Have a little over 500 miles on my truck now. Stopped by a tire/alignment shop yesterday that has a very good reputation in my area. Asked what he recommended to keep my tires in the best shape.

Thought I would share his advice (which I am planning to follow). Am sure others have their own opinion.


After 3-5k miles, have the alignment checked and tires balanced and rotated. He claims that the truck will 'settle' during the first 3-5k miles and alignment 'might need tweaking'. (no charge if nothing needs done)

Every 8k have tires rotated (he says' they still rotated front/back back/front but some time manufacturers actually advise switching sides). $15.00

Every other rotation, balance tires ($30.00 to balance tires, rotating included).

If it helps me get more than 20k miles out of my tires, I'll consider it money well spent.

 

I rotate every 3/4k, found that for my style of driving and pulling it works out very well, I also do four wheel laser align on all my vehicles, even my dully.

Ballance fronts on the cars/trucks...makes it wonderfull

 

Every oil change- 5,000 miles. I rotate the tires front to back and adjust tire pressure while the oil is draining. Alignement every 20,000 miles or if I notice an abnormal wear pattern in the tread. Yes, Four wheel alignment. Any shop that only does the front isn't a shop worth going to any more.

 

Rotate at least every other oil change, checking for foreign bits.. About 8K or less.. Wear patterns tell the story.. Monitor pressure to given load/s, and check frequently.. And a good visual in between.. After rotation I use the predator 'lathe' method, and give'm a good true'n!!

........................HP...................

 

tell me more about the predator "lathe" method. Every once and again I get a tire that is slightly out of round.

Russ

 

I rotate every 3/4k,

Tim, is that 3,000 to 4,000 miles or every 750 miles?

At either rate I guess you only rotate the big truck tires every three to four years.

RangerRuss, it is my guess that Hayapower!'s predator 'lathe' method involves the smell of rubber, the squeal of tires, and mass quantities of smoke.

 

I don't think the "predator 'lathe' method" extends any sort of tire life.

 

Every 5000 miles I rotate my tires. I alternate F to R then next time F to F and R to R. I understand this changes the direction of rotation but is this in any way bad for the tires or truck?

 

That story and technique never got me out of a citation either..

Just play'n RangerR...

Would be great if Ford gave us a matching spare tire rim so that the spare could be added into the mix/equation for some extended tire mileage, at least on the OEM rubber.. How many folks have a still 'new' spare after a couple sets of run out tires..

.................HP................

 

That process used to be good for Bias Ply tires. But with todays radials, most tire manufactures only endorse front to rear rotation. (I'm sure someone will chime in with just the opposite.) There are some radials that are directional in tread design or don't appear to be, but still have a rotation arrow on the sidewall. Sending them backwards could be dangerous. The radial design develops memory, (yeah, like a bias ply tire didn't?), and changing the direction of rotation can actually move the cords a bit. This stresses the sidewall. The five tire rotation plan does this, putting the spare on the ground. I have found that front to rear, and then putting the spare on the ground only when I've needed it or when I buy new tires has provided me with more than 50,000 miles on a set of four tires that don't normally go that far on my friends rigs. Yes, I've had BFG All Terains and Mudders go more than 50k on a 4x4. Currently I have BFG All Terrains on my wife's Grand Cherokee. Warranteed for 40k from the dealer as long as the rotation is front to rear every 5k. There's 30k on them now, and they look like they'll go 70k. That's on a full time four wheel drive!

Your best bet is to go to the website for the tire brand you're using. Get tire manufacture's tire rotation plan. They designed it, they know best.

 

i cross rotate every other oil change (6000 miles), and kinda just started that. first set of oe tires went 14k, replaced with nitto terra's (33") those made it till ~25k, and replaced those with 35" nittos.........im at 58k now, with about 25% tread left.

i will definately be rotating every 6k, it has made a massive difference. cannot believe i was such a schmuck about it.........but, since i really don't pay for them,guess it clouded my judgement!

 

The front to back rotation practice was 'more designed' and adopted to help control the affects of a 'radial tire pull' that 'some' tires may experience with mileage or being moved directionally.. A five tire situation would work with 'say' Michelin/Bridgestone/Firestone/Goodrich tires as they aren't rotation/direction/sensitive or specific unless stated.. Key word there is sensitive.. BUT, a front to back is suggested by most shops.. The Ford Owners Guide (owners manual) does show a cross rotation for the SD's and makes 'note' not to use the spare as a fifth tire movement 'IF' its a dissimilar wheel/tire size.. Some tires/manufactures are more specific and a radial pull could be a liability not worth taking as with the independant shops.. Front to back movement 'only' would also create a more complex rotation for a dually, and/or if a repair was done on the 'rear' and rims installed in the reverse, the tire would spin the opposite direction.. Like thats never happened.. Plus, if you had a set of 'take offs' with some mileage how would you know the correct install as far as mounting positions?? I personally wouldn't have an issue with a cross rotation, or even a fifth tire situation unless noted by the manufacturer and unless I experienced a radial pull..


Then theres directional wheels, off set wheels that don't allow front to rear swaps.. All to confusing

....................HP...................

 

just found this chart on the Pirelli website. Since I'm not in 4WD very often I use the rear wheel drive rotation pattern.<TABLE width=445 valign="top"><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top><TABLE cellPadding=0 width=445 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top border="0">



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At the rate I am going 201.8 miles a month it will be ten years and they will fall off before I need to rotate

 

I do understand and appreciate the humor. At one time I had some GoodYear tires trued with a "knife-like" apparatus and then computer balanced. This was on an Escort and it did away with the shimmy. I have not seen anyone advertise tire truing in a very long time.

On a side note if anyone has any ideas: my wife's '03 Buick Regal has some interesting tire wear at 21,000 miles. Both tires on the passenger side of the car are cupped - enough to make noise inside the car. The tires on the driver side are just fine. They are the o.e. Firestone 680s. I have checked the alignment - all 4 wheels - and found caster/camber/toe on the front to be within tolerance, caster and toe on the rear I brought into spec, SAI, Included angle and setback are all within spec.
Any ideas? Nice car if I can get rid of the tire rumble.

Russ