By Wayne Scraba,www.automedia.com
Rotating tires is important (and always has been) for car maintenance. If you rotate the respective wheels and tires on a given axle, tire wear is even. The result is almost always balanced traction and handling over a period of time. Most tire warranties demand the tires be rotated on a specific mileage schedule. And many tire manufacturers recommend rotation at between 3,000 and 5,000 miles.
Tire balancing
Making each tire function in as many of the vehicle’s wheel positions as possible makes evening out tire wear feasible. Naturally, this can’t make up for tire wear caused by tired or malfunctioning mechanical components or improper inflation. When considering the mechanics of a motor vehicle, keep in mind that the front end often has a more difficult task than the rear. For example, in a front-wheel-drive car, the tires are tasked with steering, stopping, moving up and down, and, of course, pulling the vehicle forward. In a high-performance rear-wheel-drive car, you’ll likely find that the rear tires take more abuse than the front. Four-by-four vehicles and all-wheel-drive models bring their own tire wear peculiarities to the party. The bottom line: No matter what the car or truck, the wheel position can cause different rates and types of wear on a tire.
Replacing four versus two
As a tire wears, the tread depth is reduced. If all four tires wear out at more or less the same time, you can replace four tires at once. This is actually advantageous when compared to replacing tires in pairs, simply because you’ll always have equal fresh rubber on all four corners. Additionally, you have to consider that the manufacturers are constantly releasing new and improved tire configurations. The result is that your old tires could become obsolete by the time they’re worn. If replacing only two at once, there’s a good chance you’ll end up with mixed tire technology that could negatively affect how your vehicle drives.
Tire rotation pattern
So far so good, but tire rotation isn’t anything like it was a few decades ago. Way back when, most cars had identical wheels and tires on all four corners, and the spare was also a full-size job that matched the road wheels. That’s a difficult combination to find today, with space-saver spares, spare tires mounted on dedicated steel wheels (with the rest of the rolling stock on aluminum wheels), different wheel offsets and sizes front and rear, mixed tire sizes, and so on. Because of this, the rotation process differs. Here’s a look at some of the many different tire rotation pattern options.
Four same-size tires, non-directional
If the tires are non-directional and the tires and wheels are all the same size, there are three different four-tire rotation patterns most commonly used:
Different-size directional tires, or different offsets
What if the vehicle in question has different-size directional wheels and tires or is equipped with wheels with different offsets (wheel backspace) front and rear? In this case, the tires will definitely require dismounting, remounting and rebalancing in order to rotate the tires. Four other typical rotation patterns are as follows:
Front-wheel drive : The left front goes to the left rear. The left rear goes to the right front. The right rear goes to the left front. The spare goes to the right rear. The right front goes to the spare.
Rear-wheel drive or four-wheel drive: The left rear goes to the left front. The left front goes to the spare. The spare goes to the right rear. The right rear goes to the right front. The right front goes to the left rear.
The idea here is to distribute the wear over five tires throughout their life. This is particularly important on many all-wheel-drive vehicles in that all tires, including the spare, are, in theory, worn identically.
Tire rotation, that is routinely repositioning your vehicle’s tires in specific patterns from front to back or side to side, is an important element of tire upkeep and safety. Additionally, rotating your tires may also be required to keep your tires covered under warranty. For a quick visual summary of tire rotation, check out our Tread Life episode about tire rotation. Read on for more information about what tire rotation is, why tire rotation patterns matter, and the correct pattern for your vehicle’s needs.
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Tire rotation means periodically changing the position of each of the tires on your vehicle. You should rotate your tires as recommended by the vehicle manufacturer, or every 5,000 miles. For many of you, that will mean when you get your vehicle’s oil changed.
Regularly rotating your tires also gives you a good opportunity to visually inspect them for damage, check their air pressure, have them rebalanced if you’re noticing any vibration, and check their tread depth.
There are several reasons why tire rotation is an important element of your standard tire care. First, by routinely rotating your tires, wear is spread evenly across all four tires, and their tread life is maximized. That’s because each specific position on your vehicle requires a different give from each tire—(for example, tires on the front of a front-wheel drive vehicle will take a larger proportion of the torque and friction that’s needed for turning, accelerating and braking)—and can lead to more, or less, wear on the tire. It is especially important to rotate new tires by 5,000 miles because deep, fresh tire tread is more susceptible to uneven wear.
Secondly, even tread wear keeps the tread depth on your tires uniform, which can help keep traction and handling consistent across all four tires. This will improve cornering and braking performance and keep your vehicle safer for driving overall.
Finally, if your vehicle has all-wheel-drive, evenly worn tires lower the stresses on the drivetrain, reducing wear on expensive drive components.
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Drive more and fill up your tank less*
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Extended mobility PLUS improved performance through the elements
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Tough enough to take a puncture*
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Ready for heavy-duty hauls
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High performance driving all year long
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Handle it all in your high performance CUV or SUV
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Ready for the long haul
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Built to keep you and your workload going
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Built for the demands of commercial highway driving
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Keep your life on a roll
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Built for your truck, SUV, or CUV
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Take on the intensity of on and off road driving
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Ready for heavy-duty hauls
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Handle it all in your high performance CUV or SUV
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Next level summer performance for your Sport Truck or SUV
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Ready for the long haul
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Built to keep you and your workload going
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For winters worst
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Luxury takes on winter
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Impressive grip and control
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Navigate through snow and ice in your SUV, CUV, or truck
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Built for blizzards and winters worst in a commerical light truck or van
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Confident control in winter conditions
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Keep your commercial truck or van in commission all winter
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Take control of the track
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Sleek, sporty, and cornering performance
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Take your sports car for a spin
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Next level summer performance for your Sport Truck or SUV
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80,000 miles of quiet, comfort and control*
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Keep your life on a roll
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All-season tires that won't stop until they get you there
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Confident all-weather protection
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Drive more and fill up your tank less*
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Extended mobility PLUS improved performance through the elements
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Built for your truck, SUV, or CUV
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Take on the intensity of on and off road driving
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Tires that take you on a thrill ride
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Tough enough to take a puncture*
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Ready for heavy-duty hauls
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High performance driving all year long
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Handle it all in your high performance CUV or SUV
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Take control of the track
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Sleek, sporty, and cornering performance
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Take your sports car for a spin
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Next level summer performance for your Sport Truck or SUV
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Feel the rush with tires inspired by racing
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For winters worst
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Luxury takes on winter
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Chase your competitive spirit
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Impressive grip and control
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Ready for the long haul
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Navigate through snow and ice in your SUV, CUV, or truck
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Built to keep you and your workload going
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Built for the demands of commercial highway driving
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Built for blizzards and winters worst in a commerical light truck or van
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Confident control in winter conditions
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Keep your commercial truck or van in commission all winter
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The tire rotation pattern that’s best for your vehicle will depend on the type of tire you’re using, whether your vehicle is front, rear, all, or four-wheel drive, whether your tires are directional or non-directional, whether or not your tires are the same size on the front and rear of your vehicle, and whether you have a full-size spare that can be rotated through as well, unlike a temporary spare. . Let’s take a look at tire rotation patterns recommended by the standardizing body of the tire industry, The Tire and Rim Association, Inc., for all of these possibilities.
For vehicles that are 4-wheel, all-wheel, or rear-wheel drive, the rearward cross pattern is recommended. Rear tires are moved to the forward axle and kept on the same side of the vehicle while the front tires are moved to opposite sides of the rear axle.
2. X-PATTERNRecommended for front-wheel drive vehicles such as light-weight trucks and sedans, all tires are moved diagonally, meaning tires are switched from one axle to the opposite as well as being repositioned from one side to the other.
3. FORWARD CROSSThis is the most common pattern for front-wheel drive vehicles. The front axle tires are moved directly back while the rear tires are moved up diagonally to the opposite side of the front axle.
In order to insure that all of the tires on your vehicle have even tread wear, you’ll want to be sure to rotate your full-size spare tire along with the other four. This is especially vital for all-wheel or 4-wheel drive vehicles where even small differences can put undue strain on your car’s drive train.
1. REARWARD CROSS (REAR-WHEEL OR 4-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES):Both rear axle tires move directly forward to the front axle while the spare tire moves to the right side of the rear axle. The right front tire moves diagonally back to the left side of the rear axle while the left front tire becomes your new spare tire.
2. FORWARD CROSS (FRONT-WHEEL DRIVE VEHICLES):Rear tires are moved diagonally to opposite sides on the front axle while the right front tire becomes the new spare tire. The spare tire is positioned on the right side of the rear axle while the left tire on the front axle is moved directly back into the left rear position.
All tires are switched with their same-sized partner and remain on the same axle. The two rear tires switch to the opposite side with one another while the two front tires do the same.
2. FRONT-TO-BACK (FOR DIRECTIONAL TIRES)All tires are moved from one axle to the other but remain on the same side of the vehicle. For example, the front left tire is moved to the left side of the rear axle while the rear left tire is repositioned on the left side of the front axle.
During the period of mass changing shoes at tire shops, you can’t push through. But you can save both waiting time in line and money.
Tire inflation with nitrogen and 7 more fittings at the tire shop
The tire manufacturer's instructions say to change shoes when the temperature drops below +7°C. In my opinion, it's too early. There are still a lot of cars on the roads with summer tires around. And at this temperature, the braking distance on your studded tires may be even longer.
I advise you to change the wheels to winter ones when the temperature drops below zero at night. That's when it really is time, because in the morning an icy area can be caught on the roads. At the same time, out of habit, it will seem very slippery.
Precisely then, to do it at the most correct and convenient time. The vagaries of the weather are unpredictable. Residents of the Rostov region, for example, say that sometimes during the winter period they rearrange the wheels from winter to summer and back several times.
Dismantling wheels (that is, dismantling a tire from a rim) at home is not an easy task that requires appropriate skills and knowledge. We will describe a simpler job that, in theory, any average motorist who does not have special tools and experience in tire fitting should be able to handle. Therefore, we assume that you have a complete set of serviceable winter tires mounted on rims. You remember that in the spring they did not lose pressure, there are no cuts on them, and a couple of self-tapping screws do not stick out of the tread in addition to the spikes. And, most importantly, the tread height is more than 4 mm. These are the modern requirements for winter tires. If at least one of the conditions is violated, then it is better to solve the problem before the onset of the hot tire season.
If I change wheels, do I need to balance them every season?
There are car owners who meticulously balance tires before each season. In my opinion, this is not justified. I recommend installing the wheels on the car, then drive at different speeds, but not higher than your usual ones. If the imbalance (it is manifested by vibrations on the steering wheel or seat) is not felt, then the balancing can be postponed until future seasons. In principle, it is possible to balance winter tires before storage: after all, the spring period for changing wheels in tire shops is more extended in time compared to autumn, and therefore there are noticeably fewer queues.
So we take the wheels out of storage. For one, this is the corner of the garage, for the other - a balcony, for the third - the warehouse of the nearest car service that provides wheel storage service. Tires may have different temperatures depending on storage conditions. Wheels removed from a warm room, having cooled down by 20 ° C, will lose about 0.2 bar of pressure, and gradually, as they cool down. Well, the cold ones have nothing to lose! Therefore, cold ones can be immediately pumped up to the nominal pressure, well, maybe 0.1–0.2 bar more, given that it will only get colder further. And warm tires must either be inflated with a large margin immediately, or set the pressure at the end of all work, when the air in them cools down.
If you use a standard jack, it is better to substitute a special stand under the car for insurance. Well, or at least put a spare wheel so that when it falls, the threshold lies on the rim, and not on the tire. Please note that this will most likely damage the disc. Therefore, it is better to use an old unnecessary wheel.
Which jack is best? - examination of the RF
We find a flat area with a hard surface. If you change the wheels yourself twice a year, then I strongly advise you to get a convenient jack. At least small and inexpensive, but rolling. It is significantly more reliable and durable than the regular one that your car was equipped with. It is advisable to use a balloon wrench with a cruciform or with an elongated handle - it is more convenient than the standard one supplied with the car.
Prepare a wheel stop - at least half a brick. Inspect the secret key for damaged code elements and clean the secret nuts/bolts on all wheels.
If the winter set of wheels has other disc characteristics, remember if spacers are needed between the disc and the hub lug - they should be prepared in advance.
The wheel jack is based on a hydraulic cylinder. Raises quickly, and lowers even faster.
Just in case, after the first ride, check the tightness of the wheel fasteners, and the next morning check the tire pressure.
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even more. It is clear that for such a run, the rubber needs to create ideal working conditions. But it is easy to extend their service life to 30,000-40,000 km, it is enough to follow the simple rules for rotating tires.
Eduard Raskin
Of course, the duration of the safe operation of tires depends on many factors. Of great importance is the class of the vehicle, your driving style, the type of tires used and the general technical condition of the car. It is clear that it is impossible to compare the service life of tires for a slow-moving summer resident who leaves the garage a couple of times a year, and for a street racer, which blows smoke from under the wheels in vain. The degree of wear of suspension elements such as ball bearings, bushings, shock absorbers, correctly set camber, and tire pressure are also important.
In addition, there is another way to extend the life of your tires - periodically change the wheels in places. Recently, for some reason, they forgot about him, although in former times this was an immutable rule.
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The fact is that different forces act on different wheels, and this, of course, leads to significant differences in wear. For example, the front tires bear most of the weight of the car due to the fact that the vast majority of cars have a heavy engine there. In addition, they account for up to 80% of the weight during emergency braking. Finally, when turning, the drive wheels turn, which also leads to their rapid and uneven wear.
If the front tires wear the tread edges the fastest, then the middle part of the rear tires. Swapping shoes from back to front and, accordingly, vice versa, will allow the rear tires to wear out on the sidewalls, and the front tires along the plane. This extends the service life of the kit, reduces noise and vibration.
Of course, if you have extra money, you can simply change the front tires after they wear out, since this will have to be done twice as often as with the rear. Thus, you will have to buy six tires instead of four. But it is much easier to arrange a rotation for them, extending the service life by one and a half times.
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Tire manufacturers recommend replacing tires every six months or after 8000-12000 kilometers. Since in Russia law-abiding drivers must change “winter” to “summer” for any reason and vice versa, it is very convenient for them to combine one action with another.