Tires
TIRE ROTATION PATTERNS
Which way the tires move depends on which wheels drive the car. Pick a vehicle from the list to see its drivetrain and lug nut torque.
Forward cross (FWD)
- Front tires move straight back to the rear on the same side.
- Rear tires cross to the front: left rear → right front, right rear → left front.
Rearward cross (RWD / 4WD)
- Rear tires move straight forward to the front on the same side.
- Front tires cross to the rear: left front → right rear, right front → left rear.
X-pattern (AWD)
- Every tire crosses diagonally: left front ↔ right rear, right front ↔ left rear.
- Keep all four tires within the same tread depth (AWD systems are sensitive to mismatched sizes).
SPECIAL CASES
- Directional tires (arrow on the sidewall): swap front-to-back on the same side only.
- Staggered setups (different front and rear sizes): swap side-to-side on the same axle only, if the tires are non-directional.
- Full-size matching spare: include it in a 5-tire rotation (spare goes to the right rear on RWD/4WD).
- Torque lug nuts in a star pattern, then re-check torque after 50–100 miles.
General guide — always check the owner's manual and tire maker's advice.
Need to clear the tire light after? See TPMS reset by make.