Tire rotation question????
Thread Starter
Melting Slicks
Joined: Aug 2002
Posts: 2,290
Likes: 4
From: G-boro NC
Tire rotation question????
I am going to have all four of my tires off the rims and was wondereing if I should change the left tires to the right and vice versa??? The tires are Nitto 555's and have about 12-15K on them. They seem to be wearing fine and the way the tread looks I will probably get another 20K out of them.
Thanks, Todd
P.S. I bet a few of yall could wait to get this thread open with the title....
Thanks, Todd
P.S. I bet a few of yall could wait to get this thread open with the title....
Race Director
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From: HOW FAST WAS I GOING OFFICER? Los Angeles Hating GM Dealership Service Dept.'s Since Sept. 2004
St. Jude Donor '04-'05-'06-'07
Let me get this straight ...
You want to put the left tires on the right side and you're asking if it's ok to do it this way or should you put the right tires on the left side?
Krykee! I've gone cross eyed!
Hope this pic helps.
You want to put the left tires on the right side and you're asking if it's ok to do it this way or should you put the right tires on the left side?
Krykee! I've gone cross eyed!
Hope this pic helps.
Last edited by MyVetteDream; Dec 27, 2004 at 03:44 PM.
Instructor
Joined: May 2002
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Tire Rotation Question
Someone correct me if I'm wrong but these are directional tires and if you cross rotated left front to right front and vice versa aren't you reversing the direction of the tire? Also obviously a normal tire rotation like the diagram provided is out of the question due to difference in tire sizes. You could do this if all your tires were the same.
Bill and my $.02
Bill and my $.02
Former Vendor
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From: Las Vegas NV
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Originally Posted by majbillgsd
Someone correct me if I'm wrong but these are directional tires and if you cross rotated left front to right front and vice versa aren't you reversing the direction of the tire?
Bill and my $.02
Bill and my $.02
Not necessarily. If you were to rotate the left to the right the only way you could do it is by NOT changing the normal rotation of the tire. For example.. The outside of the left tire would become the inside of the right. If you did it ANY other way it would destroy the tire.
Race Director
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From: Paducah KY
Cruise-In VII Veteran
My Michelin Pilot Sports are directional rotation tires only and cannot be swapped around. Don't know about the Nitto's, but I would bet they are the same. If you look on the side wall of tire you'll see the directional arrows that show the proper mounting rotation
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2004
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If you look at the diagram, the direction doesn't change--they're still spinning the same way. But obviously the stock sizes are different so I assume the original poster has the same size tires at all 4 corners.
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Originally Posted by USARMYTTT
They seem to be wearing fine
Race Director
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Originally Posted by majbillgsd
Someone correct me if I'm wrong but these are directional tires and if you cross rotated left front to right front and vice versa aren't you reversing the direction of the tire? Also obviously a normal tire rotation like the diagram provided is out of the question due to difference in tire sizes. You could do this if all your tires were the same.
Bill and my $.02
Bill and my $.02
Since the tires are wearing evenly, I'd say there's not much to be gained.
If running excessive camber, causing the inside of the tread to wear sooner, then there would be a nice benefit to this...the outer tread would now become the inner tread and some life could be gained from such a swap.
Also note some directional tires are also side-specific and have a different outer or inner tread pattern as well. BFG KD's are such an example, and they can't even be rotated swapping the tires on the wheels. I don't know if the Nitto's are like this, but it's another consideration.
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Originally Posted by majbillgsd
Someone correct me if I'm wrong but these are directional tires and if you cross rotated left front to right front and vice versa aren't you reversing the direction of the tire? Also obviously a normal tire rotation like the diagram provided is out of the question due to difference in tire sizes. You could do this if all your tires were the same.
Bill and my $.02
Bill and my $.02
The diagram above IS indeed out of the question with Corvettes.
Now there really is no reason though to go through this.
Le Mans Master
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You can swap side to side only if you dismount the tire from the wheel and remount from the other side. If you just move the left rear to the right rear, for example, it would be going backwards. I'm not sure it's a good idea anyway ... I think that radial tires get 'set' in their ways ... although on regular nondirectional tires, they do do a side-to-side swap. I'd just keep them in the same place.
Unless I'm mistaken, the directionality is primarily for water rejection when driving in the rain ... which we never do anyway.
Unless I'm mistaken, the directionality is primarily for water rejection when driving in the rain ... which we never do anyway.
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Personally, I would just leave them where they are at. They are obviously wearing well so why mess with it. JMO.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Sep 2003
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From: Jacksonville Florida
Originally Posted by Patches
The benefits to such a heinous act are, IMHO, marginal, at best. 
I just run the heck out of mine 'til all the rubber is gone on them or about 4 months - whichever comes first then rotate them for new ones.
Le Mans Master
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St. Jude Donor '06-'07-'09-'10
Originally Posted by Patches
The benefits to such a heinous act are, IMHO, marginal, at best.
Not worth the time, trouble, and possible tire damage to demount and remount. 
If it ain't broke, don't fix it (or f #@%k it up) IMHO. 
Burning Brakes
Joined: Mar 2004
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From: Richmond Virginia
Originally Posted by majbillgsd
Someone correct me if I'm wrong but these are directional tires and if you cross rotated left front to right front and vice versa aren't you reversing the direction of the tire? Also obviously a normal tire rotation like the diagram provided is out of the question due to difference in tire sizes. You could do this if all your tires were the same.
Bill and my $.02
Bill and my $.02
