Because the weight of the car engine is usually carried at the front of your car, the front tyres usually wear out much faster than the rear tyres. Therefore, changing or rotating the tyres frequently will help them wear more evenly, prolong the tread life and ensure you achieve the best possible performance.

While rotating your tyres is beneficial, it won’t correct irregular wear problems caused by incorrect inflation pressures or wheel alignment issues.

How often to rotate car tyres

It’s a good idea to rotate your tyres approximately every 10,000km, but there are other driving factors to consider rotating them more frequently, such as:

• High speeds, heavy loads, long distances: if you regularly drive at high speed over long distances, or carry heavy loads, the extra strain might mean slightly more frequent rotations
• Uneven wear: you should rotate your tyres as soon as possible if you notice uneven wear
• Humming sound: if your tyres create a humming sound when driving on smooth road surfaces, it is important to inspect for any signs of “heel and toe” wear caused by poor wheel alignment, as tyre rotation alone will not resolve the issue

If you wish to rotate your car tyres yourself, it’s easy enough to do. 

You’ll just need a couple of jacks, some space and a few hours. Always check your vehicle owner’s manual for any recommendations from the manufacturer.

Depending on your vehicle, there are various ways you can rotate your tyres.

Front Wheel Drive Cars:

Front tyres should be moved to the back and remain on the same side. 

Rear tyres should be brought forwards and crossed from one side to the other. For example, your rear left tyre will become your front right tyre. Your front left tyre will become your rear left tyre

Rear Wheel Drive Cars:

Rear tyres should be brought forward and remain on the same side,

Front tyres should be moved to the back of the car and crossed from one side to the other.

For example, your front right tyre will become your rear left tyre. Your rear right tyre will become your front right tyre.

4×4 Cars:

All four tyres should be rotated in a crossed direction, so your front right tyre will become your rear left tyre and the rear left tyre will become the front right tyre.

Things to consider if rotating yourself:

• Rotating front to back: you should only rotate tyres front-to-back if the tyres are all the same size.
• Different sized tyres: some vehicles come with different sized tyres on the front and rear axles.
• Directional tread patterns: when rotating tyres that have a directional tread pattern, make sure you follow the arrows on the tyre’s sidewall.
• Dismount, mount and rebalance: you’ll need to do this if your vehicle uses different-sized directional tyres, or wheels with different front and rear offsets.