Why rotate tires?

The tires at the front of your vehicle often wear out faster than the ones at the back. By changing them frequently it helps them wear more evenly and lets you get the most out of their tread life.

Note: rotating your tires won’t correct wear problems caused by incorrect inflation pressures.

How often do I need to rotate?

It’s a good idea to rotate your tires roughly every 6,000 miles. There are other factors that may mean you need to rotate your tires more frequently:

• High speeds, heavy loads, long distances: if you regularly drive at high speed and long distances, or carry heavy loads, then extra strain might mean slightly more frequent rotations.
• Uneven wear: you should rotate them as soon as possible if you notice uneven wear.
• Humming sound: if they emit a humming sound when you’re driving on a smooth road, it might be time to look into rotation.

Can I do a tire rotation myself?

We recommend that you go to your dealer or a garage to have a professional do it. But you can do it yourself, and it’s easy enough to do. You don’t need any specialist tools – just some space and a few hours. Always check your vehicle owner’s manual for any recommendations by your vehicle manufacturer.

Things to consider if rotating yourself

Rotating front to back

You should only rotate tires front-to-back if the tires are all the same size.

Different sized tires:

Some vehicles come with different sized tires on the front and rear axles.

Directional tread patterns:

When rotating tires that have a directional tread pattern, make sure you follow the arrows on the tire’s sidewall.

Dismount, mount and rebalance:

You’ll need to do this if your vehicle uses different-sized directional tires, or wheels with different front and rear offsets.

Regular tire tests and checking the tread on all four of your tires can help diagnose potential problems. Check them at least once a month, as well as before and after long journeys.

Things to look out for:

Visible tread wear bars:

You can only see these bars of hard rubber when your tire’s tread has become worn. If you can see them, your tires need replacing. If you’re not sure where they are, you’ll see a mark on the sidewall that indicates where to look.

Your tread is less than 1.6mm:

For winter tires, Dunlop recommends a minimum tread depth of 4mm. Check them with a tread depth gauge (they aren’t expensive if you haven’t got one) and make sure you measure both the inside and outside of your treads.

Something’s lodged in the tread:

Things get stuck in your tread all the time. Most of the time they’re easy to remove, but if you spot something that looks as if it’s gone through the rubber, like a nail, leave it in until you can get to a garage. Otherwise you’re likely to end up with a flat tire.

Tires are worn on the outside:

If they’re worn on both of their edges, you might need to inflate them or check for leaks. Tires lose air naturally, but driving on underinflated tires uses more fuel and puts you at greater risk of accidents. If you notice that only the front tires have worn edges, you might be taking corners too quickly. Make sure you regularly check your tire pressure.

Tires are worn in the centre:

If the centre of the tread is wearing more than the outer edges, you might have overinflated your tires. This can increase the risk of a tire blowout. Get a pressure gauge and then deflate to the recommended pressure level.

Uneven wear across a single tire:

The wear patterns on your treads might indicate problems elsewhere. If you notice uneven patches of wear, or bald spots, you might need your wheels balanced or aligned. Sometimes bald spots indicate that your shocks are worn.

Uneven wear across all the tires:

Your tires won’t wear out at the same rate. The front of your vehicle carries the engine and does most of the steering work, so tires on your front axle will wear out more quickly. If they seem to be wearing more than normal, you should have your suspension checked. If wear is greater on one side of the vehicle than the other, it might be time for an alignment.

Sawtoothed pattern on tire edges:

If you notice that your tires have a sawtoothed or feathered appearance around the edges, the likely cause is erratic rubbing against the road. That’s a sign that you may need an alignment.

All tires wear out or become damaged and will eventually need replacing. How quickly that happens depends on various things, like your driving habits, where you live and how well you maintain your tires.

When should I replace them?

You should inspect your tires regularly – at least once a month. Check the below to see if your tires need replacing:

• Tread wear bars: most tires have tread wear bars - bands of hard rubber that you can only see when your tread depth has gone beyond the limit for safe driving, which is generally 1.6mm.
• Uneven wear patterns: you should also check your treads for uneven wear patterns that can indicate other problems with your tires or your vehicle.
• There’s a bulge or a blister on the sidewall of a tire. These can lead to tire failure and could be dangerous.
• A tire has gone flat due to a blow out.
• A tire has lacerations or other significant damage.
• You have sidewall or tread punctures larger than 0.64cm. You cannot repair any punctures larger than that and you should never repair tires worn below 1.6mm

Tips for buying replacement tires

• Replace all four at once: it’s a good idea to replace all four tires at once. For optimum handling and control we recommend they are all the same type and size, unless otherwise specified by the vehicle manufacturer.
• Make sure they match: if you’re only buying two, make sure the new ones match the tires you’re keeping, and that this is permitted by your local laws and by the vehicle manufacturer.
• Put new tires on the rear axle: for better traction and stability when you drive, if you are only buying two new tires put them on the rear wheels.
• Different speed ratings: It’s not recommended to fit tires with different speed ratings. However, if they are fitted with different speed ratings they should be installed with like pairs on the same axle.
• Load-carrying capacity: make sure replacement tires have an equal or greater load-carrying capacity to what the original equipment manufacturer specifies.