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Tire rotation - absolutely necessary?

Pops1967GTX

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Just curious about members views on Tire rotation. I have always been sceptical of the 5000 mile tire rotation recommendation...
I see no benefit to tire rotation unless you want to be sure to wear them all 4 out at the same time.

I think it's the owners responsibilty to monitor the condition of all of the tires."


Tire Tech Information - Where to Install New Pairs of Tires?
 
If it comes down to it, yeah, technically speaking the purpose is to equalize tire wear, so all four get replaced when worn out equally. On my personal cars, I usually don't bother. On my muscle cars, though, rears always seem to wear fast... hmmm... wonder why ?:D
 
Essentially, if they are the same brand and size then yes. But the main benefit is to ensure even wear.

Different drive line types tend to wear differently. For example, FWD cars tend to wear quicker on the front than the rear. Rotating helps to keep even wear all around and improve traction where it is most important.
 
I generally don't bother unless I see the fronts wearing down or scuffing. This only pertains to vehicles with the same size all around of course.
 
Daughter's late model daily car has different tire/wheel sizes front to back from factory so no rotating tires even possible.
That being said, I rotate my truck tires once a year just for even wear.
 
Just curious about members views on Tire rotation. I have always been sceptical of the 5000 mile tire rotation recommendation...
I see no benefit to tire rotation unless you want to be sure to wear them all 4 out at the same time.

I think it's the owners responsibilty to monitor the condition of all of the tires."


Tire Tech Information - Where to Install New Pairs of Tires?

When I buy new tires, the place I purchase them from, gives free rotations. It certainly doesn't hurt to have them rotated and will probably add to the
life of the tires. Buy tires with a mileage warranty as you will probably never achieve that many miles on the tires. I usually end up getting a "free" tire
when purchasing a new set as I will never get to the mileage warranty and they will be pro rated on the replacement set. If one does a lot of highway
driving the mileage warranty may be met.
 
Speaking of rotating tires, I usually do it myself because I have too many instances of lugs not torqued or loose. Also, many places these days use un-calibrated torque equipment and when I went to either change a flat I needed a 3/4" breaker bar with a 3 foot persuader. There is no excuse for this crap. What do you do out on the road in the dark and you try to change it and can't break the lugs loose even when you stand on the wrench? This is one of many reasons I did my own lobotomy! LOL
 
if they are all the same size they will last twice as long if rotated every 6000 miles
 
:blah:
if they are all the same size they will last twice as long if rotated every 6000 miles
That might be true in a consistent world, but in my experience of commuting approx. 35,000 plus miles a year, for over 38 years, I'd of had to rotate the tires a half dozen times a year. I found the best results by keeping my tires inflated to the highest pressure printed on the tire and just kept an eye on them. Some of the best results I had were from cheapo, knock-off brands, one of which I only rotated once at approx. 38,000 miles and the tires lasted over 75,000 miles and even at the end still passed inspection. Also take into consideration some of this stupid new fangled bullshit with tire pressure monitors in your car. I know several people who had damage to those sensors when getting tire service and they weren't cheap to fix!
I think I ranted enough now to stink up the thread so I'll depart for now until something else hits me in da head and stirs up some more useless banter! LOL :blah:
 
some possible mechancis reasons......
1. If a tire starts wearing unevenly, you want to know where you need to do suspension adjustments to fix the problem. If you rotate tires, you loose this information.

2. The tire rubber and reinforcing metal take a certain 'set' with each other for any given position on the car. If you rotate tires you change that 'set' and therefore make the tires wear faster.

3. If the tire wears out normally, just replace the worn tire(s) and keep the good tire(s) in their original locations.

4.Just switch the fronts to the back when there is noticeable wear on the fronts. Then when the rears--now on the front-wear down, replace them all!

5. tire rotation is of marginal value in terms of saving you money. Why? Because the cost of tire rotation roughly equals the amount you'd save by extending your tire life. Of course unless you are getting a free rotation.
 
I have always rotated my daily driver tires. More from the perspective of getting even wear. I figure the front tires will wear faster if not rotated and would just as soon change them all at once by getting even wear. I try to check the pressure regularly and keep that uniform as well. On my GTX can’t rotate becuase the back tires are much wider than the fronts. So I just gets what I gets out of those.
 
You need to rotate all terrain Truck tires, they will wear all funky in no time.

As for my cars I rUn different size tires and or wheels on all of them so they never get rotated. Unless you have a frpnt end problem they dont wear out bad anyways. Radials arent like the old 4 ply tires. Nowdays tires suck so bad they start to fall apart before you wear them out.
 
I know my 94 Caravan with front wheel drive eats the fronts quickly without even trying.
 
Back when Dad purchased a new Chevy pick-up truck, I (then a twenty-year-old), began driving his old one (a '69 Chevy step-side 350 automatic w/open rear end). Before long, the right rear tire was bald. Imagine that.
 
not necessary if you don't care about getting the maximum life out of them.
I'm a guy who got over 140k out of a set so what the hell do I know?
 
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