First Timer Tire Rotation

[Pinecone]

So, I've heard that one should rotate your TD's tires every 10,000 miles. Since I got my TD in 2013, I think it's probably time.

I'm going to do it myself, having never rotated tires in my life. I'm a little nervous. Is this how it goes?

1) Remove spare.
2) Loosen bolts on one wheel.
3) Jack up that side of the trailer.
4) Remove wheel #1.
5) That spare that I removed, put it on the same spot where I took the wheel off in #4. Hand-tighten nuts.
6) Let the jack down then tighten the nuts with torque wrench.
7) Loosen nuts on the other wheel.
8. Jack up the other side of the trailer.
9) Remove wheel #2.
10) Place wheel #1 where wheel #2 went. Hand-tighten nuts.
11) Let the jack down then tighten the nuts with torque wrench.
12) Mount wheel #2 as the "spare".
13) Apply grease in that little valve thingy that sticks out of each end of the axle.
14) Pray that a wheel doesn't fall off!!

Any advice for this noob? Thanks in advance!

Greg

[Loren]

Greg:
I'd use a tread gauge, available at any Walmart or auto parts store- and measure the tread on all grooves both sides- if tread depth is the same all the way across and the outside edges aren't worn, I'd not bother switching tires- if it ain't broke....but yeah, lube is a good thing but read up un it first- you want enough, but not too much.
Loren

[halfdome, Danny]

Greg, I don't know if you have steel belt radial tires or not.
From my understanding (not an expert at the least) steel belted radials should only be rotated in the same direction, IE front tires to rear, rear to front, not crossing over.
Something to do with wear patterns in the steel belts and possible failure.
Something you might want to look into before going through all that work.
Danny

[Vedette]

Yes, Greg
Old time cross rotation was for bias ply tires, and was done a lot back in the day.
But, like Danny said.........new "Radial tires should always be kept on the same side.
Only rotate front to back!
Changing their rotation direction is not a great idea. You will get pre mature wear and possible failure. Also they will be noisy!
Good to see you here man.
Brian & Sandi

[lrrowe]

I always buy my tires from dealers who will rotate them for free (I know nothing is free as somewhere, everything has a cost"
I let them worry about what is the best method as long as I stay to the schedule. This is another reason I do not skimp when it comes to my tires. I really believe that the better deal may cost more.

[Pinecone]

Front to rear? I'm talking about rotating the tires on my teardrop trailer, not on my car! You guys are confusing the noob!

I guess a place to start is to see what kind of tires they are. Why is everything always more complicated than I think they should be?! Well, I guess that's how we learn.

Greg

[lrrowe]

Missed that important point. Sorry. Now seeing that you are only talking about your TD tires. I do not see myself ever rotating them.

[BrwBier]

After being a mechanic for 35 years I can say the OLD rule was for radial tires to stay on the same side. That is not the case anymore. There will be a maintenance section in your owners manual (you know, that thing in the bottom of your glove box) that will show how to rotate your tires. Modern radials are just fine with switching sides. A general rule is to cross the non drive axle tires and the drive axle tires front to back. Example for a front drive car, rf to rr lf to lr lr to rf and rr to lf. Some cars maybe different but the owners manual will tell you that.

[MtnDon]

I have never, in 4 decades of owning trailers of all sorts and sizes, rotated a trailer tire. I have not noticed any uneven wear patterns. I do rotate the tires on the cars and trucks every 5000 miles or so using a suitable pattern in this link.

[MtnDon]

We rotate tires on a motor vehicle because those tires are subject to various loads that trailers do not experience, namely acceleration forces, braking forces and cornering forces, especially the front turning wheels/tires. The forces are concentrated on the front wheels of a front drive vehicles so rotating those with the rears can help even out the wear a lot. Or simply leave them alone and when the fronts get worn out put new ones on the rear and put the old, hardly worn rears on the front.

The wheels and tires on a typical single axle TD simply go along for the ride. IF the TD has brakes, then there may be braking forces. Unless the TD brakes are maladjusted and cause lockups there should be little if any effect on TD tire wear, IMO. Same thing for CT's as far as I am concerned.

A tandem or triple axle trailer that does a lot of turning, as happens more when used around town a lot, may benefit from rotations as tandems and triples can get a lot of tire scrub on tight turns.

[Socal Tom]

Yes, Greg
Old time cross rotation was for bias ply tires, and was done a lot back in the day.
But, like Danny said.........new "Radial tires should always be kept on the same side.
Only rotate front to back!
Changing their rotation direction is not a great idea. You will get pre mature wear and possible failure. Also they will be noisy!
Good to see you here man.
Brian & Sandi

This is no longer true. Modern radials can be rotated to neither side.
Tom

[Socal Tom]

I have never, in 4 decades of owning trailers of all sorts and sizes, rotated a trailer tire. I have not noticed any uneven wear patterns. I do rotate the tires on the cars and trucks every 5000 miles or so using a suitable pattern in this link.

Me either.
Tom

[rockinrobin]

I have never, in 4 decades of owning trailers of all sorts and sizes, rotated a trailer tire. I have not noticed any uneven wear patterns. I do rotate the tires on the cars and trucks every 5000 miles or so using a suitable pattern in this link.

Me three!! My 2008 Pleasant Valley still has the original tires. They are going to die of old age before wear. Of course I only put about 4000 miles per year on it. Ronnie

[booyah]

Yes, Greg
Old time cross rotation was for bias ply tires, and was done a lot back in the day.
But, like Danny said.........new "Radial tires should always be kept on the same side.
Only rotate front to back!
Changing their rotation direction is not a great idea. You will get pre mature wear and possible failure. Also they will be noisy!
Good to see you here man.
Brian & Sandi

This is no longer true. Modern radials can be rotated to neither side.
Tom

Unless the tread pattern is directional (like on most of my cars)

[Socal Tom]

]

Unless the tread pattern is directional (like on most of my cars)

That is true whether its radial or bias ply.
Tom