Tyre rotation - unused spare

[Samblers]

2010 defender 110 - my factory-fitted General Grabber AT tyres have got 60,000km on them and i'd say 40% life left. The spare has never been fitted. Car is quite new to me.

Given that i'd probably fit different replacement tyres, shall i introduce the spare into use now via a tyre rotation, or are my existing tyres too worn and therefore i just leave as-is and accept that the spare will get binned un-used?

If i do fit it, best to put it on the rear? Seems a waste not to use it?

Cheers, Sam

[numpty]

Seems a waste to me too. Just send it over to me and I'll utilise it for you. Why not just buy 4 tyres of your choice and keep it as a spare. Either way, introducing it on to the car should present no difficulties or problems.

[DEFENDERZOOK]

The spare can be rotated in......the two fronts will go to the back......

The back left will go to spare.........

The back right will go to the front.......

And the spare will go to front left.......





If you want......you can cross over the front tyres as you move them to the back...




The front left tyre will always wear fastest on the outer edge due to the camber of our roads and U-turns........hence why the spare is rotated in mainly on the left hand side........



Also.....tyres should be rotated every ten thousand kms........

You should get between 80 and 100 thousand kms on the grabbers......I replaced mine at 80 but only because I scored another set........

And that was without rotating in the fifth tyre........




Pressures are also important to tyre wear.......

[Samblers]

Cool, i'll rotate it in.

Just thought it might affect the ride (steering?) less if I rotated it in on the back?

Still, i guess its always going to have more meat on than the rest...

Sam

[gusthedog]

Nah rotate it in! You'll be fine. I've been doing similar on all my rovers for years with no dramas . As Defenderzook said, chuck it on the front left.

[AndrewGJones]

i wouldn't rotate it in now, too much disparity between the 40% worn and new tread of the spare. the tires will be rotating at different speeds across the axle all the time instead of just when cornering.

You need to rotate them all from new, or at least buy a single new tyre to go opposite the spare you have now on the same axle.

though in theory that just moves the problem to the centre diff.

Maybe not a big deal, but that's what I was taught.

[AndrewGJones]

also, your braking and steering will be adversely affected.

i've never tested it out though, perhaps it's all in theory.

FAIK full time 4WD needs same / same all round. Tyre type, pressure, and wear should all be the same otherwise the driveline is working harder than it should and could behave strangely when you need to stop in a hurry.

[AndrewGJones]

actually, doesn't the LR handbook say not to rotate them at all? Or it gives instructions on how to?

rings a bell, but i don't have a handbook anymore.

[Samblers]

I think from memory the handbook gives instructions on how to rotate (i.e. the order)... but then i guess most people just do what they want anyway.

My worn tyres still have plenty of meat left on them, so its not like i'm putting a new tyre opposite a slick tyre on the same axle.

Road wheels rotating at different rpm ... isnt that what the diff is designed to do? Just playing devils advocate - would be interesting to hear from those who have done this (and have had issues, if any)

Cheers, Sam

[Yorkie]

i cannot see how it would matter when all diffs are open and cdl not locked, rotate it in.

the only issue you would have if like me you have a detroit in the rear, always careful to keep both sides simalar to avoid issues.