Rotate tires?

Geo-TH,In · Oct 18, 2016

When it comes to my vehicles I rotate and balance every other oil change, 6K. Never considered rotating my dump trailer tires. I noticed the tires on back axle had considerably more wear than the front axle. So I decided to rotate them today.

I also checked, the spacing between axles, they are same for both sides.

Tire pressure is as it should be 65 psi.

I'm thinking the rear tires slide more than the front tires when turning because the front axle has a few more pounds on it because you need a positive tongue weight. If my theory is correct, do you think lowering the air pressure on rear tires will allow the side walls to flex in a turn instead of scuffing off rubber? Opinions about air pressure.

George

D beatty · Oct 18, 2016

I rotate tires on car and truck at between 8-10 ten thousand miles and where I have mine done they check balance. I carry 80 psi on truck and trailer. My trailer is 5 years old and notice difference in wear of tires.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 18, 2016

D beatty,
I buy my car and truck tires from Tire Barn. For an additional $50 I get free life time rotation & balancing every 5K if I want. It also comes with road hazard which I get my moneys worth there. I do every other oil change because tire barn is next to dealer that chances my oil and a free car wash for $25.

My trailer is about 5 years old too. I use it a lot.

JF in MI · Oct 18, 2016

I don't rotate anymore. Not worth having to reset the TPMS locations the manual procedure way and I'm not wasting money on a reset tool.

dcarp · Oct 18, 2016

Discount Tire gives you free lifetime rotate & balance. Haven't bought a tire anywhere else in 30 yrs.

JimS · Oct 18, 2016

I agree with you. I rotate every other oil change and get great mileage out of my tires. I have enough vehicles that I did a control group; not rotating one while rotating the other. Also, I had a 300ZX and a friend who had the same model twin turbo. the twin model had all wheel steering and larger rear tires, so rotation was not possible. There was a dramatic difference. Oddly, I had never considered trailers. I will now rotate those. Thanks.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 18, 2016

JimS,
I have 70K Michelin tires on my truck I put on right after buying my
GMC new in 2007. I wasn't happy with the OEM Generals. I currently have 85K on the Michelins and good chance I may get 100K out of them. So yes rotating and balancing is key to long life.
Geo

Leroy · Oct 18, 2016

Unless your trailer is different than most on a 2 axle tje weightper axle is equalized with that piviot between the axles so lowering air pressure in one axle would list make those tires run flater but with still the same weight on each tire. Go find a scale and try it. If you were here in Ohio where most of the trailers have brakes on the rear axle I would say itwas from the brakes grabbing and sliding tire slightly but you are in Indiana that requires brakes on both axles so don't see how that could be possible. And not all the time would the rear axle slide in a turn, so at times it could be the front axle that slides.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 18, 2016

I have brakes on both axles. Good digital brake controller, premius IQ. Rarely will I have too much brake bias. Never locked up tires.
Geo

Geo-TH,In · Oct 18, 2016

Don't have a Discount tire store, only Tire Barn. They have had my business for years.

Galen Houk · Oct 18, 2016

I rotate on cars but not the F350 trucks. I have always pulled tandem axel dually gooseneck trailers and have always gotten excellent even wear. My newest trailer is a 25,000# tandem axel dually with spread axels. It is wearing the edges of the front tires so I will have to rotate. All I can guess is that the front axels are sliding more and wearing the tires out. I have always had 80 psi in all truck and trailer tires.

Dean · Oct 18, 2016

These days, most tire stores offer free lifetime rotate and rebalance.

Even my local Chevrolet dealer does.

Dean

Ozlander · Oct 18, 2016

(quoted from post at 15:39:46 10/18/16) I have brakes on both axles. Good digital brake controller, premius IQ. Rarely will I have too much brake bias. Never locked up tires.
Geo

That don't mean the brakes are working on the front axle.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 18, 2016

Yes All brakes are working. One time the wire to front brakes got cut. I could tell because rear brakes alone stop the loads I carry. I locked up the rear wheels and a full load didn't want to stop.

Any ideas on air pressure?

showcrop · Oct 18, 2016

When I had my tri-axle dump truck the rear rears always wore faster and I always assumed that it was because they scuffed sideways a little. They all wore evenly though so I was happy with the program.

marloweg · Oct 18, 2016

what size tires you have on that dump truck ? i have had dumps for 40 years and never ran 65 psi in any tire fronts 425/65/22.5 110 psi 11/22.5 duels 90 psi 100 psi singles 10;00/20 90 to 100 single or duel

Geo-TH,In · Oct 18, 2016

I have a dump TRAILER, not a truck.

marloweg · Oct 18, 2016

my bad so sorry

Pair-a-dice farm · Oct 18, 2016

I keep my trailer tires at 80psi. I don't put enough miles on any of my trailers to justify rotating them. The same now goes for my trucks. I used to rotate every 10K and if you wear out a set in less than 5-6 years then it probably pays off. I no longer rotate tires on my trucks because they get new tires every 5 years regardless of the miles.

Wheatfarmer · Oct 18, 2016

Every one of us should follow a trailer with a heavy load making a turn on pavement. Was behind a guy today pulling a big swather. It will scare you to death.

T in NE · Oct 18, 2016

It was air ride,with the leveling valve on
the front drive axle, wasn't it

BarnyardEngineering · Oct 19, 2016

Is your trailer towing level?

I notice on the road a lot of trailers towing very nose-high, which lifts weight off the front tires even with spring equalizer shackles.

Geo-TH,In · Oct 19, 2016

Yes level. Bought new. Factory made. Toss
great. Nice trailer. Rear tires are
getting scrubbed off in turns.

Rotate tires?

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