Tire rotation equalizes wear by moving tires between positions. The right pattern depends on the drivetrain and the tire type. The wrong pattern can void warranties and wear tires unevenly.
Front-wheel-drive vehicles: rear tires move straight forward, front tires cross to opposite rear positions. This counteracts the front-tire wear bias.
Rear-wheel-drive and AWD vehicles: front tires move straight back, rear tires cross to opposite front positions.
Directional tires (with arrows on the sidewall) can only swap front-to-back on the same side — never cross sides without remounting.
Staggered fitment (different size tires front vs. rear, common on performance cars) cannot be rotated at all. You buy two new tires per axle when those wear out.
Most tire shops include free rotation with tire purchase. Take advantage of it. Skipping rotation reduces tire life by 20–30% and increases replacement cost over the vehicle's life.