Proper way to rotate tires

[JalanX]

I just had my first tire rotation by dealer and I marked the front two tires just to see where they put them. They just moved the driver to the driver rear and passenger to the passenger rear(so both front went straight to the back. Maybe they crisscrossed the rears when they brought to front but it didn’t mark those. But I am reading this is for front wheel drive vehicles. I mean at least they actually rotated them. Dealers are terrible these days with anything. But what is the correct way and would you say anything to the dealer?

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[Progeny2021]

Yep, shops-service departments often fail at correctly rotating tires. Even fail to correctly tighten lug nuts. I prefer to watch for these reasons. Bought new tires three times from the Ford dealer. Twice, they failed to replace the valve stems. Yep, you gotta stay on top of this as no one else will apparently.

Edit: Walmart has the best tire rotation service nationwide IMO. Took a lawsuit or two for it to happen. $10 nationwide the last time I used the service.

Correct rotation for rear drive vehicles without uni directional tires:

 

[SigOris]

The rotation pattern is the manual

its a struggle at every 5K service

ive gotten, that’s not what Ford says and my reply is, so where do I get a new owners maNeal as I’m telling you what’s in my manual

 

[Cabose-1]

Dude,
This tire rotation thing as easy as it sounds is complicated.

Some tires can not be crisscrossed, as some tire can only spin in only one direction. And with the addition of donut tires the 5 tire rotation is out the window. My range spare is full sized but a steeley. So........... i guess it depends,

I rotate my tires fronts to the rear and rear to the front. Doo it on all my vehicles. My wifes mazda has tires that can inly go in one direction so they can not criss cross. The five tire rotation or the crisscross rotation might be of days of old. Ljke pummping the gas peddle before turning on the car.

I know duellys have a different rotation as well.

I dont know the science behind it, just know it has to be done for tires to wear evenly.

All that being said. I hope i wasnt more confusing, because i dont have a rock solid answer. I do know, on my ranger, all stock suspension and stock tires, my tires are evenly wearing, on all sides with 37k miles. Even tread all across the tires! Front to rear rear to front. Rotated every 10k miles.

2020 xlt 4x2. Dueller ht 255 65 17r

 

[Cabose-1]

Sigoris,
Would you look at what i found. Lol.

I Just looked at the manual!

 

[got3fords]

My dealer does not criss cross. I found this out after I ran through some white paint one time. Got paint only on one side. After a service, I noticed that both tires on that side still had paint. I asked the dealer about it and sure enough they rotated the front to back, said they always do. Stupid me decided to criss cross them myself one day. Soon after I developed tire noise. Perhaps if they were newer they would tolerate changing direction better. But ever since then I haven't worried about just a front to rear rotation. Every 5k.

 

[Progeny2021]

Ok class, pay attention....

 

[JalanX]

Thanks all. I did give dealer a call just to ask how they do it on trucks and the service manager said yes it was specifically done front to back and back to front. Against what the manual says. He says he worked for some tire place 7 years…and that’s best for wear and how they do always do it. He did say if I want it switched just bring it in & he will take care of it.

 

[Progeny2021]

Thanks all. I did give dealer a call just to ask how they do it on trucks and the service manager said yes it was specifically done front to back and back to front. Against what the manual says. He says he worked for some tire place 7 years…and that’s best for wear and how they do always do it. He did say if I want it switched just bring it in & he will take care of it.

Every time I take one of my vehicles in for service, I always hand them printed instructions of what I want done and a printed diagram of the tire rotation I expect....

Walmart is religious about tire rotation and correct lug nut torque....

 

[Cabose-1]

Well, i learned something new. Gonna try the preferred method from now on

 

[got3fords]

He did say if I want it switched just bring it in & he will take care of it.

I wouldn't bother.

 

[Progeny2021]

I wouldn't bother.

I've sensitive to tire feel-vibration. Correct tire rotation in a timely manner does make a difference from my experience.

 

[got3fords]

I've sensitive to tire feel-vibration. Correct tire rotation in a timely manner does make a difference from my experience.

I am too, but have always had even tire wear with no noise, vibration with just front to back rotation. That is until the time I criss crossed them myself. They quickly developed noise.

 

[JasonTremor]

Crossing the fronts when moved to the rear is what smooths out the feathering wear pattern on the inside and outside tread blocks on the front tires. If you don't cross them, tires will become more noisy over time. Both the Chevrolet and Ford dealer service department here will argue that the manual is wrong on rotation.

 

[deleriumtremor]

I just had my first tire rotation by dealer and I marked the front two tires just to see where they put them. They just moved the driver to the driver rear and passenger to the passenger rear(so both front went straight to the back. Maybe they crisscrossed the rears when they brought to front but it didn’t mark those. But I am reading this is for front wheel drive vehicles. I mean at least they actually rotated them. Dealers are terrible these days with anything. But what is the correct way and would you say anything to the dealer?

I have always "rotated" my radial tires from front to back and back to front, same side.

Works for me.

The good news is you rotated them.

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