Question on 1st Tire Rotation

[Willys41]

So, I'm about to take my new Jeep in for its first complimentary oil change and tire rotation.

I happened to ask them if they rotate all five tires or just the four on the ground. They replied it's my choice, 4-tire rotation or 5-tire rotation.

Well, I can easily think up why I might want a 5-tire rotation but the fact that they offer a choice instead of a recommendation made me wonder if there are owners who opt for only a 4-tire rotation, and why.

I notice the 2024 Wrangler Owners manual only mentions the 4-tire rotation:

Seems odd to me that they do not discuss a 5-tire rotation.

I read in another thread of someone who did the 4-tire rotation and wanted to change to 5-tire rotation but was told if his four tires had, say, 20,000 miles on them, it was too late to bring in the 5th tire. Too late? Okay, but does that consign the 5th tire to serve only as a temporary spare?

Anyway, I wonder is anyone has wisdom about any of this, 4-tire versus 5-tire rotation, and maybe why the manual would only advise on 4-tire rotation.

Thanks.

I have been rotating tires for 50 years and what I always do is cross rotate (X) the 4 on the ground.
As soon as I see or feel the outer edge starting to cup on the front it is time to rotate.
We have all heard that car or truck going down the road with that annoying tire noise.
If you wait to long there is nothing you can do to fix the cupped tires.
By doing this I have got as high as 80k out of a set of tires without any cupping or tire noise.

Sponsored

 

[Terrymo]

Sorry, but that makes no sense in this world. Our tires are not directional. If they were then doing a standard 4-tire rotation would still screw them up. You'd have to do a front to rear rotation (assuming non-staggered tires).

Way too much hand wringing, overthinking and strangeness in this thread. My work here is done

 

[mikibenz]

But why, please.

You paid for 5 tires. Use them.

 

[vegasbob]

Make sure they reset your TPMS..

 

[Poseidon20]

5 rotation means you know that spare is always in good working order.

Some people do 4 because their spare doesn't have any rubber, someone stole the rubber maybe, it's Canada strange happens here.

I'm sure he still does a 5 wheel rotation though.

 

[Ratbert]

I have been rotating tires for 50 years and what I always do is cross rotate (X) the 4 on the ground.
As soon as I see or feel the outer edge starting to cup on the front it is time to rotate.
We have all heard that car or truck going down the road with that annoying tire noise.
If you wait to long there is nothing you can do to fix the cupped tires.
By doing this I have got as high as 80k out of a set of tires without any cupping or tire noise.

You wait for the front tires to cup before rotating? I must be reading that wrong.

And you don't care that you're not using ~20% of your set of tires? Again, I must be reading that wrong.

 

[Ratbert]

Make sure they reset your TPMS..

Under what scenario do they need to be reset? Mine are pretty damn accurate and auto-associate with the correct tire after rotation.

 

[zouch]

why not just use the floor jack?
i set my Spare on the jack and lift it all the way up; gets it within a couple of inches, and i can grunt it out from there.

In the garage I use this from Harbor Freight because I’m lazy. On the trail, don’t Jeep alone. You don’t have to bring someone smart, just bring someone who can pick up heavy things.

 

[zouch]

we must have been young a very long, long time ago.

modern tires like what's on our J**ps are absolutely fine rotating in either direction.

When I was young and broke I try used tires a couple of time to learn tire are only made to turn one way if you switch them they come apart in about 5000 miles I only do 4 tire rotation to not strain steel belts in tire

 

[Willys41]

You wait for the front tires to cup before rotating? I must be reading that wrong.

And you don't care that you're not using ~20% of your set of tires? Again, I must be reading that wrong.

No.
As soon as I see the slightest uneven ware or starting to cup in most cases cant see put only feel it by rubbing you hand over the out side edge it is time to rotate.

 

[MA Joop]

5 tire rotation is actually easier since only one corner of the jeep needs to be in the air at once

 

[Terrymo]

why not just use the floor jack?
i set my Spare on the jack and lift it all the way up; gets it within a couple of inches, and i can grunt it out from there.

I already had the hydraulic table. Remember to periodically use tools even if unnecessary just to justify their purchase.

 

[4xFUN]

Ya pays ya money, ya takes ya choice of 4 tire rotation or 5 tire rotation...I personally prefer a 4 tire rotation. (Rearward Cross) Plus by the time these 37" KO2's need replacement, the new KO3's should be available in 37x12.50/R17 D's...

 

[Ratbert]

Ya pays ya money, ya takes ya choice of 4 tire rotation or 5 tire rotation...I personally prefer a 4 tire rotation. (Rearward Cross) Plus by the time these 37" KO2's need replacement, the new KO3's should be available in 37x12.50/R17 D's...

F in 2025. C in 2026. https://dgaddcosprod.blob.core.wind...ents/clz74riy502c701kqq5h7lyvi-v5-bfg-ko3.pdf

If you rotate all five you might make it, then you won't have to figure out what to do with the unused spare

 

[rivercrossing]

Say, on a different topic, talking to my brother on the phone right now, he asked an interesting question about TPMS. Since all 5 tires have stems that report, why do they only display four of them? Seems it might be good to know if your spare tire lost pressure. It's quite near the rear tires so I wouldn't think it's out of range from reporting, had they provided the software to do so.

A few cars do show all 5.

Sponsored