[net.auto] Rotating Radial-Ply Tires

grt@twitch.UUCP ( G.R.Tomasevich) (01/31/85)

Since the restriction is that the tire should be rolled in only one direction,
would it be okay to unmount a tire, mount it on the wheel reversed, then
rotate diagonally?  Has anyone done that?  That switches between inside
and outside sidewalls, so is not aesthetically desirable for colored
sidewalls, but I see no other problem.  Presumably, one should rebalance
the wheels.
-- 
	George Tomasevich, ihnp4!twitch!grt
	AT&T Bell Laboratories, Holmdel, NJ

review@drutx.UUCP (Millham) (02/01/85)

I seem to recall GM anouncing about a year ago that they now
recommend the standard X rotation for radials. (84 or > GM owners,
check your owners manual)

--------------------------------------------

Brian Millham
AT & T Information Systems
Denver, Co.

...!inhp4!drutx!review

cdash@druxv.UUCP (Shub) (02/02/85)

i still have a 1974 dodge ramcharger 4x4 and got well over 50k miles on the
tires by rotating them  LF <-> LR and RF <-> RR every 5k miles. At about
30 k, i noticed some asymetrical wear on the outside edge, so i swapped
LF <-> RF by dismounting the tires from the wheels, remounting them with the
whitewalls on the INSIDE and putting the tires on the opposite sides of the
car so the tires would rotate in the same direction. I did LR <-> RR the same
way, and had no problems.

cdash

rsg@cbscc.UUCP (Bob Garmise) (02/04/85)

I'll probably be raked over the coals for this opinion, but...
 I don't believe in rotating tires. My first set of radial tires lasted 65K. I
replaced them because winter was coming on. They would probably have lasted
another 5-10K. The second set for that car (Honda Civic) went 45K. I sold the
car with those tires in good shape. Again, no rotation.
 Now I own a Honda Prelude. When the dealer rotated my current set, the car
developed vibrations it never had before. I immediately went back, said:
"Unrotate!". They did and the car was fine again. I have 20K on the current
set with no noticeable wear.
 "But the tires will wear more evenly if you rotate." Bunk. Why wear out all
your tires instead of just one. If the car is out of line, get it in line, and
replace the one bad tire. You want to rotate? Fine. But I think you'll have to
give me a good reason to do it.
...bob garmise...at&t bell labs, columbus...

jcgowl@ihlpg.UUCP (r. gowland) (02/05/85)

> I'll probably be raked over the coals for this opinion, but...
>  I don't believe in rotating tires. My first set of radial tires lasted 65K. I
> replaced them because winter was coming on. They would probably have lasted
> another 5-10K. The second set for that car (Honda Civic) went 45K. I sold the
> car with those tires in good shape. Again, no rotation.

You wouldn't get raked over any coals in the UK for two reasons.
1) Arthur Scargill wouldn't let you have any coal and
2) It is simply accepted that you do not rotate radial tyres.
I had a Ford Escort (when they made them properly with rear wheel
drive) which I sold after 3 years 42,000 miles with very good
tyres still on it. My next car (which I still have) was a Datsun
120Y coupe (probably known here as a 210 coupe?) which is on its
second set of radials at 89,000; they will easily see 100,000
and have not been rotated.
It is, of course, accepted that with cross-ply tyres you should
rotate. (Don't ask me why, I only report what is accepted)
Drive safely!
-- 
anything herein expressed is my views not those of my employer
ihlpg!jcgowl Roger R. Gowland at AT&T Bell Labs, Indian Hill
and going home Friday to ... hvmga!rgowland at APT UK

jeepcj2a@fluke.UUCP (Dale Chaudiere) (02/08/85)

> I'll probably be raked over the coals for this opinion, but...
>  I don't believe in rotating tires. My first set of radial tires lasted 65K. I
> replaced them because winter was coming on. They would probably have lasted
> another 5-10K. The second set for that car (Honda Civic) went 45K. I sold the
> car with those tires in good shape. Again, no rotation.
>  Now I own a Honda Prelude. When the dealer rotated my current set, the car
> developed vibrations it never had before. I immediately went back, said:
> "Unrotate!". They did and the car was fine again. I have 20K on the current
> set with no noticeable wear.
>  "But the tires will wear more evenly if you rotate." Bunk. Why wear out all
> your tires instead of just one. If the car is out of line, get it in line, and
> replace the one bad tire. You want to rotate? Fine. But I think you'll have to
> give me a good reason to do it.
> ...bob garmise...at&t bell labs, columbus...

Case 1:  Say you have ~30K miles on a set of radials and you notice abnormal
         wear on only one rear tire.  If you replace only that tire, you could
         have a difference in tire diameter from left to right by maybe 1/8 in.
         This does not seem like much, but it causes the spider gears in the
         differiential to always be turning (as if you were constantly going
         around a slight corner).  Also the torque excerted by the tire and 
         wheel on the brake unit would differ from the left to right side of the         car.  This could really cause uneven braking when the difference is
         between the front tires.

Case 2:  If you every buy a 4-wheel drive vehicle, you must rotate the tires.
         Any difference in tire diameter from front to back will cause the
         transfer case to bind, except on the most slippery surfaces.

Also your opinion goes against all tire manufactures recommendations.

Also tires and wheels should be checked for balance at least every other tire
rotation.
 

jsb@fluke.UUCP (Jeff Bottman) (02/21/85)

> I'll probably be raked over the coals for this opinion, but...
>  I don't believe in rotating tires. My first set of radial tires lasted 65K. I
> replaced them because winter was coming on. They would probably have lasted
> another 5-10K. The second set for that car (Honda Civic) went 45K. I sold the
> car with those tires in good shape. Again, no rotation.
>  Now I own a Honda Prelude. When the dealer rotated my current set, the car
> developed vibrations it never had before. I immediately went back, said:
> "Unrotate!". They did and the car was fine again. I have 20K on the current
> set with no noticeable wear.
>  "But the tires will wear more evenly if you rotate." Bunk. Why wear out all
> your tires instead of just one. If the car is out of line, get it in line, and
> replace the one bad tire. You want to rotate? Fine. But I think you'll have to
> give me a good reason to do it.
> ...bob garmise...at&t bell labs, columbus...

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