Mercury 1997 Cougar Manual page 228

Tire Rotation
Because your vehicle's front and rear tires
perform different jobs, they often wear
differently. To make sure your tires wear evenly
and last longer, rotate them as indicated in the
following diagram.
For tire rotation intervals, see the Maintenance
Schedule booklet. If you notice that the tires wear
unevenly, have them checked.
Rotating the tires
228