Commuting - How often do you rotate your tires?

By that I meant swapping front to back and vice versa. Is there a guideline to how often? This is to even out the wear a bit. Or maybe it's not needed at all. Just place the front to rear when the rear's worn and buy a new tire for the front?

By that I meant swapping front to back and vice versa. Is there a guideline to how often? This is to even out the wear a bit. Or maybe it's not needed at all. Just place the front to rear when the rear's worn and buy a new tire for the front?

This is what I do.

Rotate tires? What's that? :innocent:

/sarcasm (I don't rotate anything...)

I use two different sized tires, so I don't rotate them. Here's what Sheldon Brown said about it:
http://www.sheldonbrown.com/tire-rotation.html

I follow Sheldon's method. When the rear tire wears out, I move the front one to the rear and add a new one up front. That way the newer and more trusted tire is always where it matters most.

Never rotate, don't see the point; rear tire takes it hardest, why put a weakened front tire on the rear where it will wear harder yet than it had been?

I don't rotate. I usually go through two rear tires for each front tire.

I do not rotate. Just replace as needed. Normally have a wider rear tire.

By that I meant swapping front to back and vice versa.Glad you specified. I was already starting on the math to come up with a smartass answer along the lines of "a couple hundred times per minute."

Never. I don't use the same tread front and back (though they are the same dimensions.) Rotating would mess with that. If a tire wear out, I replace it.

Glad you specified. I was already starting on the math to come up with a smartass answer along the lines of "a couple hundred times per minute."


I knew that there would be a few "funny guy" on this forum waiting for such an opportunity. :)


Never rotate, don't see the point; rear tire takes it hardest, why put a weakened front tire on the rear where it will wear harder yet than it had been?

So what others and Sheldon is saying is wrong then?

I always intend to move the front to the back and get a new front. But after I notice the rear is too worn, there is a delay until I get around to it and or find a good deal on the relevant tire, so by that time I usually feel like the front is pretty bad, and replace both.

Put the best tire on the front. Just think about a tire failing and that wheel sliding out from under you; which wheel do you want it to be?

Never rotate, don't see the point; rear tire takes it hardest, why put a weakened front tire on the rear where it will wear harder yet than it had been?

This is what I do too, but only because so far whenever I've changed tires I've wanted to try a new model and I like matching tires. Eventually, I figure I'll end up with one usable tire of every kind I've tried.

The point to Sheldon's method, of course, is to keep a good tire on the front and not throw out tires that are still usable. I suppose one could always donate the front tire to a community center when replacing both (assuming they'd want them).

I knew that there would be a few "funny guy" on this forum waiting for such an opportunity. :)


Daaargh. Missed my chance!

In all seriousness, I just replace as needed.

So what others and Sheldon is saying is wrong then?

The front tire easily outlast two rear tires so it isn't worth the hassle IMO.

I just moved the front one to the back and installed..... NO WAIT, I moved the R to the front and installed a new in the R.

In any case, I tend to find that on tires that I get a lot of flats on, it's always the R, thus when it's had 3 flats I assume the amount of tread is reduced enough to make it vulnerable to flats and then replace it.

In the past 6 years or so, I've been running Conti Grand Prix 4 Seasons and haven't had a flat in 2 years. Thus the front, for whatever reason, wore out first, so for no logical reason, I transferred the R to the F and put my last cheap Conti on the R, only as that's where I usually get a flat so why not have the newer tire there, Sheldons advice to the contrary. Or Not.

And I don't rotate.

Steve B.

Don't see any advantage that makes doing this worthwhile.

Rotate??! never have...

Never.

i rotate tyres often.
my ideal situation, is when both tyres are worn out at about the same time.

Why rotate?

I'll just use my worn out tires as spare. In fact, I hide my spares in several locations (trees/bushes, taped under mailbox, gas stations, etc) on my usual commute route to work. This saved me couple times on having huge gash on my tire. Beats walking all the way home than having a short walk to hidden spare location.




H23NC,

No rotate. Just replace as needed.

That's funny, h23nutcase.

So what others and Sheldon is saying is wrong then?
That's not what he said. Again, you are twisting people's words.

Dude, you need to read more carefully. Sheldon (who is not the end all to be all, btw) states "The only time tire rotation is appropriate on a bicycle is when you are replacing the rear tire. If you feel like taking the trouble, and use the same type of tire front and rear, you should move the front tire to the rear wheel, and install the new tire in front."

He doesn't say that rotating tires is necessary, but that if you do, you should only move the front tire to the rear. From the article, it doesn't sound like Sheldon's a huge proponent of rotating tires (hence his statement "if you feel like taking the trouble").

I don't rotate my tires, nor have I ever felt the need.

Every 1000 miles.

Right, it's not important, but there's no harm in doing it, either.

I like to have a fatter tire on the front and a thinner one on the rear, so rotating them doesn't make sense for me either. My last front tire outlasted five or six rear tires!

...
Sheldon (who is not the end all to be all, btw)
...

Really? Has there ever been anyone who knew as much about bicycles as him?

I'd like to know who you'd nominate.

Other people know as much as Sheldon did, but he wrote prolifically and expressed himself extremely clearly. He used language that both experts and novices enjoyed reading. Even the very picky Jobst Brandt likes Sheldon's writing.

Really? Has there ever been anyone who knew as much about bicycles as him?


What made Sheldon unique was his eloquence, his sense of humor, and his eagerness to share what he knew.

I'm sure there are plenty of people out there who know as much or more, maybe even on BF, but l don't know who. Wouldn't it be cool if some such expert would produce an hour long (internet?) radio show like "Car Talk" devoted to bikes?

I'd make a podcast if you can tell me how to make money at it. I love giving generously of my time, but I'm doing too much of it lately and not earning enough money.

Oh, right, the money thing. Well, I'm afraid if you wanted to make money, you are in the wrong business (not to mention the wrong forum). Sorry 'bout that, there, chief!

You should not rotate. Always keep your best tire on the front. That means that once a tire goes on the back, the next step is throwing it away, moving the front tire to the back, and putting a new tire on the front.

By rotating you're guaranteeing that you have a not-so-good tire up front for most of the life of the tires.

I never rotate. I just buy two new ones whenever one of them (the rear) wears out.

mustang1, you throw out perfectly good (front) tires?

You should not rotate. Always keep your best tire on the front. That means that once a tire goes on the back, the next step is throwing it away, moving the front tire to the back, and putting a new tire on the front.
By rotating you're guaranteeing that you have a not-so-good tire up front for most of the life of the tires.

Umm, I think you just described rotating your tires.

That's not what he said. Again, you are twisting people's words.



It's called clarification. English 101... when a sentence ends in a question mark -'?' it means it is a question. ;)

I rotate them as soon as I can see any wear on the rear. Maybe 500 miles. I like having a broken in but not worn tire in the front. I then wait for the rear tire to die and get a new one. Once it starts to show a tiny wear, I rotate them again. Kinda weird.

I never rotate. I just buy two new ones whenever one of them (the rear) wears out.


mustang1, you throw out perfectly good (front) tires?
You'd be surprised how many people do this. I try to talk them out of it, but they insist on getting two new tires. I take the perfectly good tire home with me. I won't need to buy new tires for my commuter for quite some time.

No rotating here either, tire is too worn and starts puncturing I buy a new one...

After, say, a couple of punctures on the rear wheel, it feels great to put a new tire on (Conti Contacts)...

Umm, I think you just described rotating your tires.

Not as I understand it. Most people here seem to be swapping front/rear every 1000 miles or so to try to get them to wear out evenly. What I'm saying is to leave the tires as is until the rear wears out, then put the front on the rear and put a new one on the front.

Since the original question was "how often", that doesn't make sense if what I'm describing is what the OP meant by rotating, unless the answer is "when the rear tire wears out."

I won't need to buy new tires for my commuter for quite some time.

Where do I find these people throwing out their tires?

Where do I find these people throwing out their tires?I work at a bike shop.

i even use those old thrown out tyres
as bumpers/grips for The Big Dummy