F-Type ( X152 ) 2014 - Onwards

Tire "Rotation"

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Old May 16, 2019 | 08:59 AM
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Default Tire "Rotation"

Anyone know if tires should be swapped side-to-side? I've noticed my rears are wearing a bit more on the insides at 6K miles and curious as to whether swapping may even out wear over the life of the tires? Also, what about the fronts?
 
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Old May 16, 2019 | 09:17 AM
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Originally Posted by fujicoupe
Anyone know if tires should be swapped side-to-side? I've noticed my rears are wearing a bit more on the insides at 6K miles and curious as to whether swapping may even out wear over the life of the tires? Also, what about the fronts?
Most summer and high performance tires are "directional" meaning the tread pattern was designed to spin in one direction only, and many specify which side is supposed to face outward. For any of those tires, side to side swaps are a very bad idea. If you have all season tires that are not directional (no arrows showing rotation direction) you may be able to swap, or even turn the tire around on the rim to get some extra life, but its not usually done.
 
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Old May 16, 2019 | 09:17 AM
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If the tires are not directional tires, then you can. However most street tires these days are directional to handle wet weather better which typically means swapping them decreases their performance.
 
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Old May 16, 2019 | 04:50 PM
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The p zeros are not directional but they are asymmetric. You could flip them to the other side but the inside would stay on the inside. It won't fix your problem. Alignment will, but no use doing that on worn tires.
 
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Old May 16, 2019 | 05:45 PM
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Have your alignment checked.
 
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Old May 16, 2019 | 08:11 PM
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Directional tires can indeed be switched side to side, but it requires dismounting the tires from the wheels and reversing them before remounting.
 
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Old May 16, 2019 | 11:04 PM
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Since I lowered the car and put on wider tires I noticed the negative camber looks to be greater than before. Negative camber on the rear helps cornering, but will wear out the inside of the rears pretty quickly.
I know it was aligned within spec, but I expect this to be a problem.... anyone else see this?
 
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Old May 16, 2019 | 11:25 PM
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Originally Posted by Tork Monster
Since I lowered the car and put on wider tires I noticed the negative camber looks to be greater than before. Negative camber on the rear helps cornering, but will wear out the inside of the rears pretty quickly.
I know it was aligned within spec, but I expect this to be a problem.... anyone else see this?
It was a big problem on my old XFS when I fitted Eibach lowering springs (30 mm front and 26 mm rear drop), even after a fresh alignment the excess negative camber on the rear was enough to wear out the inside edges of the rear tyres in double quick time.
I even had the rear tyres turned on the rims so the inside edges became the outside edges, even though those tyres were meant to be directional (Bridgestone Potenza S04, XFR spec 285/30ZR20 rear and 255/35ZR 20 front). But it was no good, the formerly inside and now outside edges were so bad the cords were almost showing and I had to bin those tyres before the popo pulled me over and defected the car, even though there was masses of tread over the rest of the tyre face.
Funny thing is this has not happened at all on the F-Type. Still stock wheels and tyres, 295/30ZR20 rear and 255/35ZR20 front, but VAP lowering springs 22 mm drop all around and new Michelin PS4S fitted a few days later, some 20 months and 14,000 km ago now. Even wear across the tread on all four corners, maybe a tiny bit more wear on the inner edges both front and rear. The rear suspension on the XF and F-Type is pretty much identical and both have zero rear camber adjustment, so it can only be down to one or both of two things - 22 mm drop vs 26 mm drop and MPS4S vs Bridgestone Potenza S04. My money is on the 4 mm less rear drop.
 
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Old May 17, 2019 | 08:20 PM
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I am now reversing the rear tires on the wheels and swapping the side to side at 8k miles, well before the inside edge gets to the cord. This keeps tire rotation in the right direction and assures a 16k+ mile tire life. The rear of my car was lowered by 38mm with the H&R suspension.
 
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Old May 17, 2019 | 08:55 PM
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Originally Posted by Tork Monster
Since I lowered the car and put on wider tires I noticed the negative camber looks to be greater than before. Negative camber on the rear helps cornering, but will wear out the inside of the rears pretty quickly.
I know it was aligned within spec, but I expect this to be a problem.... anyone else see this?
.

FWIW, the previous owner of my car had first put H&R springs on the rear and had trouble with negative camber and excessive inside rear tire wear. He switched to VAP Springs and got new Pirelli's (Uggh!) and the problem disappeared. I got the car with the rear tires approximately 50% worn - but they were wearing evenly.
Switched to Michelin's about 18 months ago and they seem to be wearing evenly. It may be that excessive lowering makes the problem worse...
 
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Old May 17, 2019 | 09:03 PM
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Originally Posted by Unhingd
I am now reversing the rear tires on the wheels and swapping the side to side at 8k miles, well before the inside edge gets to the cord. This keeps tire rotation in the right direction and assures a 16k+ mile tire life. The rear of my car was lowered by 38mm with the H&R suspension.
Are your sure that will work Lance?
I understand you have Michelin Pilot Sport 4S same as me.
Those tyres are not directional but they are asymmetric, with "inside" and "outside" clearly marked.
They have different tread patterns across the face and they have different compounds for the inner and outer treads as well, I distinctly remember a video (You Tube?) explaining this.
The only way to even out the wear is to flip the tyres on the rims so the inside becomes the outside and vice versa, but is this really advisable with the MPS4S, I'm yet to be convinced. If it is perfectly OK I will also get the tyres flipped fairly soon but not otherwise.

Edit - found the vid:
 

Last edited by OzXFR; May 17, 2019 at 09:08 PM.
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Old May 18, 2019 | 10:49 AM
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Was really looking forward to wearing out the OEM Continentals and switching to Michelin Pilot Sport 4S based on all the positive comments posted here, but alas that tire is not offered in an 18" version. What's more, the Pilot Super Sport apparently isn't either. According to my quick search of TireRack the only Michelin recommended for my wheel size is an A/S.
Any comments/observations out there? Other than switching to a larger wheel diameter that is. I'm old and like a little cushier ride.
 
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Old May 18, 2019 | 06:04 PM
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Originally Posted by OzXFR
Are your sure that will work Lance?
I understand you have Michelin Pilot Sport 4S same as me.
Those tyres are not directional but they are asymmetric, with "inside" and "outside" clearly marked.
They have different tread patterns across the face and they have different compounds for the inner and outer treads as well, I distinctly remember a video (You Tube?) explaining this.
The only way to even out the wear is to flip the tyres on the rims so the inside becomes the outside and vice versa, but is this really advisable with the MPS4S, I'm yet to be convinced. If it is perfectly OK I will also get the tyres flipped fairly soon but not otherwise.

Edit - found the vid:
This practice is not recommended with asymmetric tires. The outside is supposed to remain the outside. It's probably not really dangerous unless on a track, but who's to say. The manufacturers say not to do it.
 
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Old May 18, 2019 | 07:31 PM
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Originally Posted by OzXFR
Are your sure that will work Lance?
Drat. The tires on my Minis are directional and I started to mount side to side. Yep, the PS4s are asymmetric. I won’t be slapping them on inside out.
 
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