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From: jeepcj2a@fluke.UUCP (Dale Chaudiere)
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Rotating Radial-Ply Tires
Message-ID: <880@vax1.fluke.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 8-Feb-85 10:48:24 EST
Article-I.D.: vax1.880
Posted: Fri Feb  8 10:48:24 1985
Date-Received: Mon, 11-Feb-85 07:07:44 EST
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Organization: John Fluke Mfg. Co., Inc., Everett, WA
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> I'll probably be raked over the coals for this opinion, but...
>  I don't believe in rotating tires. My first set of radial tires lasted 65K. I
> replaced them because winter was coming on. They would probably have lasted
> another 5-10K. The second set for that car (Honda Civic) went 45K. I sold the
> car with those tires in good shape. Again, no rotation.
>  Now I own a Honda Prelude. When the dealer rotated my current set, the car
> developed vibrations it never had before. I immediately went back, said:
> "Unrotate!". They did and the car was fine again. I have 20K on the current
> set with no noticeable wear.
>  "But the tires will wear more evenly if you rotate." Bunk. Why wear out all
> your tires instead of just one. If the car is out of line, get it in line, and
> replace the one bad tire. You want to rotate? Fine. But I think you'll have to
> give me a good reason to do it.
> ...bob garmise...at&t bell labs, columbus...

Case 1:  Say you have ~30K miles on a set of radials and you notice abnormal
         wear on only one rear tire.  If you replace only that tire, you could
         have a difference in tire diameter from left to right by maybe 1/8 in.
         This does not seem like much, but it causes the spider gears in the
         differiential to always be turning (as if you were constantly going
         around a slight corner).  Also the torque excerted by the tire and 
         wheel on the brake unit would differ from the left to right side of the         car.  This could really cause uneven braking when the difference is
         between the front tires.

Case 2:  If you every buy a 4-wheel drive vehicle, you must rotate the tires.
         Any difference in tire diameter from front to back will cause the
         transfer case to bind, except on the most slippery surfaces.

Also your opinion goes against all tire manufactures recommendations.

Also tires and wheels should be checked for balance at least every other tire
rotation.