Rotating tires off the rim?
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
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From: Baltimore suburbs Maryland
Rotating tires off the rim?
Anyone ever rotate the tires off your rims? Meaning- since we usually have expensive and directional tires- that are not normally rotated, and the alignment seems to wear the inner parts of the tires, I'm considering getting my tires rotated by having them dismounted and swapped to even out the wear. Anybody do this? 
Last edited by ericdwong; Feb 3, 2009 at 02:59 PM. Reason: sp
Tech Contributor
Joined: Oct 1999
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From: Charlotte, NC (formerly Endicott, NY)
Just did it to my front Firestone Wide Ovals. I run about -1.3 degrees of camber and the inside edge was starting to show some wear so I flipped them. The Firestones can be flipped like that but if you do that with the SCs you put the inside tire tread (which is different) on the outside. Depending on where you live flipping and re-balancing shouldn't cost much. It cost me $20 (of course the tires weren't EMTs which seems to double the price).
Bill
Bill
Thread Starter
Race Director
Joined: Dec 2002
Posts: 10,233
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From: Baltimore suburbs Maryland
Yup, I've noticed that some tires have an "inside" and "outside" (like my Sumi HTR Z iii) where others like the Nitto 555 are simply "right" and "left". Sounds good, I'll get this done, I could use a rebalancing anyway.
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 931
Likes: 35
From: Rowlett, Texas
Yeah, I did it on my Bridgestones at about 10k miles.
I've tried everything to stop the inner right front wear, including very "straight up" camber and toe settings, and she still chews that inner side a bit.
I figure the rears to go about 20k, so the fronts will get replaced then also. Even if they are still okay, they will be 5 years old and hard as bricks by then. It's amazing how much effect age has on a tire's traction ability.
DG
I've tried everything to stop the inner right front wear, including very "straight up" camber and toe settings, and she still chews that inner side a bit.
I figure the rears to go about 20k, so the fronts will get replaced then also. Even if they are still okay, they will be 5 years old and hard as bricks by then. It's amazing how much effect age has on a tire's traction ability.
DG
Race Director
Joined: Jan 2007
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From: Norman Oklahoma - The Only State in the Union with no Blue Counties!
If you are getting wear then your alignment is not right or the balance is off or both. On my second set and have never had the above stated probs!
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 931
Likes: 35
From: Rowlett, Texas
Sure, I agree something is not perfect. But after half a dozen attempts to cure it, you run out of recommendations and C5 "alignment gurus" and have to give up and make the best of it.
Probably 90% of C5 owners I have met have this inner front wear issue to some extent.
My C4 had perfect tire wear, absolutely perfect - go figure.
I have a 20-year-old Mercedes that wears the outer front left since the day it was new. 200k miles, 20+ alignments, complete front-end rebuild - it still wears that LF outer exactly the same.
It's been my long experience that some cars will wear perfectly, with or without any alignments for 100k miles. But the ones that do exhibit a wear pattern will always do it, no matter what you do.
DG
Probably 90% of C5 owners I have met have this inner front wear issue to some extent.
My C4 had perfect tire wear, absolutely perfect - go figure.
I have a 20-year-old Mercedes that wears the outer front left since the day it was new. 200k miles, 20+ alignments, complete front-end rebuild - it still wears that LF outer exactly the same.
It's been my long experience that some cars will wear perfectly, with or without any alignments for 100k miles. But the ones that do exhibit a wear pattern will always do it, no matter what you do.
DG
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