Car tire wear cannot flow evenly: Front tires tend to wear out much faster than rear tires. There are several reasons for this. So, most often the front axle of the vehicle is heavier loaded than the rear (it mainly accounts for about 60% of the vehicle weight). Front tires are prone to wear when maneuvering and also wear from nonzero settings. In addition, the type of vehicle drive affects not least of all: the drive axle makes the tires wear out faster. Due to the rotation (rearrangement) of the wheels, it is possible to achieve a more uniform wear and, as a result, extending service life.
There is another, no less obvious benefit of wheel rotation: tires with the same depth provide a higher level of comfort and safety... This is especially important when it comes to difficult weather conditions. So, for example, most.
How to properly rotate the wheels? It is probably best to start from the type of tires installed on your car.
Asymmetric non-directional tread pattern
The most popular type of tread for civilian tires at the moment is asymmetric... This, for example, is the case for most models of the summer MICHELIN line, ranging from economical to sporty. When installing asymmetric tires on disks must be combined the face of the tire with face side disk: on the sidewalls for this there are the inscriptions Outside and Inside (outer and inner side of the tire) and there is no arrow for the direction of rotation. The convenience of this type of tread is that the complete wheels can be changed among themselves in any way: the outside of the tire will in any case remain outside... In this case, it is appropriate to apply any of the rotation methods. Usually the most suitable method for rearranging the wheels is indicated in the car's operating instructions, but if you don't have one on hand, you can choose one of the methods we have proposed.
Method 1
The front left wheel swaps with the rear right wheel, and the front right wheel swaps with the rear left. This type of replacement is suitable for any type of vehicle drive and is most preferable for all-wheel drive vehicles.
Method 2
The rear wheels are moved to the front axle (the right rear wheel is replaced by the right front wheel, the left rear wheel is replaced by the left front), while the front wheels are replaced by the rear wheels diagonally (right front wheel- in place of the left rear, left front - in place of the right rear). This method is suitable for cars with rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive.
Method 3
The front wheels are installed in the place of the rear ones (the right front wheel - in the place of the right rear, the left front - in the place of the left rear), and rear wheels, in turn, are rearranged on the front axle diagonally (the right rear wheel is put in the place of the left front, the left rear - in the place of the right front). This method is intended for front-wheel drive vehicles.
Symmetrical tread pattern
This type of tread is found primarily on off-road and commercial tires. In the MICHELIN line, for example, this type includes tire models and. The rotation of tires with a symmetrical tread pattern is exactly the same as described above for asymmetric non-directional tires. There is only one difference in the operation of such tires: when assembling wheels, it is not necessary to take into account the position of the outer and inner sides of the tire.
Symmetrical directional tread pattern
Such tires are less and less common in summer tire lines and almost always - winter ones: the V-shaped tread allows you to effectively remove water from the contact patch. So, in lineup MICHELIN directional tread pattern features summer tires CrossClimate and a range winter tires(, Latitude X-Ice 3, Alpin 5, etc.). Rotation with directional tires mounted on disks can be done in only one way: by swapping the front and rear wheels in places, that is, the front left wheel - in the place of the rear left, the front right - in the place of the rear right.
Asymmetric directional tread pattern
As the name suggests, apart from the outside and inside, the tread pattern of the tire is directional. This type of tire is used only in motorsport due to the inconvenience of use, high cost and lack of tangible benefits for civilian use. Rotation with such tires is carried out in the same way as in the case of symmetrical directional tires: the front and rear wheels on each side of the car are swapped with each other.
Different size tires
Many sports cars sometimes equipped with wheels of different sizes: the rear tires, as a rule, are wider and larger in diameter. If the tires have an asymmetric non-directional tread pattern, then the wheels on each of the axles can be interchanged, but if we are dealing with directional tires, then alas - the rotation of such wheels is impossible without tire fitting.
Wheel rotation using the spare wheel
This type of rotation allows extend the life of the wheels by about 20%, but in reality this method is almost never used: many modern cars There is either no spare wheel in the trunk at all, or a small-sized "stowaway" is used in its capacity. And even if your car is equipped with a full-size spare wheel, in practice it usually differs by either the tire model or the type of wheel. However, if the spare tire is completely identical to the wheels installed on the car, then rotation in this case can be extremely useful. For the convenience of changing wheels, the type of tread pattern should be either asymmetric non-directional or symmetrical non-directional. The rotation process in this case is no longer as obvious as in the previous methods.
Method 1
The front right wheel is removed to the place of the spare wheel, the spare wheel is installed to the place of the rear right wheel, the rear right - to the place of the front left, the front left - to the place of the rear left, the rear left - to the place of the front right.
Method 2
The spare wheel is installed in the place of the rear right wheel, the rear right - in the place of the front right, the front right - in the place of the rear left, the rear left - in the place of the front left, and the front left wheel, in turn, is removed in the place of the spare wheel.
Wheel rotation frequency
The more often you rearrange the wheels, the more more evenly tires will wear out... But, since it is too often quite troublesome to do this, experts advise to change wheels in places during periodic - when the car is somehow lifted onto a lift. Usually, run of 8-10 thousand km quite enough for the next rearrangement of the wheels: in such a simple way you can not only extend tire life, but also to maintain the safety of movement at the proper level.
For safe driving and reliable driving, you cannot do without putting new tires on the car. However, rubber is not eternal and its wear cannot be uniform, for various reasons, on all wheels. Of course, no one is tempted to change all four tires at the same time to improve traction and steering information.
Therefore, draw a rabbit out of the hat. Help you save money - rearranging tires on your car. The rotation process is usually carried out during the change of seasonal tires at a service station. But tire wear does not depend on the season, but arises as a result of daily use of the car. And the driver needs to know when to rearrange the tires, and how to do it himself.
Why is this needed?
Car tire wear is an uneven process. To begin with, the front wheels deteriorate faster than those on the rear. After all, the front of your car accounts for about 60% of the total weight. The erasure of the front tires is also affected by turns. When driving on the right side of the road, we turn much more to the left than to the right.
Consequently, the right tire at the front is more susceptible to wear than others. rearrangement of wheels will help. This will provide you with significant savings in machine maintenance costs and predictable steering effort. And, like a real man, you can change the tires yourself on your car. Not necessarily in pursuit of savings, but even so that your significant other can see that a man is sitting inside the "white collar" too.
When to do wheel rotation
Each vehicle comes with an operating manual. If for some reason you do not have such a book, download the manual from the Internet. Among the tips for car maintenance, there will definitely be a tire swap pattern. Usually the rotation is carried out after 5-10 thousand km. mileage, or, to make it easier to remember, with each oil change.
Tools
Autojack. The jack, which is part of the required minimum of tools in the trunk of the car, is designed to replace a punctured wheel on the road. Changing all four wheels with it will be a rather laborious and time-consuming process. It is easier and safer to use a hydraulic jack that will raise one side of the machine at a time.
Jack stand. The thing in terms of security is absolutely essential. If you don't want to waste money on purchasing an industrial stand, which is reasonable, you can replace the store one with one built from improvised means. For example, it may well be replaced by a building block covered with a board on top so as not to scratch the bottom.
Key. In this case, everything is clear.
Rearrangement of wheels
Before you start unscrewing the nuts, decide on the scheme according to which the wheel rotation will be carried out. There are a few things to consider here. First, look at your tires and determine if they are directional or non-directional. This is important for many vehicles.
Rotation of wheels with the inscription "ROTATION"
Directional tires are easily recognizable by the distinctive 'ROTATION' mark and an arrow on the side indicating the direction of travel. The tread pattern of such wheels is designed to rotate in a strictly defined direction. To change them, simply swap the positions of the right front and rear tires. Perform the same operation on the left side.
If you have non-directional tires
Non-directional tire tread allows you to install tires on a car in any place and on any side, since there is no strictly specified direction of rotation. If you have a car with rear wheel drive, put the wheels removed from the front on opposite sides. So, the front tire on the left side will be in the back in the place of the right, and the right tire in the place of the left in the rear. The rear tires are simply fitted in the front without changing sides.
In front-wheel drive cars, the opposite is true: the front wheels are moved back without changing sides. And the rear left to the place of the right front, the right rear to the place of the left front.
Rotation of five wheels
Actually, in the car, taking into account the spare, there are 5 wheels, not 4. But this statement in relation to modern car spare wheels is rather controversial. They are not designed for long-term use - they have a shallow tread, modest size and weight. Their task is to reach the nearest tire fitting.
It is quite another matter if you have a full-fledged wheel or your jeep car on your "spare wheel". The rotation scheme with a 5th wheel is suitable here. Moreover, with a "spare wheel" tire running time increases by 20% and on all tires the tread wears out the same.
So, front-wheel drive... "Spare wheel" is put in place of the right rear wheel, the left front - instead of the spare. Rear right - to the place of the left front, the left rear with the right front change places.
Formula 4x4 and rear wheel drive cars
The left front - in the place of the spare, the spare - in the place of the right rear. Left rear - in place of the left front. The right front is replaced by the left rear. Right back - in place of the right front.
Rotation
1. To ensure our own safety, raise the handle parking brake(naturally, it must be serviceable).
2. Letting go wheel nuts... Do not unscrew them completely before lifting the wheel on the jack.
3. Raise the wheel on a jack or the entire side if you are the owner of a hydraulic jack. We put a stand under the raised side. We lower the jack. Having finished with one side, we carry out the same operation with the other. It is much easier to rotate if all wheels are available for replacement. Of course, you can change them one at a time, but this is a matter of choosing a driver and having free time.
4. They removed the tires and made their rearrangement according to the chosen scheme. Tighten the nuts in order - one against the other.
5. Lower the machine onto its four "fulcrum" points. Tighten the nuts with a wrench diagonally according to the star principle.
It is done! The rearrangement of the wheels is complete! Happy journey to you: not a rod, not a nail.
Wheels must be rearranged regularly by following either the instructions in the vehicle's owner's manual or the rules established in the tire industry. Correct wheel relocation helps to improve even lateral and longitudinal tire wear, as well as improve ride comfort and reduce noise levels. The minimal differences in the longitudinal wear of the tread of the tires, which can appear after periodic rearrangement of the wheels every 5,000 - 8,000 km, do not affect the aquaplaning stability, and the wheels can be rearranged. In this case, any difference in wear actually means that the repositioning should be done at shorter intervals.
Rearranging the wheels is beneficial for several reasons. When done according to the recommended guidelines, it can improve handling and traction and reduce uneven wear.
There are guarantees that are only valid if the wheels are correctly rearranged. Experts recommend rearranging the wheels every 5,000 to 8,000 km, even if there are no signs of wear. Often, the transfer can be carried out at the same time as the oil change, while the vehicle is on a lift. This is a good time to check the tires for damage, remove stones and other foreign objects, determine the uniformity of wear by measuring the tread depth and, of course, check the pressure level.
The tires on the front axle of the vehicle differ significantly from the tires on the rear axle in terms of their tasks. In this case, the tires on front wheel drive car work in significantly different conditions than rear-wheel drive. Whichever wheel the tire is mounted on, there may be different types and rates of wear. Therefore, it is preferable that all four tires wear the same, because when wear decreases the tread depth, it allows all four tires to respond more quickly to steering turns, maintain handling characteristics and help increase grip in corners.
If all tires wear out the same way, you can buy a new set rather than buying tires in pairs. If the entire kit is changed, the original handling characteristics are retained. In addition, manufacturers are constantly releasing new, improved tire models, and if you install a new kit, you can improve the car's handling, instead of looking for the previous generation tires.
Inhabitants of the northern regions can carry out a rearrangement of wheels simultaneously with a seasonal change of tires. Drivers who average 19,000 to 24,000 km a year will have to carry out two of the three wheel changes during tire changes before and after winter. All they have to do is rearrange the wheels again in July.
How exactly should the wheels be rearranged? There are three traditional methods that work for most vehicles (fitted with the same size tires and rims). The second method can be used as an alternative to the first and third.
Rearrangement of wheels:
There are also two additional ways. The fourth method is suitable for cars with the same tire and rim sizes, and the fifth is for cars with different-sized tires on the front and rear axles.
Although many cars are equipped with a spare wheel that is less standard wheels, if spare wheel its size does not differ from the rest, it must be used during the permutation. Follow the vehicle manufacturer's instructions, or if they are not available, always fit the spare wheel on the right rear wheel. According to the diagram, put one of the other tires in the trunk and use it as a spare until the next rearrangement.
Regular rearrangement of the wheels will ensure that all five tires wear evenly over the entire service life. In addition, correct rearrangement is important when, due to a puncture, you have to put on a spare wheel and use it with three partially worn tires.
Periodic change of the vehicle tire mounting locations is not only a useful procedure, but also necessary. In view of design features vehicle, different axles and individual wheels are loaded differently under different conditions. In this case, uneven abrasion of the tread surface occurs, which leads to a difference in profile height and loss of controllability.
Rearranging the wheels will ensure that the tire set is worn evenly, which will make it last longer. After reaching the critical tread depth on all wheels, four can be changed at the same time. Thanks to this, it will be possible to obtain optimal performance properties and a balance of parameters.
As for the truck tires, then rearrangements will be especially appropriate here, because the difference in the load on different axles of the truck is more noticeable and is reflected in the degree of wear of the tread.
In today's article, we will consider the basic rules for changing the position of tires or wheels on cars and trucks.
Rearrangement of wheels on a passenger car
It is recommended to change tires every 5-8 thousand kilometers, even at the stage when obvious signs of wear are not yet visible. The permutation schemes depend on which wheels are driving, as well as directly on the type of tread pattern of the tires.
On front-wheel drive machines, when using models with an undirectional pattern, rotation can be carried out in two ways:
- cross: the front left wheel is swapped with the rear right, and the front right - with the rear left;
- cruciform in the direction of the front axle: the rear left wheel goes to the place of the front right, and the rear right - to the place of the front left, while the front right goes back to the same right position, and the front left - to the rear left installation place.
On rear wheel drive cars, tires with a non-directional design are rearranged as follows:
- crosswise as described above for front wheel drive vehicles;
- in a cruciform pattern in the direction of the rear axle: the front left wheel will take the place of the rear right, in turn, the front right will move to the place of the rear left, but the rear wheels will simply move forward without changing the sides of the placement.
For four-wheel drive vehicles, use a crossover pattern when using non-directional wheels.
Tire models with a directional tread pattern should only be moved from the front to the rear position on the same side of the car.
If you have a spare wheel with the same parameters as the rest of the wheels, it must also be included in the permutation scheme. At the same time, it should be put in place of the rear right wheel each time, unless otherwise indicated in the manufacturer's instructions. And the wheel, which was supposed to be in this position according to the standard permutation scheme, should be put in the trunk.
In this way, uniform wear on all five wheels can be ensured.
Truck wheel rotation
On trucks rearrangement of tires should be performed every 40-50 thousand kilometers or when significant uneven tread wear is detected.
The following factors should be considered when planning permutations:
- for which position this particular tire model is intended;
- loading of each individual axle of the vehicle;
- measurements of the tread depth for each tire.
In a standard three-axle trailer, the third axle is the most loaded, while the second works in the most gentle conditions. At regular intervals, measure the residual tread depth and swap the least and most worn tires of one functional purpose... Twin wheels should also be periodically swapped with each other, especially if the difference in their residual depth is more than 3 mm.
When rearranging non-directional tires, it is advisable to change the direction of their rotation to the opposite.
Some manufacturers produce universal ones that can be installed on any axle. Such tires can first be put in the steering position, and after some mileage they can be rearranged onto the wheels of free-rolling axles.
The rotation of the wheels will help to save on changing tires, because with uniform wear, the service life of one set is significantly increased. In addition, the uniform tread height contributes to the stability of the vehicle's behavior while driving.
A brand new set of tires can live from 80 thousand kilometers or more, however, this applies to ideal workers and road conditions... But we can create some of these conditions ourselves. Just a couple simple rules, and the service life of tires can be easily extended by 30-40 thousand kilometers.
Tire wear
Of course, for the duration of operation car tires many factors influence. This is both the driving style and the class of the car, its technical condition, the type of tires themselves. And, of course, the tire life of a neat summer resident who drives a car a couple of times a year, and an aggressive street racer constantly blowing smoke at the start, will be completely different. An important factor affecting the lifespan of rubber, the degree of deterioration of its elements, be it ball joints, bushings, etc. It is also necessary to set the correct camber, maintain optimal tire pressure.
Why you need to swap tires
Another way to extend the life of your tires is to rearrange the wheels. Previously, experienced drivers often used this technique, for many it was the rule, but today it is practically forgotten. How can changing tires help? It's simple, different wheels in a car are subjected to different loads, which, in turn, leads to obvious differences in the structure and degree of tire wear. For example, the front tires hold most of the weight of the car, since in the vast majority of cars the heavy engine is located in front. The load is increased even more when up to 80 percent of the weight falls on them during hard braking. Then, the front wheels are constantly turning, which cannot but affect their accelerated wear.
Rotation period
The wear structure of the front and rear tires is different, on the front the edges of the tread are grinded, while the rear tires lose middle part... Timely rotation of the wheels will make it possible to make this wear more even: the rear tires will begin to wear off on the sidewalls, while the front tires will begin to wear flat. Of course, you can simply change to new front tires if you have enough extra money, but it's easier to just swap the tires, extending their life by 1.5 times. Moreover, the tire manufacturers themselves advise to rearrange the tires every six months or every ten thousand kilometers. And in order to do this, you do not have to take separate additional actions, because every six months we already change the shoes of our cars from summer to winter tires and back. You just need to swap them.
Permutation order
The permutation scheme may be different, but it is correct to do it as follows: we put the rear tires forward in the same order as they were, that is, left to left, and right to right. The front tires should be placed on the rear axle in an intersection, that is, we put the left front on the right rear side, and we do the same for the right front.
But there is one significant nuance here - the asymmetrical pattern on the tread. If you have such tires, then the rearrangement is done without changing the beads. On powerful cars or on sports cars, wheels are often installed different sizes, in this case the tires are shifted only along the sides, from right to left. And before each shift, carefully study the labeling of your tires.
Tire swap diagram
