Get this - I've never heard this one before:

At my BMW/Mini Dealer I ask if they rotate tires with the service and how often....

The answer from my service rep is that there is no need to rotate tires anymore (at ALL) because of the newer suspensions, etc.

He's a nice guy and all, but this is like the 3rd bogus answer I've gotten from them.
BTW, this is at Universal City Mini (aka Century West BMW).

Just wondering if anyone else had been told this by their dealers.

 

that is almost as bad as when my moms Audi A8L kept on getting taken into the Audi dealer cause it was pulling to the left. and after three times of taking it in and nearly 6 months, the idiots discovered that there machine was out of alignment. Audi ended up paying for 50% of a new set of tires because of the issue.

 

>>
>>Get this - I've never heard this one before:
>>
>>At my BMW/Mini Dealer I ask if they rotate tires with the service and how often....
>>
>>The answer from my service rep is that there is no need to rotate tires anymore (at ALL) because of the newer suspensions, etc.
>>
>>He's a nice guy and all, but this is like the 3rd bogus answer I've gotten from them.
>>BTW, this is at Universal City Mini (aka Century West BMW).
>>
>>Just wondering if anyone else had been told this by their dealers.


No....but I was charged $40.00 at Prestige Mini N.J.
I was told their would be a charge for this service.

 

As far as I can tell, this is a standard MINI (and possibly BMW) policy. The most legit-sounding reason I've heard so far is that rotation of the tires can possibly impair handling of the car. I don't know if this is true or not. I'm sure they'd rather just sell you new tires.

Should be a pretty simple procedure to do if you want to do it yourself. Front-to-back, back-to-front.

 

>>Should be a pretty simple procedure to do if you want to do it yourself. Front-to-back, back-to-front.

Someone with more knowledge might want to correct me but I have understood that front-wheel-drive should rotate as explained at Tirerack.com:

 

>>>>Should be a pretty simple procedure to do if you want to do it yourself. Front-to-back, back-to-front.
>>
>>Someone with more knowledge might want to correct me but I have understood that front-wheel-drive should rotate as explained at Tirerack.com:
>>
>>


It depends. I've read both. I believe that tires that require a specific direction on the treads have to be rotated front to back, back to front so that the direction of the treads remains correct.

 

>>>>>>Should be a pretty simple procedure to do if you want to do it yourself. Front-to-back, back-to-front.
>>>>
>>>>Someone with more knowledge might want to correct me but I have understood that front-wheel-drive should rotate as explained at Tirerack.com:
>>>>
>>>>
>>
>>
>>It depends. I've read both. I believe that tires that require a specific direction on the treads have to be rotated front to back, back to front so that the direction of the treads remains correct.

yup, I'll have to agree. If you have directional tires than you go front to back. If you don't then you do as described in the picture above. Also, some rims are directional as well and would be rotated the same as directional tires.

 

Oh yeah, you're (both) right. I forgot about the directional tires - I didn't know there were directional wheels though. Always learnin' here at MCO!

 

Jimbo's last post is exactly correct. here is the full page on tire rotation

Dan

_________________
MCO tire and wheel forum Moderator

 

That service rep probably believes it is OK to leave Castrol in your
engine for 10,000 miles as well. For people who wait I'd love to see
a picture of an air filter with 10,000 miles on it.

 

My dealer said "never rotate them because they are directional tires". I think it's a crock.

As it has been said, rotate back to front. I once crashed in the rain with a front wheel drive car because the front tires were new and the backs were kind of worn. Hit some standing water on a turn and the tail just spun around. Real fast!

I believe you should try to keep your tire matched up tread wise as best you can.

 

The owners manual also says not to rotate the tires but when I called to make an appointment for my 20k the dealer asked if I wanted them rotated???? Now I'm really confused. But looking at the difference between my front and back tires I'm definetly rotating them.

 

We have found our best tire wear results come from a regular rotation schedule.

Rotate every 2500-3000 miles for the 1st 15,000.

Rotate every 5000 miles from 15-30k

Rotate every 7500 miles From 30k till the tire is replaced.

This schedule applicable when tires can be rotated ( non staggered setup, like the MC) We have found that tires wear very rapidly when they are very new, and as the tires wear down, and they heat cycle over and over again, they begin to wear slightly slower. this schedule tries to match the tire's wear patterns most effectively.

Maximum performance tires on the other hand, being very soft rubber, should remain on the 2500-3000 mile rotation schedule for optimal wear. I personally try to rotate all my tires this often, as over rotation can not harm your tires, I also rotate my tires personally, so the fact that it costs me nothing facilitates this as well.

Dan

 

Mine "rotate" every time I drive.....