Tyre rotation for directional tyres

[Bigtoothpick]

hi

 

wanna find out, if you're using directional tyres, do you swop left/right when doing tyre rotation? i.e. remove tyres from rim and swop. So far the 2 places i've been, they just swop front and back, tells me "cannot" switch left/right (duh...), charges about $20 to $25.

 

Should it cost more if I ask to swop left/right? Typically how much more and where recommended? Prefer east side (Sengkang/Tampines/Loyang).

 

i'm running on 17", come tyre change it burns a hole in my pocket

 

Thanks

[Kb27]

Directional tyres cannot switch left/right only front/back.

Otherwise the tyres will point at the wrong dirction.

[Byond]

tyres rotation..change front to back for my case. This is due to the front portion..that houses ur engine..it wears off fast..so need to even out the tyre wear. This is what i know..front left to right and back left to right...i think it will make ur front tyres wear out faster than ur back tyres. The point here is to even out the wear from all 4 tyres...

[Scaglietti]

Only swap from the front axle to tbe back. Keep it to the same side. Don't dismount the tyres from the rims.

 

BC

[Cordia_gsr]

If you really want to have the cross rotation, you will need to dismount the tires from the rims and reinstall on the opposite direction. But it's not money worth to do so....

[Topgun]

If your tyres are directional AND with asymmetrical threads, then can only swap front and back same side, do not 'cross' swap...

 

[Bigtoothpick]

Ah. You have a point, re asymmetrical thread. Thanks

 

Anyone knows if Falken ST115 Azenis has asymmetrical thread...

[Bigtoothpick]

Directional tyres cannot switch left/right only front/back.

Otherwise the tyres will point at the wrong dirction.

 

yup. i know that. Thought of removing from rims but didn't know about asymmetrical thread though.

[Bigtoothpick]

if thread not asymmetrical, any reason why should not dismount tyre from rim. i mean other than costs i guess

[Kklee]

I think it's ok to remove the tyre from the rim.... tyre puncture repair, also the same.

[Kb27]

Ok, I see what you mean.

If you are just moving directional (symmetrical thread) tyres from left to right without moving the rims, it seems to be ok. Except maybe some tyres have marking that says inner side, would then become "outer" after the swap.

I'm not sure what's the effect if any. I guess it depends on the way the tyre is manufactured, whether extra strengthening goes to "outer" side or not.

 

I think just rotate front/back is good enough. Just make sure the wheel alignment is correct is more important.

[Kklee]

Hmm... just thought of it, if the thread design is symmetrical, wouldn't the tyres be non-directional?

[Bigtoothpick]

mmmmm... i don't think so. If symmetry is between the two sidewalls (i.e. line along centre of tyre width), but the thread design is not the same along direction of rotation, e.g. W-shaped will become M-shaped the other way, then tyre is still directional...

[Coupe07]

thread starter says remove tyres from rims to swop left n right...

 

this is the most economical way. Front to back, slight diffeerence only

[Kklee]

Agree...miss out on that.

[Scaglietti]

IMO, if your car alignment is good, there is not much benefit from cross swapping your directional tyres. I would not spend the $$ to dismount, re-mount and rebalance the tyres.

 

BC

[Kklee]

Even with proper alignment, if parked at MSCP in higher floors, usually the front left tyre outer edge will experience more wear. If the rims are upsizes and tyres are expensive, the effort and $$$ would not be wasted.

[Eyke]

depends on the car you drive.

 

for cars with significant negative camber, eg. Focus, will result in more inner edge wear for tyres and would benefit from a "X" rotation.

 

if you just do front to back, the inner edges will always be the inner edges and will worn out long before the outer edges.