Thread: Wheel rotation

Tyres (on the wheels) should be rotated on Freelander from back to front.

New tyres go on the rear, this is to do with the slight difference in rotation on the front vs the rear thru the IRD/VCU system on the freelander.

I have only put new tyres all round so far (and will continue to do so) but have had heard of owners placing new tyres on the front only to have their VCU fail soon afterwards.

........ doubtless there will be other opinions however this is the information I have been given from my Rover mechanic.

Originally Posted by streetlander

Tyres (on the wheels) should be rotated on Freelander from back to front.

New tyres go on the rear, this is to do with the slight difference in rotation on the front vs the rear thru the IRD/VCU system on the freelander.

I have only put new tyres all round so far (and will continue to do so) but have had heard of owners placing new tyres on the front only to have their VCU fail soon afterwards.

........ doubtless there will be other opinions however this is the information I have been given from my Rover mechanic.

That has been the practice with my Freelander - rotate back to front and front to back every 10,000km leaving the spare out of the cycle. It is important to try and keep the wear on all tyres as close as possible.

So does That mean I should not rotate diagonally, but just move the rear tyres to the front and front to the back keeping the same side?

That is what is recommended and I do and I have nice even wear.

Garry

Tyre rotation is a matter that is still being debated!

I was a tyrefitter/Manager of a mutlinational Tyre outlet for 6 years,and worked for different tyre companies in Aust and NZ, I had many a debate with our technicians about placement of new tyres.

Theory 1/ FRONT as thats where 75% of braking and 100% steering is done on all vehicles, but particularly on front wheel drive vehicles, this has been the norm for many many years and is standard practise in the industry.

Theory 2/ REAR as this has better traction/grip for rear wheel drive vehicles, no as much a common practise, but does occur.

Theory 3/ ALL 4 CORNERS as this has dual benefits, better steering, braking and grip (no matter what vehicle). Mostly used on 4x4 and all wheel drive vehicles, not so common as cost is a factor to the customer, good owners will forgo the cost and replace all 4 tyres, others will opt for one of the above options.

As a footnote: Manufacture/Industry manuals stipulate rotation of tyres from the front to the rear ie: new tyres on the front, has been ever since I was a fitter (going back 20 yrs now!) This can be dangerous for some types of Vehicle ie Freelander and has caused mechanical damage so its all still up for debate as to where to place new tyres and rotating them.


Commonsense (pffffffffft) and a few questions can avoid serious trye wear and drivetrain damage, never assume the owner is an idiot (even tho it maybe the case) as they drive the vehicle everyday. Listen to their 'thinking' and be tactful with your reasoning, if in doubt send them elsewhere should you be unhappy with their requests.

Worst customers were the ones bringing in their own tyres (usually 2nd hand) with sidewall cuts, bald/lifting tread etc etc to put on a car with a Baby seat in it!! We NEVER fitted them! - explaining the dangers usually fell on deaf ears!

Best advise is to consult forums such as this one and get as much advise as possible

Well, on our (i.e. my better half's) Freelander the tyres are rotated, as I usually do, in an anticlockwise fashion, including the spare. Two sets of tyres, summer and winter, always the same procedure. The spare goes on rear right, each tyre moves a position forward, rear left becomes the spare for that season. Never had any issues, wear is spread out evenly.
As for where replacement tires have to go, it is common wisdom that the better tyres (usually the newest ones with the better tread) have to go onto the rear axle as this is what gives directional stability in driving conditions. As an example, a vehicle with locked front wheels will just skid straight on, whereas a with locked rear wheels all directional stability is lost and it will start to skid sideways immediately. Try it with a toy car on a slope...

Cheers

I rotate front to rear in the main as well as worn to less worn (by measurement) as required. Never had any significant sign of uneven or premature wear.
However I always rotate every few thousand km, never more than 5000km.

L/H front would generally be 'most' worn, same as every other car I have driven over the years (under normal conditions).

Rotate frequently and take into account wear patterns, I don't believe the actual rotation direction pattern actually matters in practice.
More impact to the influence of tyre pressure, wheel alignment, suspension geometry and condition.

I noticed a bit of asymmetric wear on my FL2 just before Xmas, got a wheel alignment front/back (not out by much - it had had a few pot-hole wallops out West, one in particular), then myself rotated Left-front>Left-rear etc. This was at ~15,000km. Now at ~20,000km and wear is OK. Tracking was never affected.

Will add another post later re FL2.

I learned to my cost a few years back that mismatched tyres front-rear are NOT a good idea. I put new Potenzas on the front of my much-loved Astra (sweet little car!) and aimed to get another 1-5000km out of the Turanzas on the rear. In the dry there was no problemo, but a bit of wet and in a hugely familiar roundabout I just spun out, low speed (did in a snap-at-base powerpole and a rear door - which cost me my NCB, $600, and a fortnight of stuffin' abart). I dutifully reported to the cops, and then spun out again in even less wet on an even more familiar corner at even lower speed on the way home.

It was 'spin the tail on the donkey' stuff - front end pinned and the rear end on oily glass.

Ever since I've been a passionate advocate of tyres that are
a) matched - for species, subspecies, and state of wear,
b) as good as I can afford, and
c) matched - see a) above.