What is the Proper Tire Rotation Pattern?

What tire rotation pattern should you use when rotating your tires? If you’re like most Dayton drivers, you may find yourself pondering this very question. While each vehicle is different, the general tire rotation schedule is pretty universal for most models. It’s recommended that you rotate your tires about every six months or 6,000 miles. Learn all of the elements of proper tire rotation with the service department at New Carlisle Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram.

Rotating Tires: 101

When you rotate your tires, you shift your vehicle’s tires from the front to the back and vice versa with the back wheels. This is done to evenly distribute the tire tread wear over time. If you’re doing a DIY tire rotation, you may be unsure what the proper tire rotation is. Luckily, we’ve put together a guide to help you determine the proper tire rotation pattern to use.

Forward Cross

This is the more common option among Springfield drivers with front-wheel drive vehicles. With this pattern, you simply take the front tires and move them to the back of your vehicle, and then you move the back tires to the front of the vehicle. You’ll want to be sure to move the left rear tire to the front right side and move the right rear tire to the left front side. The front tires that are moved to the back can stay on their original sides. 

X-Pattern

This pattern follows the forward cross method, except you switch the front tires to the opposite sides after you bring them to the back of the vehicle. This pattern can also be used for front-wheel drive vehicles. 

Rearward Cross

This method is essentially the opposite of the forward cross and is most applicable for rear- and four-wheel drive vehicles. When performing this pattern, you’ll want to bring the front tires to the back and the back tires to the front. You’ll want to switch the front tires to the opposite sides after you move them to the back of the vehicle. Unlike the forward cross, you don’t need to switch the rear tires to opposite sides after you move them forward. 

Directional vs. Non-Directional Tires

Tires are made with a one-way pattern designed for the left or right side of your vehicle. This can be indicated with an arrow or triangle marking on the side of your tire and will determine if your vehicle is directional or non-directional. This simply means you’ll know which side of the vehicle the tire is meant for. Here is the proper tire rotation pattern for each tire type: 

• Directional Tires: For directional tires, you’ll want to switch the front right tire with the back right tire and the front left tire with the back left tire.
• Non-Directional Tires: With non-directional tires, you can simply switch your front and back tires and leave them on any side. 

While you can perform this at home, you can also schedule a visit with our service center at New Carlisle Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram near Huber Heights for when you want to leave it to the pros. 

Visit New Carlisle Chrysler Jeep Dodge Ram for Your Tire Needs

Now that you know what the proper tire rotation pattern is, you can keep your tires in shape and extend their lifespan. Contact us to learn more about DIY care and get your car back on the New Carlisle roads.