5 tire rotation is no joke!

[NC_Oak]

so I'll add to the "rotate your tires" crew - my rears tend to lose some tread lugs from wheeling at a higher rate than the fronts (still on the GYs). So rotating shares that fun amongst everyone.

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[JSW377]

So, where should you rotate your spare to if it is wearing unevenly?

 

[dejones64]

Dealer oil change and 5-tire rotation, $88. Done.

 

[SeptuagenerianSasquatch]

And then you proceeded to rotate the other 3 tires?

No, silly.
The other four!

I've used this photo to demonstrate a problem with the OEM Goodyears "Territories:" They not only fling rocks, but rocks can get caught, work their way up the tread and puncture the ply. I heard that problem ceases after a while...like 5K?...10K miles? Anyway, it happened to me only on those BLM roads in Utah.

On a serious note: Getting the spare onto the lugs was getting very difficult. I almost had it a few times, using a tire iron as a lifting pry bar, then something...something...the wheel holes just wouldn't "find" the lugs. I was afraid of damaging the threading on the lugs.

Then I tried something different. Using the OEM scissors jack, I micro-adjusted the height of the hub up, down, up a little, down a bit, until they evenly matched the holes on the wheel, and voila! Everything matched, a little wiggling, and all six holes lined up perfectly and on it went.

 

[Jazer]

As someone who has always done my own maintenance on my vehicles, this is one reason my Bronco still gets oil changes (& tire rotations) at the dealer. One wheel/tire weighs almost as much as me.

 

[broadicustomworks]

I never knew the topic of HOW to rotate tires was so polarizing.
I guess it never dawned on me that there were several different iterations of how to perform said task. And that folks were just as divided and insistent that theirs is the best as the "Cola Wars" of the 90's. I still have flashbacks of those dark and troublesome days of yore. Clear Pepsi was the last straw. Lest we forget.

 

[AZ_Liberty]

I've been doing a 5-tire, but honestly I don't know why I bother.

Can't remember the last time I wore out a set of tires rather than replacing them due to sun damage and dry rot.

 

[AZ_Liberty]

So, where should you rotate your spare to if it is wearing unevenly?

Right Rear is your main drive tire. When in doubt, put the tire with the best tread on the right rear.

 

[Iceman62]

Then you find out the new guy used the impact wrench to torque the lugs to either 5 or 500 ft*lb, hah.

That's Ok...I have huge breaker bar in back & also - it's on them (in maintenance records).

 

[Mtea]

I installed my electric hoist to remove/store my top but it also works well to lower and lift the spare to my tailgate for the five tire rotation.

 

[Nickhick]

 

[MilesTeg]

I've been doing a 5-tire, but honestly I don't know why I bother.

Can't remember the last time I wore out a set of tires rather than replacing them due to sun damage and dry rot.

I'm in a similar position -- usually my tires have plenty of tread life left but are too old to continue using. I still rotate them for better ride/handling, and on the Bronco because I wheel and the 5 tire rotation may save me some money if I ruin a tire.

 

[timhood]

I don't rotate tires anymore. My dealer has a loss-leader special of an oil change, tire rotation, multi-point inspection and fluid top-off for $30 when bought in packs of 3 to be used in a year. I buy, use the first right away, the second in 6 months, and the third at the year mark.

That said, I do swap out my tires between street and off-road, but my pain is not as bad as yours because I can just lift one wheel at a time with the jack. I still have PTSD from being under an improperly-supported vehicle, so jack stands make me flinch. I can't tell what jack stands you have, but maybe you've already watched this video.

 

[timhood]

It's like a 4-tire rotation but with 20% more tires.

Technically, 25%. Or a 4-tire rotation is like a 5-tire with 20% fewer tires.

 

[timhood]

You all wild lugging around your jack and doing it one at a time.

I'd be curious to know how long it actually takes you to do the rotation, from getting out the stands until putting them away. People always way underestimate the time they think they spend on things, especially maintenance, repairs, and assembly.

I'm convinced that my biggest ROI on time is the DeWalt impact driver. Once a wheel is off the ground, I can have a wheel off in about 30 seconds. My floor jack will lift a rear tire in 5 pumps, 9 for the front, and don't you still need a floor jack to lift your vehicle so you can get the stands underneath? I can't see how that method can be faster. You are lifting the vehicle 4 times with a floor jack to get the stands under and 4 times to remove them. Maybe I'm missing something about the process. I know I'm missing having to spend money on (and storing) 4 jack stands.

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