Tire rotation charge

Toyota dealerships seem to be charging $25 for oil changes, but then $50 for "5000 mile service" ... which is an oil change and tire rotation.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FishHawk @ Oct 2 2007, 06:39 AM) [snapback]520195[/snapback]</div>

That's very high, if that's all they did.

A local Goodyear dealer recently told me that all Goodyear dealers will rotate Goodyear tires for free. I haven't verified that with other dealers. Assuming you've got Goodyears, you might check that out next time.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JimboK @ Oct 2 2007, 07:41 AM) [snapback]520204[/snapback]</div>

I was out of town in Salt Lake City. I hit 5400 miles on the trip. I went to a Goodyear dealer and had the oil changed and tires rotated. They DID NOT charge for the tires.
Hope This Helps

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(NYPrius1 @ Oct 2 2007, 08:03 AM) [snapback]520207[/snapback]</div>

I called my local Goodyear tire dealer, he noted that I had to have purchaced the tires from them to have them rotated for no charge.

 

If that is all they did it was a rip-off. Our dealer usually includes it as a package of the service they offer, but will not discount it if you don't want it done. I prefer to go to Discount Tire/America's Tire where they will rotate and/or check your air pressure without charge even if you did not purchase the tires there. For a small fee, you can also buy lifetime balancing and get your tires balanced each time you rotate them. I have been dealing with Discount/America's Tire for over 10 years and have found their service and prices to be the best. Depending on what part of the US you are, they go by either Discount Tire or America's Tire.

 

Wow- that's harsh. I know America's Tire Store will rotate and repair flats for free too.
However, I rotate my tires myself when I change my oil/filter every 5K miles. It is a good way to keep track of wear and look for objects in the tires, nails, etc.

 

It's safer, and costs less, to rotate tires only as needed to keep the less-worn tires at the rear.

 

$50 is high, but thats what our dealer charges for Rotations as well. So we took our's to our local Discount Tire. We got their warranty per tire & now balances & rotations are free. Plus, if anything ever happens to those tires, we get a free one & all we have to pay for is the new warranty coverage. I'm not sure what our total cost was, as we did 8 tires, 2 cars & my husband paid

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(FishHawk @ Oct 2 2007, 06:39 AM) [snapback]520195[/snapback]</div>

Toyota of Boone (NC) charges $9 for a rotation. From what I'm reading here, I'm getting a great deal.

 

I took my Prius to a nearby tire dealer who sells a variety of brands, including but not exclusively Goodyear, and they did not charge for rotation. They do not charge to rotate all Goodyears that have been purchased from them or are original equipment. This morning I had a flat and had it repaired at the same dealer and was surprised when they did that free also.

 

<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(richard schumacher @ Oct 2 2007, 11:16 AM) [snapback]520308[/snapback]</div>

The BEST tires always go on the rear. Either rotate more frequently so they wear evenly, or not at all, and replace the front two, move the rear to the front, and new to the rear.

For safety and performance, new/better tires always go on the rear. Most tire shops (good ones anyway) will only install new tires on the rear, if replaced in less than a full set.

on the OP, Most places will rotate for free if you bought the tires from them. $50 is not out of line, as it takes time to properly remove, rotate, reinstall, hand torque the wheels. Most shops have a minimum charge (usually .2-.5 hours). The tires SHOULD be checked for balance when they remove it, but many shops don't do it.

 

My dealer gives us lifetime free oil chaanges @ 5000 mi intervals and charges 19.95 for the rotation. not bad! But it is interesting how varied the responses are especially amoung the Toyota Dealers. So far a spread from $9 to $50. You think it would be closer.

 

Just adding to the info pile here after searching for the rotation sequence (thanks for the info):

My dealer charges $20 to rotate tires. Oil changes are $16.95 for first year - if you bought the car from them. $50 sounds a bit high, but I'm in the middle of nowhere.

 

I've seen this thing about best tyres to the rear but I disagree with it. When driving on a wet road the front tyres are the first to aquaplane, I have had it happen twice in torential rain and it isn't nice (tyres only just legal on the front, back were half worn). By fitting the best tyres on the front they are most capable of removing lots of water from the road creating a drier path for the rear tyres.
With front wheel drive the front tyres wear faster so in rotating tyres you automatically move the most worn to the rear.
The front tyres carry more weight so are subject to more cornering forces.
The front brakes do up to 80% of the braking.
I have seen the argument about the rear losing traction and sliding around but provided the tyres have legal minimum tread right across the tyre that shouldn't be a problem. ABS also works to prevent this.

Leaving the most worn tyres on the front will result in spending more on tyres. Front tyres don't just wear faster but they wear the edges faster. Once the edge of the tread is gone they are trash. Moving the front, more rounded tyres to the rear will extend the life of the tyres because they will wear flatter across the tread.

Never use tyres that don't have full legal tread, it is false economy to stretch out the tyres for an extra 5000 miles. At the first sign of a wear bar, get new tyres.

This is a counter view to posts above, I an not calling anyone wrong, it's just another opinion.

 

Your experience shows precisely why the better tires should be kept on the rear. Hydroplaning at the rear is far more dangerous: one can spin out and have much less opportunity to recover.

Relying upon the front tires to create a dry track for the rear tires is foolish. It might work if one drives only in a straight line whenever the road is wet...

 

If anyone charges to rotate tires just take your business elsewhere. I also go to Tire America/Discount Tire and they do it for free, plus for $13 extra you get lifetime replacement fo the tire for any reason. (Until you hit the wear bars) I've had two tires replaced already for free and after 65,000 but less thatn the warranty 80,000 miles.

Most dealers are expensive for what they do and others are crooks. I got the oil changed for the basic warranty period then started everythng else myself, except I did have the transmission oil changed and flushed at the dealer. But the other services are 90% looking at things and 10% work!

 

if doing a re-balance at the same time, i could see it... i rotate my own tires... with two cheap floor jacks and a 12 Volt impact, i do the Prius in 17 mins... in fact, just finished doing mine to see how long it would take.

usually rotate every 5,000 miles and was about 1500 miles late.