Tire Rotation and Alignment Basics

Two different jobs

Rotation and alignment are often mentioned together, but they do different things. Rotation moves your tires between positions on the vehicle. Alignment adjusts the angles of the wheels so the vehicle tracks straight.

Both exist to help your tires wear evenly. The industry association USTMA lists pressure, tread, rotation and alignment as the four basics of ongoing tire care. This guide covers the last two.

What rotation does

USTMA says rotating your tires on the schedule in your owner's manual can prevent irregular tire wear. The idea is simple. Michelin says front tires tend to wear faster because of steering input, braking and cornering forces, while rear tires generally wear more evenly. Moving tires around evens that out.

Rotation is also a good moment to look at the tires. You can check tread depth, look for damage and check pressure.

How often

Follow your owner's manual. USTMA says that if no rotation period is specified, it recommends every 5,000 to 8,000 miles.

USTMA also says that once tread wears down to 2/32 of an inch, it is time to visit a local tire shop. A rotation visit is a convenient time to measure.

Which pattern

The right pattern depends on your vehicle and your tires. Your owner's manual may show it, and a tire shop will know it. Michelin suggests moving the front tires straight back and crossing the rears to the front on a front-wheel drive vehicle. For rear-wheel drive it suggests the reverse. It says all-wheel drive and four-wheel drive vehicles are typically rotated in a crisscross pattern, unless the vehicle maker says otherwise.

Two situations limit your options.

Directional tires

Directional tires have a tread designed to spin in one direction. A tire guide site says you can spot them by a directional arrow marking on the sidewall.

The same site says directional tires must be rotated front to rear only and must not switch sides. Moving one to the other side makes it spin the wrong way, which can mean unsafe handling, especially in wet weather.

Staggered setups

A staggered setup has different wheel and tire sizes front and rear. These cannot be swapped front to back because the sizes differ. The tire guide site says they can only be rotated side to side.

If a vehicle has both directional tires and a staggered set, that site says there is no way to rotate them short of removing the tires from their wheels and remounting them reversed. Ask your shop what it recommends for your vehicle.

Use our tire finder if you are unsure what size sits on each axle. Always confirm sizes on the tire sidewall or door placard.

Rotation and new tires

If you buy only two tires, USTMA says to put them on the rear axle. It says the newer tires have better grip, particularly on wet roads, which helps avoid hydroplaning. A tire maker's bulletin makes the same point and adds that this applies regardless of which axle drives the vehicle.

USTMA's overall preference is to replace all four tires at the same time.

A tire maker's bulletin also says four-wheel and all-wheel drive vehicles need all four tires closely matched in diameter. If you are comparing sizes for one of those vehicles, check them with the tire size calculator first.

Rotation and TPMS

Moving wheels around can move sensors in a tire pressure monitoring system. Ask the shop whether your system needs a reset afterward, and check your owner's manual.

USTMA also says TPMS sensors need careful handling when tires are removed and mounted, so a shop that knows your system is a good choice.

What alignment does

Alignment sets the angles of the wheels relative to the vehicle and the road. A tire retailer describes three main angles.

• Camber is the inward or outward tilt of the tire and wheel when viewed from the front. Negative camber tilts the top inward. Positive camber tilts it outward.
• Caster is the slope of the steering axis. Most modern vehicles use positive caster, which tilts rearward, and it affects steering response and handling.
• Toe is the direction the tires point relative to straight ahead. If they point inward you have toe-in. If outward, toe-out.

Why it matters

USTMA says misaligned wheels can lead to uneven, rapid tread wear and should be corrected by a tire dealer. The tire retailer lists excessive tire wear, poor fuel efficiency and handling problems among the symptoms.

Bridgestone's 2019 US warranty manual lists wheel misalignment and worn suspension components together among its maintenance-related exclusions, so they are worth keeping an eye on.

When to check

USTMA says to have alignment checked at any indication of trouble, such as pulling, and periodically along with tire balance, as your owner's manual specifies.

One tire retailer adds that it suggests a check after installing new tires, after suspension work and after hitting a curb or road hazard.

Wear patterns

Bridgestone's 2019 warranty manual names several irregular wear patterns, including shoulder wear, center wear, cupping and feathering. Different causes can produce different patterns, and not all are alignment problems. A tire professional can read the pattern and tell you what is behind it.

Keep records

Some warranties ask for proof of upkeep. Bridgestone's 2019 warranty manual requires regular inspection and rotation and proof showing the date, mileage and service location. It also lists failure to rotate as recommended and wheel misalignment as exclusions.

Keep invoices from rotation, alignment and balance visits, and file them with your tire purchase receipt. If your vehicle has a service app or logbook, record the visit there too.

A simple routine

• Check your owner's manual for the rotation interval and pattern.
• Measure tread depth when you rotate.
• Ask for an alignment check if the vehicle pulls, after suspension work or a hard impact, and at the intervals your manual gives.
• Keep every receipt.
• When it is time to replace tires, find a size match with the tire finder and confirm it on your sidewall or door placard.