Tire rotation: How and why should you swap your tires with each other?

To put it simply, the tires of a car are exchanged with each other when they change position. It's all about getting the most out of a set of tires. Regular rotation extends the life of your tires and improves their performance. However, it is important to know that not all motorists can replace their car tires at will. In the following article, we explain why.

What is tire rotation?

As mentioned earlier, tire rotation is the process of changing the position of the tires on a car from front to back or from side to side.

The main reason for a change of position is the fact that all tyre types wear out at different rates. The tyres on the drive axle wear out the fastest due to the power transmission, power and torque. This applies to both front-wheel drive and rear-wheel drive vehicles. The front tires suffer the most, as most cars have front-wheel drive. For vehicles with rear-wheel drive, it is exactly the other way around.

Under these circumstances, it can be quite advantageous to mount the two rear wheels at the front. This will help you get the most out of your tires, as all tires will wear evenly and last longer.

When should you replace your tyres with each other?

Tyres should be serviced regularly, respecting the change intervals specified in the vehicle's owner's manual.

You should rotate your tires about every 8,000 to 10,000 km. Often, the maintenance of the vehicle is also due at this time. The right time can also be to change from winter to summer tires. Or if you new tyres buy.

If only two tyres are replaced, Michelin recommends fitting the new or least
worn tyres to the rear axle to improve vehicle control and safety.

This advice applies to front- and rear-wheel drive vehicles that have front and rear with the same tyre sizes equipped.

The tire pressure must be adjusted according to the recommendations of the vehicle manufacturer or the tyre manufacturer.

Reasons for tire rotation

Tire rotation is a precautionary measure that you can use to ensure that the tires wear evenly.

Various factors play a role in tyre wear:

The location of the engine in your vehicle: If it is positioned at the front, it is likely that the front tires will support more weight than the rear tires. So your front tires wear out faster.
If you ride a lot on gravel roads or rocky terrain, your tires will wear out faster than you would during normal city or highway driving.
In most cars, the front tires in particular are braked, which leads to higher wear than the rear tires.
A bad Wheel alignment is another reason for premature wear.

Another cause can be right-hand drive! In countries with right-hand traffic, the right-hand bends are usually narrower than the left-hand bends. So, like a sportsman on the track, the left tire travels a longer distance on the outside, which leads to more wear than on the right side!

How are the tires exchanged with each other?

First of all, the rotation of the wheels of the vehicle depends on the tire tread.

Asymmetrical, symmetrical and directional tread profiles

Tyres with directional and asymmetrical tread can only be used in one direction of travel. This means that they can only be mounted in one position. This is indicated on the sidewall of the tire by an arrow. In addition, the sidewall of this tyre type is marked "Outside".

In these tires, the wheel rotation is tied to a specific side. The left front tire can be mounted on the same side, but at the rear. The same applies to the right side.

Symmetrical tires, on the other hand, are not affected by the arrangement of the wheels during rotation. Symmetrical tires have the same tread pattern on the left and right sides. There is no mounting direction. You can easily rotate in either direction. They can therefore be mounted on the left or right, as well as on the front and rear.

When changing position, the type of drive of the vehicle must therefore be taken into account.

PREFERRED TYRE ROTATION SCHEMES

Passenger cars and light trucks with four-wheel drive
Image A: Vehicles with rear-wheel drive, 4-wheel drive and four-wheel drive
Image B: Front-wheel drive vehicles

ALTERNATIVE TIRE ROTATIONS FOR ALL VEHICLES

Passenger cars and light trucks with four-wheel drive
Image A: Vehicles with rear-wheel drive, 4-wheel drive and four-wheel drive
Image B: Front-wheel drive vehicles

TWO-TIRE ROTATION

Passenger cars and light trucks with all-wheel drive
(Highly recommended if you buy two tyres or different tyre sizes between the front and rear axles)

ALTERNATIVE CHANGE OF POSITION FOR DIRECTIONAL TYRES WHEN IT IS NOT POSSIBLE TO REMOVE THE TYRE FROM THE WHEEL

DUAL TIRE ROTATION

Rotation of studded tires

The direction of studded tyres must never be changed.

This is ensured by changing the tyres between the front and rear on the same side of the vehicle.

Tire rotation: ask a professional for help

Always get professional advice! You can have your tyres replaced by a professional. Also, a tire technician can inspect the tires for you to detect any potential damage.

source : Tire rotation: extend the life of your tires