What direction do you rotate your tires

I thought it would be helpful if we posted what direction everyone is rotating their tires. It may also help to know how frequent the rotation is and when you check the balance. For me:

Rotation:

Front drivers to passenger rear
Front passenger to driver rear
Passenger rear to passenger front
Driver rear to driver front

The rotation is every 5000-6000 miles. I balance only when required, however, these Nittos may get a balance at 20000 miles. On my 2003 the only balance check they get is at install and that was running Michelin Ms2. They stayed smooth to 80000 miles in which they were replaced due to dry rot.

From what I understand MT tires and AT tires will require more frequent rotation.

Tire pressure 32-34 PSI.

 

Example "A".



I did this with my MT's and AT's.

 

That is what Nitto recommends also. So far that "A" rotation is working well with the MT's. When I ran the Michelins they recommended front to back.

When they mounted the tires the tech recommended 50 and put 50 in my tires! I quickly aired them down when I got home.

 

Read this article: http://www.agcoauto.com/content/news/p2_articleid/181

I had a weird situation where even after an alignment I found out that my KO's were pulling because al of tire conicity due to poor rotations from the PO. The old hat alignment tech said RWD and 4WD vehicles need rotations 4-5k with the A pattern above or this manufacturer defect can be exposed if it's there at all.

Just a thought.

 

No but for real though, I try and rotate (and balance, since its free) my MTRs every 3k miles (which is only twice 'cause they have just over 7k miles on 'em). I mean, from Discount Tire, it's free. I ask them to do the equivalent of example A, as listed above.

 

Some tires are directional. all seasons and/or high performance. Just depends on the tire and tread pattern. Sidewall will show direction if that be the case.

Front-back here for most of my vehicles till I got the Taco. Dealer does rotation until my service contract ends on it. Wife's and kids car are directional specific. Every once in a few years, I'll have the tire shop dismount/mount the tires so the can swap sides.

Something to keep this in mind. Not sure about the tires our trucks use.

 

Interesting article! Didn't know about radial movement like that.

 

With these MT's I am noticing that the sweet spot for rotation is a little under 5000 miles. It seems to take about 4000 miles for them to wear flat or remove high spots from previous rotation. I have free rotations only. I may need to check balance at some point.

 

That is how rotation is performed when I had the Ms2 Michelin tires. The factory tires, Dunlops, we had to rotate like "A" due to a issue with uneven wear at the front passenger side.

 

Thanks for posting this info!

 

I take all of them off and shuffle them around randomly, like the shell game, prior to re-installation, yolo...

 

>>>>>>>>A<<<<<<<<<<<<<<

^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^