Does anyone rotate their tyres anymore?

[xkjagnz]

Just asking as I did it for the first time in years today. I have done about 10k KMS on them and all seems ok. The last set only lasted about 20k when I had a sidewall blow out so trying to avoid that. (The tread was just about gone too on all four) these seem to be lasting a bit better I do 40k ish a year so trying to get a few more out of them.

[paulscavalier]

I still do but I do buy 4 at a time because I am finding the tyres are cracking their sidewalks before wearing out the tread.so I am maximising the wear I get

[Cavcraft]

Not for a while, mostly because I never seem to keep anything long enough

 

 

I do on my cycle though.

[mercrocker]

I find it worthwhile on the Minor but not on my other cars.  Maybe because the steering / suspension is shagged but probably because it does far more parking and manoovererering than anything else I drive - it has a tight spot to get in and out of at home too.    Also, the wheels are off every three to four weeks for greasing and brake adjusting so that makes it easier - which is probably the real reason I do it. 

 

I promised myself I would do the Cowley too when it got 5 new Vredesteins on freshly powder coated rims a couple of years back.  I see that the spare is still virginally pimply though....

[Vince70]

I don't myself I find my tyres crack before wearing out these days and I don't do the mileage anymore to justify it and it seems a decent tyre is a lot cheaper than years ago.

[UmBongo]

I don't. I usually spend more £££ on the front ones than the rear, too.

[twosmoke300]

Mine rotate while I drive - I suggest you may have binding brakes if yours didn't 😄

[J4mes]

On the Accord I kill the fronts, then swap front to rear so the newer tyres are on the back and I use the older ones first.

That's every year.

[Asimo]

Yes, definitely part of "basic maintenance" for me. If "servicing" was done properly, dealer services would do it.

It still seems to be mentioned in the vehicle handbook (which no one ever reads)

[beko1987]

I did on the zx, the rainsports were wearing a bit quickly on the front, so swapped them at the halfway point. Will do the same on the gooner if it needs it

[FakeConcern]

When the fronts are worn out on the C4 VTS I put the new ones on the back.

[Pillock]

What's the reason? I know it's a "thing" but to my eyes, if you're trying to equalise wear them you're just guaranteeing a huge bill for 4 tyres instead of 2 tyres at a time a bit more often.

[mercrocker]

Originally the idea was to include the spare so that wear was spread throughout the 5 tyres.  If done early enough you probably would gain a couple of thousand miles from a set.  I have never done it religiously - its only because of the extra strain on my steering axle that I gain anything.   Also it theoretically eventually enables replacement of a full set instead of trying to match 2 new tyres which is increasingly difficult with constantly changing suppliers on Minor tyre sizes.

[xkjagnz]

Just to clarify mine is a 4WD W8 Passat. I was getting about 20k KMS a set which I think is a bit crap. Changed all 4 about every 6months The new ones seem to be wearing better even though they have the same tread wear rating. They were also a bit cheaper than the previous ones (Michelin iirc) Have also found a place that do even cheaper for same tyre. ( I paid about $180 a corner (100 pounds) others I have found for $120each)

[sierraman]

No because instead of forking out for 2 tyres at a time you get a bill for 4 all at once.

[Guest Lord Sward]

Yes, definitely part of "basic maintenance" for me. If "servicing" was done properly, dealer services would do it.

It still seems to be mentioned in the vehicle handbook (which no one ever reads)

 

 

Not so as most cars would require a ball-ache of a software reset on account of TPMS.

[blackboilersuit]

I put new tyres (as a pair) on the rear and move the rears to the front. Lots of short journeys and lots of local roundabouts/junctions mean that fronts wear out quick and rears last forever. Since my annual mileage is pretty low I swap around just to avoid the rear tyres becoming ancient with cracked sidewalls but still having loads of tread. My spare is normally something with 2mm tread on it as a get you home so it normally gets exchanged for something in similar condition but younger any time I need to buy new tyres. If I was doing enough miles to wear out the rears reasonably regularly then I wouldn't bother rotating.

[mercrocker]

^^^^This is what I was on about.   By changing front to rear I spend more time on decent tread on the steering axle.   The problem with the Minor is that I have what is effectively a "get you home" spare - 145 as opposed to the 155 that I run with.   155s won't fit nicely under the boot floor but offer a much better choice of decent tyre on the "road" wheels.

[timolloyd]

Jag specialist I used to use would do it as a service action, if all 4 were already fairly even. I quite appreciated that effort.

 

Seems like a good idea, particularly on 4WD

[Eddie Honda]

I do. The bill for four tyres is only double that of two. I get to use the rears up before cracking and I get a matching set instead of a Sir-Mix-A-Lot set. I still have to buy four tyres overall whether I buy 1 x 4 or 2 x 2.

 

It's a bit like pissing about putting £10 of petrol in at I time. I just fill the tank when it's empty, it's not like I'm not going to use it.

[Tamworthbay]

My rwd estate seems to conveniently wear fronts and tears at the same rate. 10,000 miles in and they are all within 0.5mm of each other.

[PhilA]

I used to because I owned vehicles that would wear the tyres at different rates between the front and the back. The Cinquecento didn't actually wear the rear ones out at all, whilst the fronts did all the work. I rotate the ones in the Challenger because the wife has a lead foot and makes the rears wear down quite a lot compared to the front, and the fronts wear quickly because it's a heavy old tank with good brakes, a pedal she likes to use a lot also.

[Hendry]

I don't because mine wear at the back not far off the fronts, all my larger cars have done this, while the small stuff has worn the fronts but the backs hardly wore at all, my thinking is that it doesn't save any money for me, if I put a front set on and don't rotate them and they were down again, the rears are usually still fine, so makes no difference to me whether I spend out on 2 lots of front tyres or 1 set of front and rears, same expense.

 

I've also never had a matching set of tyres on any car except the one I bought brand new, doesn't bother me as long as they are a decent branded tyre. I know a matching set of tyres is supposed to be a good indicator of a well looked after car with a sympathetic owner who will spend the money and properly maintain it, but 1. That's what receipts are for 2. I don't do things to my car for a good impression on the next owner when I sell it 3. Main dealers have lots of cars for sale low miles, full history, excellent condition, well looked after, maintained properly but possibly has tyres low on tread when traded in and the dealer changes them for cheapo budgets or doesn't match the tyres to what's fitted and nobody seems to care so why should I? I'll do whatever I want to my car that makes me feel happy that it's safe, reliable and maintained properly and looked after, which may not necessarily be someone else's idea of proper maintenance.

[dave21478]

Anyone with all wheel drive of any type NEEDS to read their owners manual about this. Even small differences between front and rear can kill the transfer box or other transmission parts on some cars. Some specify replacement of all four, some say a new pair should go on the back,some say a new pair on the front.

For example my freelander must have all four within I think 10mm difference in diameter, and new ones should always go on the back.

[Barry Cade]

On the Accord I kill the fronts, then swap front to rear so the newer tyres are on the back and I use the older ones first.

That's every year.

The Mk1 Accord had a warning light on the dash to remind you to rotate the tyres..

[carlo]

Yes I rotated the Kleber all season tyres on my 405 last year; wondered what the weird vibrating sensation was at low speed afterwards, and discovered I had them on the wrong way round (they're directional).  Another reason why I don't do the oily bits.

[Guest bangerfan101]

If I drop on a half decent pair at a scrapyard. They go on the front. The rears are then the best of the 4 that were on.

 

Rest go in the ever growing pile behind the shed

[Junkman]

Mine rotate on their own the moment I'm driving, because automobile.

Round and round they go, rotating until I stop.