My dealer told me that the first tire rotation recommendation is at 15k miles with the first service. I thought all wheel drive tires needed more frequent rotation than that. Any help is appreciated!

 

The last two MINI's I had the tires were rotated off at 13K and were replaced. I am rotating at 5K and am still looking for a long tread life tire as a replacement for the 18-inch run flats.

Still going to use the run flats because of where I fish and the times of the day.

Bill

 

Thanks. I think I won't wait.

 

I've had generations of 4WD/AWD vehicles and the recommendations for tire rotation intervals vary depending on the type of system employed.
For example:
Tire Rack recommends 3000-5000 miles.
Subaru recommends 5000 miles.
Audi Quattro recommends 5000 miles.
Lexus recommends 5000-7500 miles.
Toyota Highlander recommends 5000 miles.
Honda Pilot recommends 7500 miles.

BMW recommends no rotations at all.
Land Rover recommends no rotations at all.

AWD-4WD pattern:
LF -> RR
RR -> RF
RF -> LR
LR -> LF
or
FWD and FWD based 4X4/AWDs
Front tires same side to the back axle.
Rear tires crossed left to right on the way to front.

MINI Owners Manual says:
Depending on the individual use, front and rear
tires may exhibit different wear and tear.
In order to maintain an even wear and tear, the
wheels may be rotated between the axles. Your
MINI dealer will be glad to advise you.

 

I rotated mine this week after 10.000km (6000 miles)

 

a tire dealer told me that non-directional tires can be rotated front to back,back to front and across but that directional tires (like the Goodyear runflats that came on my 09 mcs) can only be rotated front to back, back to front,same side.

 

directional vs non-directional, that determines the best rotation. WE always rotate every other oil change...not the BS dealer reccomended intervals either-so say 6-8K miles.

When tires are the same size front to rear as in the Countryman, and directional-your left with a same side front to rear swap. Once upon a time, I would have my local tire shop knock the tires off the wheels and flip them-inside to outside, then remount/balance.

That would even the wear out, and prolong tire life. I wouldn't waste my time doing that with runflats...cause for us, when they're gone...they'll be gone.

As far as Countryman oil change intervals, synthetic or not...I simply refuse to wait for manufacturer intervals. Audi learned a VERY expensive lesson years ago with the 1.8T and 7500 mile intrevals-LOTS of oil coking in the turbo lines.

Still gotta do a little research on that...but we're still waiting for ours to be shipped, so I've got time.

 

I believe an important thing to point out, is what is really meant when we say 4WD vs. AWD. Very little of the cars on the road truly have ALL 4 WHEELS spinning at the same time. Subaru is one of the few, and even then its normally 60F/40R split at cruising. Based on what I have read of the mini ALL4 (*see example article below), under normal driving it’s still a Front wheel drive.

I have owned two Subaru’s, driven over 200K miles combined, obtained maximum tire life by rotating around 5K miles. I also drove the $**t out them on and off-road I suspect that you could go longer with the mini all4, but it comes down to how/where you are driving it. Like a lot of other posters in the forums have said in other threads in regards to tires, diligent tire pressure monitoring and tread-ware awareness will be your best indicator on when its time to rotate your tires.

My CM ALL4 is scheduled to arrive at port on 9/26, and I will hopefully be sitting in the drivers seat by mind October. It’s a manual, and I plan on driving the $**t out of it, on and off-road…not like a did with the subarus, but I will most likely rotate sooner than Mini recommends.

Cheers !!
* http://www.motoringfile.com/2011/08/...stem-in-depth/