Symptoms
- Front tires wearing faster than rear, or vice versa
- Uncertain how long it's been since the last rotation
- Noticing uneven wear patterns starting to develop
Likely causes
- CommonFront and rear tires naturally wear differentlyFront tires typically handle more steering and braking load and wear faster, especially on front-wheel drive cars.
What to do
- Check your owner's manual for the manufacturer's recommended rotation interval, often 5,000–7,500 miles.
- Have tires rotated at every other oil change as a simple rule of thumb if you don't want to track mileage separately.
- Ask the shop to follow the correct rotation pattern for your drivetrain (front-wheel, rear-wheel, or all-wheel drive), since patterns differ.
- Have wear checked and pressures set correctly at the same time as rotation.
- Keep a simple log or reminder so rotations don't get skipped, since uneven wear that sets in is permanent.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.