Wheels & Tires Semi-Tech General discussion of wheels and tires for the Ford Ranger.

proper way to rotate tires?

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Old 09-09-2009
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proper way to rotate tires?

ok, so gunna take the truck into the shop tomorrow and do a few things..

Gunna rotate the tires while im at it, but not sure on the correct way to do this?
 
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Old 09-09-2009
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Take the ones off the back and roll them forward and put em on the front and vise versa.
 
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Old 09-09-2009
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ok, tire rack is saying that you have to take the front drivers tire and move it to the rear pass. side, and visa versa..
 
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Old 09-09-2009
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I do mine in a X. Just how I've always done it
 
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Old 09-09-2009
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x2.
 
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Old 09-09-2009
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You don't have to do it like how discount says. You could do it like that but it doesn't really matter. Just as long as the ones that were in the back aren't there anymore, you'll be fine.
 
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Old 09-09-2009
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hmm.. thanks guys!
 
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Old 09-09-2009
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i grew up at a tire store, with RWD vehicles u cross the fronts to the backs n bring the backs straight forward. then opposite with fwd cars
 
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Old 09-09-2009
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i thought it was front to back-back to front or the X way so the front driver is one the passenger rear and the passenger front is on the driver rear.
like posted, as long as the rears are on the fronts you should be good.
 
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Old 09-09-2009
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x3 X
 
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Old 09-09-2009
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Originally Posted by kenny_216
i grew up at a tire store, with RWD vehicles u cross the fronts to the backs n bring the backs straight forward. then opposite with fwd cars
X2 thats how ive always done it.
 
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Old 09-09-2009
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thats hwo im going to do it.
 
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Old 09-09-2009
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You'll be alright just doing front to back but the tires will wear more evenly if you cross them too, so each tire gets put on each corner at some point.
 
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Old 09-09-2009
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Originally Posted by kenny_216
i grew up at a tire store, with RWD vehicles u cross the fronts to the backs n bring the backs straight forward. then opposite with fwd cars
x3

this method allows for the tires to rotate to every corner of the car before ending up back in the original location
 
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Old 09-09-2009
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Originally Posted by brianjwilson
You'll be alright just doing front to back but the tires will wear more evenly if you cross them too, so each tire gets put on each corner at some point.
yes sir, will do.
 
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Old 09-09-2009
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on a side note.. how often is it recommended to rotate tires?? should MTs be rotated more frequently than an AT?
 
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Old 09-10-2009
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i think it's around 10 or 12k that your rotate. well, that is what my dealer suggests and that is with a stock wrangler. i'll have him rotate them again when i bring it in for it's next oil change/lubing of doorjambs and joints.
 
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Old 09-10-2009
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Originally Posted by God,Country,FORD
ok, tire rack is saying that you have to take the front drivers tire and move it to the rear pass. side, and visa versa..
i think thats only if your tires are directional
 
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Old 09-10-2009
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I've always rotated mine at 5k
 
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Old 09-10-2009
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Originally Posted by Smakes
i think thats only if your tires are directional
Directional tires have to stay on the same side of the car. If you went from driver to passenger side you'd have to reverse the direction of the tire.
 
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Old 09-10-2009
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oh well then dont mind me, i never rotate mine i just take em to discount tire and they rotate and balance for free whenever i want haha
 
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Old 09-10-2009
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i only go front to back, never switch sides, radials once they turn in one direction for a while like to continue to roll that way. It will run smoother and always balance out.
 
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Old 09-10-2009
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Originally Posted by Smakes
oh well then dont mind me, i never rotate mine i just take em to discount tire and they rotate and balance for free whenever i want haha
Haha me too now. I used to do my tires on the ranger but no point doing all that work not when they'll do it for free.
 
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Old 09-10-2009
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Originally Posted by zabeard
i only go front to back, never switch sides, radials once they turn in one direction for a while like to continue to roll that way. It will run smoother and always balance out.
I've never bought into that.. that might have been true with the first radial tires, but now I believe its more of a myth than anything.

This is what I do.. the pattern on the left.
 
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Old 09-10-2009
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Originally Posted by freddie
I've never bought into that.. that might have been true with the first radial tires, but now I believe its more of a myth than anything.
I think so too.
Maybe a long time ago. Or maybe it's possible if the tires have been going the same direction for 40k miles...?
But every vehicle manual I've looked at shows them going front to back, and cross the back to the front.
On my KM2's I found the shop was only rotating front to back and I was getting quite a bit more wear on one side (I forget if it was the braking or accelerating side). So had them swap left to right and front to back last time. Initially it was louder but after a few thousand miles they have smoothed out and quieted back down some.
I have mine rotated every oil change. Use to be 3k miles now it's 5k miles with synthetic.
 


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