Regular Rotation
The weight of a vehicle is not evenly distributed to all four tires. Therefore, regular rotation is necessary to maintain even treadwear and get the most out of your tires.
There are several methods of rotation. For all-season tires and most vehicles on the road, tires from the rear axle are moved to the drive axle and crossed to opposite sides of the vehicle. The tires from the drive axle are moved to the rear but remain on the same sides. This is known as the "modified X" pattern.
Tires with "directional" design are rotated differently. In this case, all tires remain on the same side of the vehicle and are rotated straight forward and straight back. For four-wheel-drive vehicles, it is recommended to switch all four tires, both from side-to-side and in axle position.
Check your vehicle owner's manual for the manufacturer's rotation recommendations. If no rotation period is specified, tires should be adjusted every 6,000 to 8,000 miles. Four-wheel-drive vehicles may require rotation as often as every 4,000 miles. The first rotation of your tires is the most important, and remember to adjust inflation pressures to the vehicle manufacturer's recommendations after every rotation.