I've always rotated radial tires on front-wheel drive vehicles front-to-back, same side. The MINI manual specifically discourages "tire swapping" (what an odd term).
Since the front tires on a FWD vehicle usually wear much faster than the rear tires, wouldn't rotating the tires add to tread life?
What's the potential issues or downside to rotation, and is front-to-back the way to go?
I have a base Clubman with the 15" all-season Continentals. They are not directional tread tires, and they are not run-flats. Any advice?

 

Personally, I will still rotate the tires. I plan on doing that every 7-8K miles. I will keep the tires on the same side.

I found that Mini recommendation quite interesting. Do you think it has something to do with Mini paying for scheduled maintenance? I just don't know.

 

My last car was a BMW, and they don't recommend tire rotation, either, so it must be a BMW policy. However, most BMW / MINI dealers offer a tire rotation and wheel balancing service, which only adds to the confusion.

 

If you want to get the most mileage out of your tires....rotate them. I rotate front to back & keep them on the same side of the car.

 

If not done often enough it can introduce vibration. rotate often for best wear and least noise.

With directional tieres, yes. With everything else you can use schedule A




Schedule A every 5k.

Alex

 

Thanks, Alex. Very good info. I'm still wondering why a manufacturer would not recommend tire rotation at all. Not sure if there's any explanation from BMW/MINI on that one.

 

Just a guess here - If you dont rotate tires until 10+K you have bedded an uneven wear pattern. Once roated this uneven wear would make noise and vibrate - causing visits back to the dealer to have the car re-examined.

With the regularity required to keep wear even - many consumers would feel that being told to rotated every 3-5k would just be an oppotunity for the dealer to appear to take more $ than may be needed.

Hence the time lapses and the vibration and noise occur when the customer feels a more appropiate schedule is in order.


Just a guess @ reverse thinking Y that may be said

Alex

 

Thanks, good information.

 

I always figured that BMW discourages tire rotation becuase if they advocated it eventually someone would rotate some totally bald tires to the rear of their car, go out and have a horrendous wreck, and then have their lawyer argue that the tire rotation was to blame. The idea here being, "You told me to do this and those bald rear tires gave my car a propensity for oversteer, which is harder for me, the average driver, to control than understeer."

Now, by replacing tires in pairs you could do that all on your own, front or rear, FWD or RWD, without ever rotating tires, but the difference is that BMW never told you to do it. Says BMW, "Worn tires caused your crash? Should have replaced them..."

-Will

 

Do not forget that many BMW's have different size tires front and rear that can not be rotated.

 

I rotated my tires front-to-back, same side, using two small floor jacks. It was pretty easy, and I also reset the TPMS, which was also easy, as the reset procedure is outlined in the owner's manual. I also greased the centering hubs, something it appears is NOT done at the factory!