Thread: Defender 110 tyre rotation?

Originally Posted by numpty

I don't rotate as such, as I don't favour the idea of tyres running in the opposite direction to which they've become accustomed. What I do is move them front to rear on the same side, ie right tyres swap over with each other and left tyres likewise. And the spare stays as a spare.

Mind you, as I have a spare set of tyres on rims which I use for trips, this change around is only done when I return from said trip.

I have had very good life from tyres over the years employing this method.

ditto, and with MT's I swap them on the rims so they continue to rotate in the same direction, just changed sides to maximise mileage.

Originally Posted by Scallops

G'day Pery,

Wouldn't that be caused by road camber?

Dan.

Could be, but as I have not experienced uneven side to side wear in a Land Rover tyre in 22 years, I would think it may be more to do with something mechanical.

As others have said, keep your front end in good condition and your tyres balanced, and problems should be non existent. My Stage 1 had two wheel alignments in the 20 years I owned it (second was after all tie rods were replaced) and I used to get 80000 K's from tyres. Of course the odd one was destroyed, but that's life.

Originally Posted by numpty

I would suggest this is due to a wheel balance or steering gear problem.

Nah, just that I don't like turning right.



Cheers
Simon

While we are on this subject I still have a front end issue that needs resolving.

I think its only alignment and my plan of attack is to read the RAVE CD then put my calliper on a broom stick and check the alignment front to back at mid tyre height to asses the toe in.

My springs are +50mm so I guess there will be some loss of camber but the damn thing still pulls to the left if you let go if the steering wheel AND the wheel is not centered when driving straight.

Sounds anal I know but it annoys the crap outta me.

Whats the method of doing wheel alignment manually. Should the measurement be the same front as rear?

dont forget the left hand side cops a hard life from edge of the road the wheel bearings seam to go first on that side

not mrs HO HAR HO HAR YES I AM TYPING

Originally Posted by St3pho_62

While we are on this subject I still have a front end issue that needs resolving.

I think its only alignment and my plan of attack is to read the RAVE CD then put my calliper on a broom stick and check the alignment front to back at mid tyre height to asses the toe in.

My springs are +50mm so I guess there will be some loss of camber but the damn thing still pulls to the left if you let go if the steering wheel AND the wheel is not centered when driving straight.

Sounds anal I know but it annoys the crap outta me.

Whats the method of doing wheel alignment manually. Should the measurement be the same front as rear?

err, Stepho, you'll have lost some caster not camber with a lift

Toe should be 0-2mm out.

The pulling to the left is normal on a cambered road. There are two alternatives.
1. more caster on the off side (difficult to achieve)
2. Super Pro/Fulcrum make some front radius arm to chassis bushes that space the axle slightly forward on the off side. They come in two sizes, depending on how much pull to the left you experience. This stops it, until you drive down the wrong side of the road......

FWIW, Patrols suffer the same malady, it's a solid front axle thing. We can put eccentric bushes in the swivel hubs on them to change the camber and caster to correct it, as they come from the factory with too much positive camber anyway, it makes it worse.

There are wheel alignments, and then there are wheel alignments. Not too many tyre fitting emporiums have the slightest clue as to what constitutes wheel alignment. This is why there are specialist steering people around, and the good ones have their own facts and figures gained through many years experience, to work with.