Cross rotate tires?

BrianG · 07-29-2006, 09:42 PM

I've read posts about the excessive wear issue on the outer edge of tires and am experiencing it as well, particularly on the drivers side. Tires have been rotated every 5,000 and alignment was done at 15,000 and again at 24,000 trying to address the wear problem. I am surprised that cross rotating the tires has not been mentioned. I know cross rotating was a no-no in the early days of radials but my understanding is that it is no longer an issue except on tires requiring a specific rotation direction. The tires are Goodyear Integrity's and appear to be wearing well except for the outer edge.

Any tire techs out there who care to comment on cross rotating?

Blackfang · 07-30-2006, 12:46 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(BrianG @ Jul 29 2006, 08:42 PM) [snapback]294438[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I've read posts about the excessive wear issue on the outer edge of tires and am experiencing it as well, particularly on the drivers side. Tires have been rotated every 5,000 and alignment was done at 15,000 and again at 24,000 trying to address the wear problem. I am surprised that cross rotating the tires has not been mentioned. I know cross rotating was a no-no in the early days of radials but my understanding is that it is no longer an issue except on tires requiring a specific rotation direction. The tires are Goodyear Integrity's and appear to be wearing well except for the outer edge.

Any tire techs out there who care to comment on cross rotating?
[/b]

I normally rotate from front to rear. Have you checked your tire psi? 35-36 is what they should be at. Anytyhing less will wear some on the outside edges and anymore can wear in the center of the tire.

**Tideland Prius** · 07-30-2006, 02:37 AM

I just had my tyres rotated. I know the crossed cause I have a sealant on the rear right tyre from a nail. That tyre is now on the front left.

Blackfang · 07-30-2006, 10:28 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Tideland Prius @ Jul 30 2006, 01:37 AM) [snapback]294524[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I just had my tyres rotated. I know the crossed cause I have a sealant on the rear right tyre from a nail. That tyre is now on the front left.
[/b]

Some places criss cross the rear tires going to the front and the fronts go straight back.

Neither of my cars tires can even be rotated.

BrianG · 07-30-2006, 08:24 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Blackfang @ Jul 30 2006, 12:46 AM) [snapback]294502[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

I normally rotate from front to rear. Have you checked your tire psi? 35-36 is what they should be at. Anytyhing less will wear some on the outside edges and anymore can wear in the center of the tire.
[/b]

The dealer has been rotating front to rear as well. Seems the outer wear issue could be mitigated with cross rotating. As for psi, I keep them at 40. I'm a bit fanatical about my cars, just ask my wife and daughter. I am out there every weekend (except when not possible) washing, vacumming, washing the windows, checking tire pressure & oil, etc. My other car is a '94 Volvo 940 and people are constantly amazed at the condition it is in. It helps living in North Carolina. I can be outside almost year round and have minimal winter road salt to deal with.

BobZ · 07-30-2006, 08:53 PM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Blackfang @ Jul 30 2006, 10:28 AM) [snapback]294584[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Some places criss cross the rear tires going to the front and the fronts go straight back.

Neither of my cars tires can even be rotated.

[/b]

I work for Cadillac and the cross the rears to the fronts and fronts straight back applies on our cars...however the Toyota manual calls for NO criss crossing so that is what I'd suggest

theorist · 07-31-2006, 12:56 AM

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Blackfang @ Jul 30 2006, 12:46 AM) [snapback]294502[/snapback]</div>

Quote:

Have you checked your tire psi? 35-36 is what they should be at. Anytyhing less will wear some on the outside edges and anymore can wear in the center of the tire.
[/b]

I understand that you work on Toyotas. Have you seen many Toyota Priuses with Goodyear Integrity tires wearing out in the centers before they wear out on the shoulders, the outisde edges?

The anecdotal evidence from Prius owners posting here is that their Goodyear Integrity tires wear faster on the outer edges, especially at the recommended 35/33 psi. I've read many reports of this, but not a single report of an OEM Goodyear Integrity tire wearing out in the center first on a Prius, even at higher pressures. And many of these posters are inflating to 42/40 psi or other pressures well above Toyota's or your recommendation.

I certainly agree that usually the center of tires will wear faster and the shoulders slower as inflation pressures increase. It's a mighty big leap to say that in the second generation Prius inflating the soft sidewalled OEM tires above Toyota's recommended 35 psi front / 33 psi rear will cause these tires to wear faster in the center than on the shoulders. I like good theory, but can't find empirical evidence to support this. Perhaps it's an anomoly specific to these soft sidewalls and this car's suspension? Perhaps the recommended pressures were set in Japan where the Japanese market Priuses use Michelin tires. Perhaps the recommended pressures are lower than what would give the longest treadwear to sacrifice a little treadwear for better ride quality?

Drift Motion · 07-31-2006, 01:10 AM

isnt it usually
front goes to the back
rear two crosses and go to the front

**Tideland Prius** · 07-31-2006, 01:47 AM

It depends on the tyre and the car. Some tyres are uni-directional so that can't be crossed. Most of the Toyotas we had have the front-to-rear and rear-to-front criss cross rotation for the tyres.

It seems to work since my tyres are at 32,000kms and they seem okay. There have been reports on PC that the Integritys are done at 20,000 miles which is where I am atm.

Tempus · 07-31-2006, 10:28 AM

I've looked at a lot of Priuses in parking lots and talked to lots of owners along the way. Those that follow the recommended inflation always wear the edges badly.

However, even with higher inflation, It's clear to me that whichever tire is on the Left Front is wearing significantly faster than the others. I'd speculate two possible reasons. First, the only corner that is ALWAYS loaded is the Left Front (Driver). Second, modern driving means lots of sweeping right hand turns on freeway cloverleafs which wears the Left Front.

I've seen Priuses where the tires were never crossed and the Left Side tires are always significantly more worn.

My dealership does a cross every 10k as a matter of course, which seems to work out to keep the wear even.

I have 37K on the OEM tires right now, running a little higher pressure than standard, and with the occasional crossover I have even wear across each tire and even wear between all tires. The OEMs are not great, but they do wear predictably.

07-29-2006, 09:42 PM	#1
BrianG Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Southeastern North Carolina Posts: 18 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #5 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I've read posts about the excessive wear issue on the outer edge of tires and am experiencing it as well, particularly on the drivers side. Tires have been rotated every 5,000 and alignment was done at 15,000 and again at 24,000 trying to address the wear problem. I am surprised that cross rotating the tires has not been mentioned. I know cross rotating was a no-no in the early days of radials but my understanding is that it is no longer an issue except on tires requiring a specific rotation direction. The tires are Goodyear Integrity's and appear to be wearing well except for the outer edge. Any tire techs out there who care to comment on cross rotating? __________________ BrianG '05 Driftwood Pearl, BT stiffener plate

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07-30-2006, 02:37 AM	#3
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,631 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 345 Times in 244 Posts Friends: 23	I just had my tyres rotated. I know the crossed cause I have a sealant on the rear right tyre from a nail. That tyre is now on the front left.

07-31-2006, 01:10 AM	#8
Drift Motion RMS13 Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: Pasadena/Riverside, CA Posts: 178 My Car: 2005 Prius Model: Package: #3 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	isnt it usually front goes to the back rear two crosses and go to the front

07-31-2006, 01:47 AM	#9
Tideland Prius Moderator of the North Join Date: Oct 2004 Location: Canada Posts: 19,631 My Car: 2010 Prius Model: N/A Package: Technology Package (Canada) Thanks: 229 Thanked 345 Times in 244 Posts Friends: 23	It depends on the tyre and the car. Some tyres are uni-directional so that can't be crossed. Most of the Toyotas we had have the front-to-rear and rear-to-front criss cross rotation for the tyres. It seems to work since my tyres are at 32,000kms and they seem okay. There have been reports on PC that the Integritys are done at 20,000 miles which is where I am atm.

07-31-2006, 10:28 AM	#10
Tempus Senior Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Washington DC Posts: 1,693 My Car: 2004 Prius Model: Package: #9 Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts Friends: 0	I've looked at a lot of Priuses in parking lots and talked to lots of owners along the way. Those that follow the recommended inflation always wear the edges badly. However, even with higher inflation, It's clear to me that whichever tire is on the Left Front is wearing significantly faster than the others. I'd speculate two possible reasons. First, the only corner that is ALWAYS loaded is the Left Front (Driver). Second, modern driving means lots of sweeping right hand turns on freeway cloverleafs which wears the Left Front. I've seen Priuses where the tires were never crossed and the Left Side tires are always significantly more worn. My dealership does a cross every 10k as a matter of course, which seems to work out to keep the wear even. I have 37K on the OEM tires right now, running a little higher pressure than standard, and with the occasional crossover I have even wear across each tire and even wear between all tires. The OEMs are not great, but they do wear predictably.