Tyre Rotation
Tyre rotation is the practice of moving your tyres from one position on the vehicle to another so that tyres wear more evenly over the course of their lives.
At Kwik Fit we do not recommend that you rotate your tyres to extend their legal life. The reasons for this are:
- Partly worn tyres are more likely to experience punctures – particularly in wet weather conditions.
- Front tyre deflation will create an under-steer effect which is easier to control than over-steer (the effect produced by a rear tyre deflation) - though improper tyre pressure on any wheels is best avoided.
- In the unlikely event that a tyre deflates suddenly, then it is easier to control the vehicle if this occurs at the front of the vehicle. For improved handling and stability it is now recommended that the ‘best’ tyres should always be fitted at the rear of the vehicle. This is irrespective of whether the car is front or rear wheel drive.
Rotating the car’s tyres in order to get more even wear puts you at risk of having back tyre blowouts or punctures - which are much more difficult to control.
Tyre fitment recommendations
Because of this, we recommend fitting your best tyres at the rear of the vehicle. If you are replacing a single tyre then this should be paired at the rear with the tyre having the most tread depth. There are some circumstances when this advice does not apply, such as;
- Where front and rear tyre sizes are designed to be different
- Where a vehicle is designed to have directional tyres at the front and asymmetric at the rear
If you are not sure about the tyre fitment on your vehicle, contact your local Kwik Fit centre for advice.
