I was just wondering the proper way to rotate the tires. Is this way correct......

Front right goes to - Rear Left
Rear Left goes to - Front Right
Front Left goes to - Rear Right
Rear Right goes to - Front Left

 

Unfortunately you will get various recommendations on this one, depending who you ask. The most important thing to do, regarding which method you choose, is to continue using the same method for the life of the tires.

For rear/4wd vehicles, the most common is:

Front Right -> Rear Left
Front Left -> Rear Right
Rear Right -> Front Right
Rear Left -> Front Left

The layout you described is the 2nd most common method but either will work just fine.

 

Here is my pattern also,

 

Do you guys usually do the rotation yourselfs or do ya just take it somewhere?

 

I normally take it to the garage because everytime I buy a new set of tires it comes w/free rotations and it's 1 min. away from my work. My only reason for ever wanting to do it myself is to make sure it's torqued properly. I'm putting my trust in the garage on that one though...

 

I always do mine from front to back, back to front, and I never put one on the other side.

I am getting ready to go outside in an hour or so as soon as the fog lifts here, and take off all 4 tires and put on the winter tire/wheel setup.

 

Yeah thats the only thing that I get really concerned about is the torque. Hell, I'll just do them myself this evening

 

Do it myself for two reasons. 1) proper torque spec is important especially with alum. rims. Dont want the gorillas using the air tools. 2) mechanics never remove the center caps and will scratch them up.

 

btw, jalaber.....what are the proper torque specs? I do mine at 86ft lbs.

 

Off the top of my head, I'm thinking 83 ft/lbs.

 

I believe you are right, j. That's what I remember too.

Al

 

I always use this method.

Right Front to Right Rear
Right Rear to Right Front
Left Front to Left Rear
Left Rear to Left Front.

 

I am glad someone posted this I was getting ready to do this myself. But wasn't exactly sure on how to rotate em. Thanks for the replies.

 

I do it myself since I want to be able to get them off easily later on. I torque them to pretty darn tight with both hands on opposite sides of a star wrench. I'm sure its always exactly 83 ft/lbs that way. I always put the two with the most tread on the rears using a high tech penny depth gauge. The ones that cover Abe's head the most go on the back. I have 2 sets of tires and wheels now and i'll be switching them twice on Sundays for the upcoming Ice Racing season. MTRs for race day and trail runs, pavement pounders for the rest of the week. I don't keep track of which goes on the left or right since I do it so often, I don't think it matters.

Yes, i'm a hillbilly

 

I'll agree to that! J/K

 

Front to back...back to front. You never want to switch sides of the vehicle. This will cause the tire to rotate in the opposite direction. Radial tires do not like this. Once a radial tire is turning in one direction you don't want to upset it. They get cranky. Switching rotation direction will cause a radial tire to "scallop" and get "out of round". Switching sides was ok when everyone ran bias ply tires.

 

i was about to post the same thing. switching sides will more than likely cause the belt to separate, and you don't want that.

 

Just as soon as I was already to start a brand new and fun rotation pattern, someone posts the old standby that I'd been taught to do. I've always heard back to front, front to back with some kind of fancy rotation if you want to include a full-sized spare.
I got the tires for my last vehicle at Discount Tire (America's Tire Co.) and was determined to get every penny I paid for them back in free lifetime rotations. I noticed the guy doing it replacing the nuts with his airgun, but then he went around each tire with the torque wrench (though I have no idea if he was checking the CORRECT torque). So, the discount places aren't always so horrible.

 

There is only ONE way to rotate tires, FRONT to REAR. Please dont
cross rotate. This may cause a radial tire pull due to tire wear in opposite direction. After 15 plus years in the occupation, ive learned that one well.
Good luck, Kxpaul.

 

This weekend I am lucky enough to get to pop to studs out of the front drivers side hub of my wife's '99 4x4 Taco since the guys at the local Firestone were kind enough to insert the nut into the socket and start the thread with the mighty power of the air wrench, zzz-zzz-zz-prrr-prrr, "ok - she's ready!" gee, thanks guys. so saturday it's my turn with the impact wrench to spin the two nutz off and snap the lugs in two. hopefully they will stay in one piece so I can just pound them out. But that is why I always do my own. the one time I don't go along for a new tire purchase and blammo! If you do go, make sure you stand by your car or at least watch through a window and by all means jump in and let the dude know "Start those with with your hands and don't use the air wrench please." I had to "remind" a dude at Discount Tires once and he rolled his eyes at me, I when it's my 32k dollar 4runner you ain't rolling your eyes at me and getting away with it! haha.