OT: Is Tire rotation worth doing ?

Doug · Mar 17, 2007

Had the Honda in for it's first oil change at 9,000 miles. They tell me you should rotate and balance the tires at 10k, do you want to do it now ?

For $60, I declined, seemed a bit high ?

Do it, or blow it off ?

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD vAlign=top width="100%"><TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR><TD>Dear Tom and Ray:

The owner's manual for my 2000 BMW 328i says in the interests of safety and handling, I should NOT rotate my tires. And it implies that tire rotation will not extend the life of the tires in a meaningful way. But the instructions with my new tires (not to mention those from the tire reseller and the mechanic who services my car) all suggest periodic rotation. To rotate, or not to rotate? -- Larry

TOM: This was one of the great civic debates of the 20th century, Larry.

RAY: Make that 20th AND 21st.

TOM: We've always felt that tire rotation is of marginal value in terms of saving you money. Why? Because the cost of tire rotation roughly equals the amount you'd save by extending your tire life.

RAY: You can see why mechanics like it. Not only is it an easy few bucks for us, but it also gets your car into the shop again so we can sell you other services -- like engine flushes and fuzzy-dice reupholstering!

TOM: So, our feeling has always been that if the tire rotation is free, do it. In other words, if you're having your brakes checked, and the wheels are already off the car and your mechanic is nice enough to put them back on different wheels for nothing, then do it. That's what we do for our customers.

RAY: Actually, we just get confused, and don't remember where the wheels came from. So we tell our customers, "We THINK we rotated your tires."

TOM: But if you have to pay for tire rotation as a separate service, it's pretty much a wash, as far as we can tell.

RAY: As for BMW, it figures that anyone who buys a BMW places handling above a few bucks. And in many cases, its cars come with directional tires, which are only supposed to be rotated front to back. When you rotate that way, you're supposed to do it every 3,000 miles, which further reduces any economic advantage.

TOM: BMW cites safety because the front and rear tires develop different wear patterns. And for at least a little while -- until the wear evens out, which is the point of tire rotation -- you might have slightly inferior handling with newly rotated tires.

RAY: It's a technicality, and very few drivers would ever notice it, but BMW is, technically, correct.

TOM: Still, we see nothing wrong with rotating your tires. No harm will be done, in our opinion. But if you're paying your BMW mechanic $125 an hour to move your tires around (and eight bucks a wheel for rebalancing, too), it's very unlikely you'll save any money in the long run, Larry.
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slapshot · Mar 17, 2007

depends on driving style

how many burnouts you do ect

go buy you some jack stands and a jack and have at it

never mind you had the oil changed when you replace the tires some places offer free rotation

Journeyman · Mar 17, 2007

For 60 bucks I'd jack my car up and do it myself, that is dealership service center robbery....I can't imagine any new car needing balancing that soon either.

FairWarning · Mar 17, 2007

I usually rotate mine once a year. I have it done in the spring when I get the alignment done and the potholes are patched. It does save on tires.

Doug · Mar 17, 2007

slapshot said:
depends on driving style

how many burnouts you do ect

go buy you some jack stands and a jack and have at it

never mind you had the oil changed when you replace the tires some places offer free rotation

If you replace the tires ( presumably with new ones) why would they need to be rotated ?

I'm not about to do it manually. I think I could probably get it done for half of what the dealership wants. I never much worried about in the past, or would get a free brake inspection and have them switch wheels.

I get the theory with front wheel drive vehichles needing it more, but it does seem like what's gained is lost in paying ( too much) for the service.

Then if you go to a place like Townfair, they have a tendancy to have "Jose" overtighten the lugs with the airwrench and snap off studs.

FairWarning · Mar 17, 2007

Doug said:
If you replace the tires ( presumably with new ones) why would they need to be rotated ?

I'm not about to do it manually. I think I could probably get it done for half of what the dealership wants. I never much worried about in the past, or would get a free brake inspection and have them switch wheels.

I get the theory with front wheel drive vehichles needing it more, but it does seem like what's gained is lost in paying ( too much) for the service.

Then if you go to a place like Townfair, they have a tendancy to have "Jose" overtighten the lugs with the airwrench and snap off studs.

Some places do rotate for free. Buy your tires from one of these places instead.

patswin · Mar 17, 2007

The tire dealer I bought mine from gives you free rotations for the life of the tire. I usually have them rotated 2-3x per year

Doug · Mar 17, 2007

Journeyman said:
For 60 bucks I'd jack my car up and do it myself, that is dealership service center robbery....I can't imagine any new car needing balancing that soon either.

I was thinking the same way, balancing after 10k miles ?

I think just front to rear switch is all that's needed.

What about spare, do you guys work a new spare into the rotation ?

Doug · Mar 17, 2007

patswin said:
The tire dealer I bought mine from gives you free rotations for the life of the tire. I usually have them rotated 2-3x per year

This is starting from new, so no tire dealer involved.

crunch99 · Mar 17, 2007

You're suppose to rotate every other oil change (7500 miles).

But $60 is a ripoff... as most national chains include it for free when you change your oil.

Doug · Mar 17, 2007

crunch99 said:
You're suppose to rotate every other oil change (7500 miles).

But $60 is a ripoff... as most national chains include it for free when you change your oil.

Honda says 10k miles. The car has a sensor telling you what percent of oil life is left, you're supposed to change it at around 15% life. This car went almost 9,000 miles, and still read 20% life.

I guess no biggie to switch wheels for free when the car is already on a lift, but without balancing included.

I'm not a fan of dealer service, but first oil change was free.

Woody0 · Mar 17, 2007

Doug said:
What about spare, do you guys work a new spare into the rotation ?

My car comes with a true spare, good for 4,000 miles and for emergency use only.

I don't think tire rotation has any real value, the extra mileage is minimal. Also by the time tires need replacing the complete set of 4 are in pretty much the same condition.

ChalksR4Kids · Mar 17, 2007

What is really worth the money is checking your tire pressure once a month and seeing that they are properly inflated. Tires lose about one pound of pressure each month.
Keeping the air pressure right real reduce wear and tear, increase safety, and increase gas mileage by as much as 10%. The increase in fuel efficiency will be that much less money our terrorist loving oil buddies have to try to blow us up with.

Doug · Mar 17, 2007

That doesn't cost much, if anything. Good reminder !

AlwaysKeen · Mar 18, 2007

I always forget to check my tire pressure on my cars...

Doug · Mar 18, 2007

I knew the Honda dealer was trying to rip me off for $60 on the "rotate and balance" job.

I don't like new cars, I prefer beaters. The kind where you push the shopping cart out of the way, with the vehicle at the supermarket.

The kind where the Mexican points at it, and says " Esta su caro ?" (sp ?).

I really like them broken in (100k + miles) and cheap.

Wish I had a photo of my old green $200 1977 Toyota pick-up. Great work truck, things like that run forever, and no biggie if the Pettibone driver hits it, and puts another dent in it !

Doug · Mar 18, 2007

I'll pre-answer the question that's coming.... "What's a Pettibone ?"

1cheater · Mar 18, 2007

Whoever says rotating is not needs should ave their head examined....

Doug · Mar 18, 2007

How about being fair about it ? Freaking Honda has the car up on a lift already, and I bought it from them. They could be honest (sort of) about it , and blow off the balancing and charge me maybe $20 to flip the tires front to rear, anything beyond $20, and I may as well fuck off rotatation ?

:bunnies: :bunnies: :bunnies:

phdinsports · Mar 18, 2007

HELLLLLLL no! In the GTA usually charge you 35 bucks to rotate. Now if you were to rotate every 10K (which you should, according to your car manual) you would spend roughly 315 dollars during the lifespan of your tires on bullshit!!!!!!(I usually get 80,000 to 100,000K on my tires) One stop auto (Hwy 7) has an annual sale (late sept early Oct) where I spend 360 total on new tires (car tires yokohoma)with installation!!! Now there's now way tire rotatation will double the lifespan of your tires to make it economically feasible!!!