Tire Rotation Pattern X

[JMP]

So, my local "offroad shop" told me it's bad to cross rotate mud- or all-terrain tires, stating that it breaks down the belts and causes failure. Is this a flat-earther thing, or is it credible?

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[azwjowner]

Flat earther. Naturally, they run square tires so this problem occurs if you rotate them. For those of us with circular tires, rotation is not only safe but optimal.

 

[laroo]

Flat earther. Naturally, they run square tires so this problem occurs if you rotate them. For those of us with circular tires, rotation is not only safe but optimal.

No one is topping this reply ?

 

[JMP]

I’m about done with my local shops. It’s infuriating.

 

[Hard Rock Jeep]

I do a five tire rotation and get even wear. I sold some BFG KM2’s with almost half the tread after 40,000 miles. (Went with the BFG KO2’s for a quieter ride.) And yes they were on well over 100 trails including 25 BOH.

Here is my pattern, it gets every tire in every position and rolls them both directions.

Spare to LR
LR to FR
FR to FL
FL to RR
RR to Spare.

If you do not do this yourself, note the intended position on each tire in chalk. Then after they are rotated see if they are in the right place. If you take it to a dealer they almost certainly will not be.

 

[JMP]

I do a five tire rotation and get even wear. I sold some BFG KM2’s with almost half the tread after 40,000 miles. (Went with the BFG KO2’s for a quieter ride.) And yes they were on well over 100 trails including 25 BOH.

Here is my pattern, it gets every tire in every position and rolls them both directions.

Spare to LR
LR to FR
FR to FL
FL to RR
RR to Spare.

If you do not do this yourself, note the intended position on each tire in chalk. Then after they are rotated see if they are in the right place. If you take it to a dealer they almost certainly will not be.

I’ve been doing them myself for sure. I was in for something else BSing and they told me that. I have the original position on the rim in sharpie and need to move 3 of them now ?

 

[BDinTX]

I do a five tire rotation and get even wear. I sold some BFG KM2’s with almost half the tread after 40,000 miles. (Went with the BFG KO2’s for a quieter ride.) And yes they were on well over 100 trails including 25 BOH.

Here is my pattern, it gets every tire in every position and rolls them both directions.

Spare to LR
LR to FR
FR to FL
FL to RR
RR to Spare.

If you do not do this yourself, note the intended position on each tire in chalk. Then after they are rotated see if they are in the right place. If you take it to a dealer they almost certainly will not be.

I believe the recommended rotation pattern on rear wheel drive and part time 4 wheel drive is forward from the rear and cross going back. The drive wheels when moved forwards should be getting pushed for a cycle before changing directions.

A 5 tire rotation is doing the same thing but a front tire will sit in the spare position for a cycle before going into a rear wheel position.

Edit: @JMP The only exception I'm aware of is directional tires. Those should only go front <--> rear but stay on the same side. I've not seen any offroad tires like that (not that I've looked) but the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss tires are marked for a proper outer sidewall. Don't know why that is but I did reach out to them to confirm they are not directional.

 

[JMP]

That 5 tire pattern is exactly the one I’ve been doing. I’m done with that shop. Fool me once, shame on you. Fool me 16-17 times, shame on me. (Slow learner).

I got an alignment today from a dude that really knows what he’s doing and HOLY CRAP. Amazing difference!

 

[Old Jeeper]

So, my local "offroad shop" told me it's bad to cross rotate mud- or all-terrain tires, stating that it breaks down the belts and causes failure. Is this a flat-earther thing, or is it credible?

It does not break down belts or cause failure unless you are buying MayPops. from WeBeTires and Stomach Pump Room.

There are 2 ways:

X : Left front to Right rear, Right front to Left rear, what you have done is swap sides and swap front to rear.
Why do it that way? 70-80 of braking is at the front wheels and as a result between that and steering the front tires wear out quicker unless you rotate. In addition you compensate for the curvature of the road. Tires wear more equally and you typically end up buying 4 at a time.

Cross: Swap left with right. Steering and braking still on the front and now you compensate for the curvature of the road. Front wears out quicker and you buy tires 2 at a time.

Your choice, your Jeep, your wallet and I got a coupon off for MayPops how me of the Chicken Skin Tread. 50% off

 

[Apexcars]

My discount tire does them in the same pattern as Hard Rock outlined, basically a circle as the tires move around. As long as you are doing it on a consistent basis and not going too long between rotations, I don't see why the x or the circle will make much difference.

 

[greige]

I do a five tire rotation and get even wear. I sold some BFG KM2’s with almost half the tread after 40,000 miles. (Went with the BFG KO2’s for a quieter ride.) And yes they were on well over 100 trails including 25 BOH.

Here is my pattern, it gets every tire in every position and rolls them both directions.

Spare to LR
LR to FR
FR to FL
FL to RR
RR to Spare.

If you do not do this yourself, note the intended position on each tire in chalk. Then after they are rotated see if they are in the right place. If you take it to a dealer they almost certainly will not be.

I like this pattern as it puts a rear tire on the spare, instead of a potentially cupped out front tire, that would bother me to look at...

 

[6.2Blazer]

I believe the recommended rotation pattern on rear wheel drive and part time 4 wheel drive is forward from the rear and cross going back. The drive wheels when moved forwards should be getting pushed for a cycle before changing directions.

A 5 tire rotation is doing the same thing but a front tire will sit in the spare position for a cycle before going into a rear wheel position.

Edit: @JMP The only exception I'm aware of is directional tires. Those should only go front <--> rear but stay on the same side. I've not seen any offroad tires like that (not that I've looked) but the Mickey Thompson Baja Boss tires are marked for a proper outer sidewall. Don't know why that is but I did reach out to them to confirm they are not directional.

I have used the top picture when rotating tires for going on 30 years now. Have rotated everything from AT's, radial MT's, old school bias ply Swampers, car tires, etc... Have never had a problem. The only time I have not cross rotated tires is if they were directional tires....obviously if you cross rotate them they would be running backwards in regards to the tread pattern. The only thing I will say is that sometimes you will get a little tire noise from any set of tires when cross-rotating them, but only if you went too long and maybe got a little bit of funny wear on them. I usually find that front wheel drive cars tend to feather out the front tires a little and cross rotating them can induce a little tread noise, which often goes away after a period of time.

 

[OldGuyNewJeep]

Same as @BDinTX graphic, but more legible (to me). I keep in iPhone note with all my other maintenance info.

I’d give credit for this, but don’t recall where I found it:

 

[BDinTX]

A phrase that is used pretty often by tire manufacturers is "cross to the drive axle".

Both of my diagrams result in the same cross to the rear, for non-directional tires, on a rear wheel drive vehicle. Per their guidelines, front wheel drive vehicle should be crossing going forwards.

I do find it odd the tire manufacturers all say the same thing but don't say why.
The closest I ever saw was something that said it allowed the tread to rest in the same direction before rotation direction changes.

It is entirely possible all manufacturers just agreed to say the same thing so everybody is doing it the same way every time. But at the end of the day - going against the recommended procedure is likely worse or no difference but it probably isn't going to be better for tire longevity.

 

[Old Jeeper]

So, my local "offroad shop" told me it's bad to cross rotate mud- or all-terrain tires, stating that it breaks down the belts and causes failure. Is this a flat-earther thing, or is it credible?

Flat Earth.

Yes for MAX traction then its Square tires, the only drawback is the ride is a bit rough! FACT: Army experimented with Square tire on its 2 1/2 and 5 Ton trucks.

Roads are NOT flat, they are curved. For that reason, you rotate your tires. The X is an option and I don't do X only because of the effort to completely get my Jeep off the ground. Its easier to get the front end up and then the rear end and just swap them. I do it at my first oil change and then about every other oil change after that.

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