Well I had just turned 10K miles on my rears and 5K miles on my fronts. I had a extensive all wheel alignment done when I bought the fronts and the rears were pretty spot on. So considering I don't have directional tires what is the general consensus of doing a side to side rotation. By the way tread wear is minimal on both fronts and rears and surprisingly I still can read the DWS on the treads. I'm about to go into semi-winter mode so I'll be pulling the wheels to do my clean and polish so while I'm doing this why not make the switch.

 

My tires rotate every time I drive the car.

 

It may be myth, but I seem to recall that it wasn’t advised to do the side to side switch, something about the internals of the tire getting formed to the current rotational direction, and swapping them tears the internal structures.

 

I rotate my tires front to back every 5 to 6 k miles but not side to side (X rotation) as they are directional tires.

I have read that tire rotation is an American habit not followed in most of Europe. I don't know if that's true or not but the Jag Owners Manual does recommend it. Doesn't it

 

Aren't the rears a different width from the fronts?

 

Yes they are unless someone changed the rears. Because of the staggered set up I am suggesting front right to front left and rear right to rear left. Modern radials don't care if they run clockwise or counter clockwise unless they are directional tires.

 

What jagtoes said.

 

I have staggered, directional tires. I rotate them by alternating between pulling in forward and backing into my garage.

 

I do what jagtoes stated. also suggested by my tire store - Silver Spring, MD, Radial Tire. great prices, but hi-end as I always see cars much more expensive than the Jag.

 

As mentioned above, I (i.e., I do it) rotate my tires left to right (or right to left), whatever. Also gives me a chance to check brake pads, rubber bushings, etc.

However, this is what Washington Consumer Checkbook www.checkbook.org] says about tire rotation: "Periodically rotating tires extends tread life by allowing even wear, but note that the tread life gained from regular rotation likely won't offset the cost of rotating them. If your tire seller or repair shop will rotate tires for free (as is the case with Costco and some other sellers), then sure, go ahead and do it, but if you have to pay a fee, skip it."

 

The thing about rotating is...
Sure it will make tires wear more evenly, but then any abnormal wear patterns due to poor alignment, worn bearings or other problems will be masked. The indicators of the problems will go away and nobody will know.

 

My owner's manuals for the previous BMW "Z" cars I had discouraged tire rotation as a waste of time and money. I found that to be pretty good advice.