Time To Rotate My Tires, But Which Rotation Pattern To Do?

This^^. At times, I have run without rotation for extended periods, and can easily see (even without feeling) the uneven wear in the blocks of tread - uneven wear between the front and rear of each block, especially the outer blocks simply caused by directional wear.

So I ALWAYS cross as a means (over time) to get the tires to the other side of the vehicle. Otherwise, after a few rotations, the front back wear difference will make the tire noisier and rougher than it would otherwise be.

The uneven wear is always more pronounced/visible in the front wheels regardless of front/rear drive configuration, likely because of the additional stress, scuffing, etc. that occurs in turns.

 

It's funny, I was going through the thread and only saw one post about rotating the spare in.

 

The OEM spare is about the same size but not one to ride on for long: P245/75R16.

Unless there's a full-size/matched wheel/tire under there, I wouldn't rotate it.

Guess what? When I've taken my Sport in for 2yr ToyotaCare, they haven't rotated it.

 

I have a full size spare I rotate in, no donut.

 

My OEM spare is 265/70-16, and my truck is running 265/75-16s, so about an inch taller. That's reason enough for me to leave the spare out of the rotation. Besides, it's a bit of a PITA to access (and return) the spare. For those with matching tire sizes who don't mind a little extra work (or have someone else do it for them), 5-tire rotations will extend the life of a set of tires. Of course when they're worn out, you then need to buy 5 tires instead of 4. It's all a trade-off and a personal choice.

 

Yeah, I used to never rotate my spare in, and always just keep the best of the tires I was replacing for my new spare. And then one time after the spare tire was under the truck for a couple of years, it was cracked (too much time too close to exhaust, bigger tire) and useless. Now I rotate the spare in, it lives in the bed up against the cab, at least until I get a swing away.

 

With my 2003 Honda Pilot, the donut was very small--so it was not rotated with the others.

I replaced all 4 drums once after many years of having them turned at the Auto Hobby Shop on several USAF Bases during my 25yr career.

All 4 tires were replaced twice before my accident in 2018 when my SUV had 200K+ miles on it.

Doing the 4-wheel rotation is all I ever did and it worked fine for me.

 

Thank you for your service!

 

I've probably only ever done swap fronts and rear on the same side.
Rear seems to wear more first due to being in RWD most of the time

say I measure 9/32" front 8/32" rear,
I'll swap fronts to back, because this tells me RWD is causing wear primarily there, force being put down to move the heavy truck just from 2 tires
I want them to last as long as possible
so I try to spread the wear around evenly.

I'm sure every vehicle is different.
Benz and BMW? Probably the same, RWD.
Audi/VW? Tends to wear in the front more because they're either FWD or somewhat front-biased, front-heavy/understeer (engine hanging too far in front compared to other vehicles) except for a select few performance models designed to send more power rearward.
Where the weight is, how hard it's driven, and which end (F/R) the stress goes into more/balance to lose grip first (sway bars etc) will all play a part.

provided the alignment is actually good because if not, that will cause weird abnormal tire wear that rotating is not the actual fix to.

 

Anyone have creative ways to aid rotation when switching summers and winters?

Like tire bags labeled for position? I will commence googling.

$8 OhYeah! Valve Stem Caps by Oil Udder | Aluminum Valve Tire Valve Caps 2 Wheel Sets | Wheel Location Specific Laser Engraving (LF, RF, LR, RR) | 8 Pack for Truck, SUV, Car

These could work.

 

winter area dealerships sometimes offer winter tire swaps and offsite storage, partly done by making a label encased in a protective plastic covering. Which is adhesive-backed; you peel it off and slap it on, now the tire/wheel is labeled.
Unless you simply make that yourself with clear tape and paper. Or tire crayon and pray it doesn't wear off.

Or like you said, tire tote bags exist, with carry handles. IDK to what size.
If whoever makes them is smart, they'll put a pocket to shove a label into.
If not, you can maybe have such things sewn on.

 

I never mark my tires, I put the best winters on the rear by measurement. Directional, so no diagonal.

With summers I put best in right rear, next left rear, next right front, next left front. This is basically a diagonal, because they wear in that order. Best wear always in rear.

 

THAT'S A REALLY PRISTINE UNDERBODY - IT'S LIKE TACO P*RN!!!

 

Thanks, that's a good place to start.

I'm super low mileage (nowhere to go, have to make up excuses to leave the house, too many vehicles, way too many wheels) so I thought it'd be nice to have a tiebreaker if I can't tell the difference in wear.

 

When I switch tires, for example all-season to winter, I use a cheap paint marker (I find silver to be the best color on tires) and mark the INSIDE wall with FR, FL, RR, RL based on the position they were in when I took them off - in small but legible letters.

As the seasons go by, I either rub the old marks off or just "x" them out to right the most recent position. No one ever sees them since they're on the inside sidewall, and it makes it easy to figure what position they need to be in when put back on.

Note, I ALWAYS get spare wheels for winter tires rather than mount/remount tires every season. I don't know why people do that, since after just a couple of years, you spend just as much money switching tires...unless one has mounting/balancing equipment at home...which I have tried to convince my wife I needed to no avail...

 

Yeah...sigh!

Photo was taken early on in ownership...like Nov/2021. I had her since May of the same year.

Obviously, I'm not much of a Trailblazer...except to the Grocery Store with my wife on weekends! lol

The undercarriage is a little dirtier now...does that make it more Porn-able? LOLOLOL

 

I have a GREAT reply - but it would probably get me banned or something for lewd posting...

 

LOL

Yeah, keep that to yourself if you want to continue walking on the edge!

Thanks for the humor.