Is there really a need to rotate tires if tread wear is symmetrical?

[Henry Ford]

What is the downside of waiting to see a difference and then rotating?

No downside if you are on top of your monitoring. If you wait too long it's possible one or two tires is beyond the replacement threshold and you wouldn't get as much life out of the full set.

I think @GoodSam's hypothesis is tires wear evenly on a Lightning the way he drives it. I'd like to see this theory tested.

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[Firn]

All of this is true.

The differential wear on the front tires includes sidewall wear that's not visible to the user. At least you hope it's invisible. With independent suspension, wear is even more disparate between the front and the rear sidewalls. Related to sidewall failure is the simple possibility that someone who parks outside always parks with one side of the vehicle facing the sun, which means lack of tire rotation will induce UV-related failure of the sidewalls on the sun-side tires.

Sure, I can see this technically happening.

However I think it's different than a practical effect. The tires will wear out, or age out, before such differences have any meaningful effect to the operator.

 

[USA EV]

Good question and interesting answers to think about. To add another the rear tires will carry more weight more often as the bed is used. I've carried some pretty heavy loads at highway speeds.

I skipped my first rotation due to even tread wear. No ill effects yet after 10K more miles.

 

[SpaceEVDriver]

Sure, I can see this technically happening.

However I think it's different than a practical effect. The tires will wear out, or age out, before such differences have any meaningful effect to the operator.

The aging of tires is, in part, due to sun exposure. The aging models assume uniform sun exposure. If one set of tires sees much more sun, they're going to age more quickly than the tires that see less sun.

https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-aging#:~:text=And that's not,in a garage.

 

[Maxx]

The aging of tires is, in part, due to sun exposure. The aging models assume uniform sun exposure. If one set of tires sees much more sun, they're going to age more quickly than the tires that see less sun.

https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-aging#:~:text=And that's not,in a garage.

one side of my truck sees more sun but Ford dealer swapped the wheels of the same side for 10K tire rotation. It seems this is common when they think you are not looking. So next time I will be crossing them like an X so all will be on a different side rotating in the opposite direction.

 

[Firn]

The aging of tires is, in part, due to sun exposure. The aging models assume uniform sun exposure. If one set of tires sees much more sun, they're going to age more quickly than the tires that see less sun.

https://www.discounttire.com/learn/tire-aging#:~:text=And that's not,in a garage.

Sure, but the aging models also have to account for sun and uv exposure for extremely hot and sunny countries, far in excess of what any of us here get. And I cannot be certain, but I'm highly confident, that the tire companies do not expect people to unmount their tires and turn the inner sidewall out to balance aging, so I have to believe the aging model accounts for that.

I still maintain the argument that the models already account for this and that none of us here will see a tire with enough sun damage to make it unsafe before it wears, or ages, out.

 

[Jim Lewis]

Maybe a little off-topic, but since environmental effects have entered the conversation, what do you folks think of the pure age of the tires as a reason for buying new tires? A long time ago, with my 2007 Honda Accord Hybrid, my Honda dealer's service rep strongly advised that I change my tires because they were six years old. I said, "What! They don't have that many miles on them!" He said (at the time) that because San Antonio's climate was so hot and the UV more intense compared to more northern parts of the U.S., it was Honda's recommendation that tires be replaced every six years regardless of treadwear or mileage. On the replacement tires, the same service department let me go more than ten years without a blip about the dangers of old tires (they probably had less than 30K miles on them at the end). So, do any of you folks change your tires after X years, no matter what?

 

[Henry Ford]

I still maintain the argument that the models already account for this and that none of us here will see a tire with enough sun damage to make it unsafe before it wears, or ages, out.

I agree with this.

Airliner tires are replaced based on tread depth. When the cord is showing they get replaced. Generally they are replaced with retreads which tells me sidewall wear isn't a huge concern. I'm sure airplane tires are retired at some point but they live a much harder life than an F150 tire and are never rotated.

 

[Henry Ford]

Maybe a little off-topic, but since environmental effects have entered the conversation, what do you folks think of the pure age of the tires as a reason for buying new tires? A long time ago, with my 2007 Honda Accord Hybrid, my Honda dealer's service rep strongly advised that I change my tires because they were six years old. I said, "What! They don't have that many miles on them!" He said (at the time) that because San Antonio's climate was so hot and the UV more intense compared to more northern parts of the U.S., it was Honda's recommendation that tires be replaced every six years regardless of treadwear or mileage. On the replacement tires, the same service department let me go more than ten years without a blip about the dangers of old tires (they probably had less than 30K miles on them at the end). So, do any of you folks change your tires after X years, no matter what?

This is legitimate. I can't speak to how old is too old but I've ridden 1970s era motorcycles with original tires (far beyond too old) and I've had a 10 year old F150 spare tire fail so I feel confident suggesting replacing old tires is a good idea.

Exactly what is too old is a matter of opinion. I tend to replace tires when there's any questions based on my experience and because I value safety relatively highly.

 

[MotoGary]

I have to admit, it's entertaining watching you guys nerd out about tire rotation.

But has anyone really explored the deeper philosophical aspects of not rotating? Think of the rear tires. Is it really moral to deny them equal opportunity? Don't they have the factory given right to lead? To steer? To be first to hit that pothole? I say equal rotation for all!

 

[Heliian]

Welcome to vehicle ownership. Leave them at 42psi cold and rotate as recommended.

 

[NW Ontario Ford Lightning]

If I don't rotate the tires every 10,000 miles, then all that I got left for maintenace is washer fluid refilling ! LOL.

Actually though, for people with Winter and Summer tires, we are rotating tires twice per year all the time, hardly think about it. Good idea to mark DF, DR, PF. PR with a crayon when swapping summer/winter tires so they go back on in rotated sequence when you reinstall them six months later.

 

[rraustad]

I didn't see anything in the manual about recalibrating/initializing the TPMS when rotating tires. How does the truck know which tire it's reporting on the dash?

 

[StevenC56]

We never rotate our tires. Our vehicles never see more than 7500 miles annually if even that. Our vehicles are garaged when not in use. By the time the date code on the tires reaches 6 years, we replace them due to age and all tires are usually within 20% wear or less of each other. No risk having the vehicle in the shop and worrying about damage to the vehicle or wheels.

 

[Henry Ford]

I didn't see anything in the manual about recalibrating/initializing the TPMS when rotating tires. How does the truck know which tire it's reporting on the dash?

Magic. It just works.

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