly a tire rotation is. The good news is that Evans BMW is here to clear up any confusion and explain why you shouldn’t ship a tire rotation at your next routinely scheduled service.

What is Tire Rotation?

A tire rotation is a service where you take the tires on a vehicle and move them to a new position. This could mean taking the rear tires and putting them on the front axle and taking the front tires and putting them in the rear position, changing tires from one side of the vehicle to the other, or a combination of both options.

The purpose of a tire rotation is to ensure that your tires wear evenly to increase traction and decrease potential problems such as weak spots. Each tire position on the vehicle undergoes different types of stress and strain, especially due to weight and turning, so rotating your tires helps all of the tires undergo an equal amount of stress over time.

Different types of cars will require different tire rotation patterns based on how many wheels they have, the drivetrain, the size of the wheels, and more. For example, in front-wheel drive vehicles, the pattern suggests having the front axle tires moved straight back to the rear axle and the rear axle tires moved directly forward to the front axle, both without changing sides.

In all-wheel drive cars, however, the rear axle tires are usually moved directly forward without changing sides, while the front axle tires are moved backward and to opposite sides. If you have a full spare tire, it is important to rotate the spare tire as well.

How Often Should I Rotate My Tires?

The general rule of thumb is to have your tires rotated every 5,000-8,000 miles. This is right around how often you would be changing your car’s oil if you use fully synthetic oils, which means that you can kill two birds with one stone when you take your car in to be serviced. If you want a timeframe specific to your vehicle, check your owner’s manual for a recommended service schedule.

Why is Tire Rotation Important?

Tire rotations aren’t just random. In fact, service technicians follow specific rotation patterns to best suit your vehicle. Ensuring your tires undergo even tire wear can help extend your tire’s life, enhance traction and stability in day-to-day and inclement weather, and even improve your fuel efficiency.

Which Pattern Do I Choose?

Different types of vehicles will require different tire rotation patterns. Patterns vary from vehicle to vehicle based on the number of wheels, drivetrain, directional vs. non-directional tires, and more.

Here are some of the different rotation patterns you can expect to see commonly in the industry. Just remember: following a tire rotation, it is important that all tires are adjusted to the vehicle manufacturer’s recommended pressure.

For Tires That Are of Uniform Size and Non-Directional

Rearward Cross

For rear-wheel drive vehicles, the rearward cross pattern is recommended. This is when rear tires are moved to the forward axle and kept on the same side of the vehicle. The front wheels, on the other hand, are moved from the front axle to the rear axle, as well as to the opposite side of the vehicle.

X-Pattern

For 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive cars, all tires are moved diagonally from their starting positions. This means that rear tires are moved to the front axle and to opposite sides, while front tires are moved to the rear axle and to opposite sides.

Forward Cross

As the most common pattern for front-wheel drive cars, the forward cross consists of the front wheels being moved directly back while the rear tires are moved forward and switched sides, opposite from the rearward cross.

For Tires That Are of Uniform Size and Non-Directional With a Full-Size Spare Tire

When you have a full-size spare tire, you’ll want to rotate the spare in with the other four to ensure that all of the tires on your vehicle have even tread wear. This is especially important for 4-wheel drive and all-wheel drive vehicles since even minor differences can cause unnecessary strain on your vehicle’s drivetrain.

Rearward Cross (Rear-Wheel or 4-Wheel Drive Vehicles)

This is similar to the standard rearward cross but takes into consideration the spare tire. In this situation, both tires on the rear axle move directly forward to the front. The spare moves to the right side of the rear position, while the front right tire moves backward and across to the rear left axle position. The right front tire becomes the new spare.

Forward Cross (Front-Wheel Drive Vehicles)

Again, similar to the aforementioned forward cross, the rear wheels are moved diagonally forward, placing the rear left tire into the front right position and the rear right tire into the front left position. The spare tire is moved to the rear right position, which leaves the front left tire to go to the rear left position and the front right tire to become the new spare.

For Differently-Sized And Directional Tires

Side-To-Side (For Differently-Sized Tires On The Front And Rear Axles)

Since tires are differently sized, tires are simply switched with their same-sized partner while remaining on the same axle. This means that the rear left becomes the rear right and vice versa. The same goes for the front tires.

Front-To-Back (For Directional Tires)

In this situation, all tires are switched from one axle to the other while remaining on the same side of the vehicle. For example, the rear right tire becomes the front right tire and vice versa, while the left front and rear wheels also trade positions.

Tire Rotation Services at Evans BMW

Whatever your service needs, Evans BMW is here to help. From tire rotations to oil changes and much more, our highly trained professionals work hard to keep your vehicle in the best possible shape. Give us a call or visit our website to schedule service today.