Rotating tyres

[Hankandmarvin]

Hi all,
What's people's opinions in rotating tyres? Do you need to do it or not? Thanks

 

[Clipgate]

My goodness you like the tyre manufacturers, this was a thing of the past

 

[pete4x4]

Hard to rotate when they are directional although mine are not CP rated tyres just C

 

[gus-lopez]

Hard to rotate when they are directional although mine are not CP rated tyres just C

You swop front to back.
On most of my vehicles if I swop front to back then you can get 50k miles out of them all. no swopping then front used to get changed twice & the back would need changing due to age/cracking but plenty of tread left.

 

[Jim]

If they don't rotate, check your bearings

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[poppycamper]

My tyres get a jolly good rotating every time I take to the road

 

[Ivory55]

When we had a sorrento it’s awd and the manual said to swap front to back every 7,500 miles to keep the tyres the same size, as there was a sensor in the gearbox that’s messed up with different size tyres.

 

[Bolti]

When the fronts need replacing on any of my vehicles, rear wheels get moved to the front and new tyres fitted to rear.

 

[Lenny HB]

Swapping front to back is a complete No, No, as the best tyres should always be on the rear for safety.
I rotate my spare with the front tyres so then all 5 wear out at the same time. You need to do it regularly as you don't want one side nearly worn out with a new one on the other side.

 

[Bolti]

Adding the spare into the mix is too complicated as it's on a steel and the others on alloys. Although the first change of the fronts I use the spare and one new tyre and the best of the removed ones goes on the spare.

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[Lenny HB]

Adding the spare into the mix is too complicated as it's on a steel and the others on alloys. Although the first change of the fronts I use the spare and one new tyre and the best of the removed ones goes on the spare.

That only applies if your spare is different to your rolling wheels, always best to have the same for a spare.

 

[Spriddler]

Swapping front to back is a complete No, No, as the best tyres should always be on the rear for safety.

That's interesting. For 50 years, ever since my first Mini, I've always ensured that the best tyres are on the front for best steering (and grip with front wheel drive).

 

[poppycamper]

That's interesting. For 50 years, ever since my first Mini, I've always ensured that the best tyres are on the front for best steering (and grip with front wheel drive).

Yes i always thought that too.. regardless of front or rear wheel drive surely for safety sake it's better to have good grip for steering (and braking) than at rear.

 

[Hankandmarvin]

So basically after 7500 miles I swop the front to the back?

 

[gus-lopez]

That's interesting. For 50 years, ever since my first Mini, I've always ensured that the best tyres are on the front for best steering (and grip with front wheel drive).

Yes i always thought that too.. regardless of front or rear wheel drive surely for safety sake it's better to have good grip for steering (and braking) than at rear.

It is understeer versus oversteer . If the best/new tyres are on the back & the front loses grip it understeers. If the best are on the front & the back lets go You've crashed unless a rally driver.

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[denisejoe]

You swop front to back.
On most of my vehicles if I swop front to back then you can get 50k miles out of them all. no swopping then front used to get changed twice & the back would need changing due to age/cracking but plenty of tread left.

They would be well past the recommendation to change before 6 years

 

[poppycamper]

It is understeer versus oversteer . If the best/new tyres are on the back & the front loses grip it understeers. If the best are on the front & the back lets go You've crashed unless a rally driver.

Correct....understeers straight into that brick wall you were safely going to miss

 

[tonyidle]

Yes i always thought that too.. regardless of front or rear wheel drive surely for safety sake it's better to have good grip for steering (and braking) than at rear.

A front wheel blow-out is easier to control than a rear with a tall and heavy vehicle. See also comments re under- and over-steer.

 

[Lenny HB]

They would be well past the recommendation to change before 6 years

6 years, I'm pleased if a set of tyres last 3 years on the Motorhome, car ones last for ever as that doesn't many miles compared to the Motorhome.

 

[Raul]

The vitals of the vehicle handling and running are at the front, I always preferred a bit of oversteer with added under steer. And always use to swap fronts to back after 7-10k miles. If the tread is under 4mm I will not do it but if is 7mm left in front and the back is 9mm then I will swap. Understeer can loose the radiator, or worse come of the road in a ditch or soft verge. The back will only swing out if the tires are really shit and you race in the bends. Drive like you ride: in like a pussy out like a lion, and the back will follow you all the time.

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[Spriddler]

It is understeer versus oversteer . If the best/new tyres are on the back & the front loses grip it understeers. If the best are on the front & the back lets go You've crashed unless a rally driver.

I have to disagree with you there Gus.
If I lose the front (oversteer, running wide on a bend) I've lost steering (going face first into a ditch, wall, hedge or oncoming traffic). Plus braking effect is reduced as they're creeping sideways or locked.
If I lose the back I still have steering, can steer out of the skid and have a good chance of dragging the trailing rear of the car round the bend with the back end hanging out briefly. Worst case I end up going backwards (better protected by the seat back and headrest) into the verge/hedge or oncoming vehicles.

On the motorbike I never want the front to slide as I'll almost certainly be off. If the rear wheel hangs out (not uncommon for me) I can recover very much better. Speedway riders on cinders only briefly have the rear wheel in line with the front and losing the front is definitely not wanted.

The more I think about it (I don't very often) the more certain I am that having the best tyres on the front is essential.

 

[Lenny HB]

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=52

Should you fit new tyres to the front or rear?

You’ve bought a new pair of tyres, but here’s a question, should you fit your new tyres to the front or rear?

kumhotyre.co.uk

Should Your Better Pair of Tyres Go to the Front or Back of the Car? | Oponeo.co.uk

Where should you mount your better tyres, on the front or rear axle? Check out our article and learn about the advantages and disadvantages depending on the type of drive.

www.oponeo.co.uk

 

[Spriddler]

Interesting articles, Lenny. I suppose one has to take notice of experts.
However (will he never give up?) all my vehicles have been front wheel drive except for my first, a 1936 Morris 8, 1939 MG Tourer and then a 1954 Moggy Minor, neither of which went fast enough to skid if not on ice or snow (which was great fun).
I think have ABS on my current 2014 car only and don't know what 'EPS' is so probably haven't missed it.
I've done a bit of rallying in Minis plus motocross and grass track with motorbikes and in spite of the experts I still feel happier with the best tyres on the front.
Just pig-headed I guess.

 

[kevenh]

Decide that the tyre tread depth range between new & 3mm is safe.
Then rotate front to back on the schedule advised by the vehicle manufacturer - or not.
But do replace tyres when they're too old or tread depth is below 3mm.

Adjust the above if you're taking vehicle on snow covered roads and the tyres aren't winter tyres. et al

 

[Ivory55]

To be honest I am just grateful if they are black,round and have a nice pattern still around the outside. Haha

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[Lenny HB]

Decide that the tyre tread depth range between new & 3mm is safe.

3mm is absolute min on a heavy vehicle a legal requirement in a few countries in the winter, Germany for one.

 

[Ivory55]

1mm for hgv in Uk

 

[Landy Andy]

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tiretech/techpage.jsp?techid=52

Should you fit new tyres to the front or rear?

You’ve bought a new pair of tyres, but here’s a question, should you fit your new tyres to the front or rear?

kumhotyre.co.uk

Should Your Better Pair of Tyres Go to the Front or Back of the Car? | Oponeo.co.uk

Where should you mount your better tyres, on the front or rear axle? Check out our article and learn about the advantages and disadvantages depending on the type of drive.

www.oponeo.co.uk

From attached article

Also remember to use regular rotation between the axles, most often every 10,000 km, to keep all tyres in a similar condition and avoid uneven wear (when the starting point was 4 identical tyres).

 

[kevenh]

3mm is absolute min on a heavy vehicle a legal requirement in a few countries in the winter, Germany for one.

Good point. I did revert to mentioning a typical value mentioned for cars rather than thinking of a motorhome.

 

[Coolcats]

That's interesting. For 50 years, ever since my first Mini, I've always ensured that the best tyres are on the front for best steering (and grip with front wheel drive).

Agreed front wheel drive does put more load on the wheels but in all honesty I just change all 4 when either the front or rear start getting low (3-4 mm) then each corner starts with a brand new tyre.

The exception to this was one of my cars had to have new-rear tyres every 5,000 Miles the rears were fairly expensive and the fronts I changed every 10,000 the irony was they are fairly cheap.

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