Tire rotation....
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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Tire rotation....
I have a '02 explorer V8 4WD. I brought it to get the tires rotated. I happened to notice afterwards that they just took the fronts and placed them in the back. Is this correct. I've heard so many different ways of rotating. I believe Ford says to take the fronts and criss-cross them in the back and move the backs staight forward. I'm going to do that this weekend, but does it really matter ??
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Junior User
Joined: Jan 2003
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Tire rotation....
That's what my dad was saying and that's what the tire place seems to think, but I'll have to double check my owners manual, but I swear it says to criss-cross the fronts when putting them in the rear. Could Ford be wrong ?? Very confusing !!!
Thanks for your input !!!
Dan
Thanks for your input !!!
Dan
Elder User
Joined: Aug 2001
Posts: 942
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From: South Texas
Tire rotation....
Some performance tires are made with a tread pattern that is designed to roll in one direction only. Switching the tire to opposite side of vehicle defeats this feature and reduces performance, most especially in wet conditions. The ones I have see like this are generally marked with direction of rotation on the tire body somewhere. These must be switched around in a front to back pattern only.
I have also heard for years that radial tires "set" in a rotation pattern after use, and should only be rotated front to back. I have been doing this on my vehicles for years now.
Dialtone
I have also heard for years that radial tires "set" in a rotation pattern after use, and should only be rotated front to back. I have been doing this on my vehicles for years now.
Dialtone
Last edited by Dialtone; Mar 11, 2003 at 10:55 AM.
Elder User
Joined: Sep 2000
Posts: 580
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From: Kelseyville, CA
Tire rotation....
The picture in my '97 Owner's manual clearly shows to criss-cross the fronts to the back and move the backs straight up. Maybe the radial tires of the past you couldn't do that with, but at least according to Ford in '97 that is exactly what you should do.
Admittidly, I never noticed this until someone asked about it. I had always rotated mine front to rear without criss-crossing because of the same issues mentioned here. My first two sets of tires both developed serious cupping and bad vibrations after 40K miles of use. Both sets had plenty of tread left on them, but due to the bad cupping and harsh ride they developed, I chose to replace them. My first set was my original Firestone Wilderness ATs. My second set was Michelin LTX ATs. Now I am on my third set (BFG All Terrain TA KOs) and have decided to rotate them per my Owner's Guide to see if this helps eliminate the bad wearing that seems to show up after 40K miles.
Admittidly, I never noticed this until someone asked about it. I had always rotated mine front to rear without criss-crossing because of the same issues mentioned here. My first two sets of tires both developed serious cupping and bad vibrations after 40K miles of use. Both sets had plenty of tread left on them, but due to the bad cupping and harsh ride they developed, I chose to replace them. My first set was my original Firestone Wilderness ATs. My second set was Michelin LTX ATs. Now I am on my third set (BFG All Terrain TA KOs) and have decided to rotate them per my Owner's Guide to see if this helps eliminate the bad wearing that seems to show up after 40K miles.
Posting Guru
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Billings MT
Tire rotation....
I was told growing up that you couldn't criss cross polyester and that you could criss cross radials.
Now, the performance radials cannot, you do defeat the purpose of the special tread design.
If you think about it, do you have two spares? One for the left side and one for the right? Nope. Radials can be switched in direction without a problem.
Shops don't like to do it because it takes longer. WAH
Thats my experience.
Now, the performance radials cannot, you do defeat the purpose of the special tread design.
If you think about it, do you have two spares? One for the left side and one for the right? Nope. Radials can be switched in direction without a problem.
Shops don't like to do it because it takes longer. WAH
Thats my experience.
Senior User
Joined: Feb 2002
Posts: 305
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Tire rotation....
Originally posted by thelonerangerxlt
DVigeant, radial tires should be rotated from front to back only, on the same side. If you cross them over to the other side, it reverses their rotation, which you shouldn't do with radials.
DVigeant, radial tires should be rotated from front to back only, on the same side. If you cross them over to the other side, it reverses their rotation, which you shouldn't do with radials.
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