Dealer wouldn't do Tire Rotation because 2-3mm difference Front to Back. 30k mile service.

[ehauser]

So I paid for the ExtraCare when I purchased my 22 Maverick Hybrid which covered the first 3 oil changes and tire rotations along with scheduled maintenance inspections.

I used the dealer valet service which will pickup your vehicle and return it after service is complete. When I got the invoice I noticed they hadn't done the tire rotation. Their explanation was that the front measured 6-7mm and the back measured 8-9mm and that a rotation was not needed. Isn't that why you rotate so that the wear is even? Obviously, the fronts wear faster but if you switch them, by the next rotation the wear should have evened out and then I could see not needing a rotation.

I talked to the service manager and he then explained the reason they didn't do the rotation is because higher tread on the front would cause oversteer in wet conditions. This is the first I have heard this and I guess it makes some sense, but seems that would be worse if the tires were at 3-4mm toward the end of their life, not when there is still good tread.

Does anyone have thoughts on this? Should I get them rotated or just wait until the front wear even more and then replace all 4?

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[AVC]

BS. Go to Discount Tire; unless tires are below 4/32, they'll rotate for free.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

So I paid for the ExtraCare when I purchased my 22 Maverick Hybrid which covered the first 3 oil changes and tire rotations along with scheduled maintenance inspections.

I used the dealer valet service which will pickup your vehicle and return it after service is complete. When I got the invoice I noticed they hadn't done the tire rotation. Their explanation was that the front measured 6-7mm and the back measured 8-9mm and that a rotation was not needed. Isn't that why you rotate so that the wear is even? Obviously, the fronts wear faster but if you switch them, by the next rotation the wear should have evened out and then I could see not needing a rotation.

I talked to the service manager and he then explained the reason they didn't do the rotation is because higher tread on the front would cause oversteer in wet conditions. This is the first I have heard this and I guess it makes some sense, but seems that would be worse if the tires were at 3-4mm toward the end of their life, not when there is still good tread.

Does anyone have thoughts on this? Should I get them rotated or just wait until the front wear even more and then replace all 4?

Research I've done shows that tires with the most tread go on the rear.
Your dealer is correct in their decision.
And yes I'm well aware of all the arguments. The fronts are always going to wear out sooner than the backz. The backs are free wheeling and just being dragged along.....

https://www.kenwoodtire.com/About/Blog/ArticleID/223/Tires 101 - Why Two New Tires ALWAYS Go On The Rear

https://www.tirebuyer.com/education/new-tires-front-or-back

https://www.goodyear.com/en_US/learn/choosing-your-tires/replacing-only-two-tires.html#:~:text=Installing Tires on the Rear,negative effects of the
oversteer.
If some can show something different. From a tire manufacturer or a safety study that contradicts the above please post it.

 

[Carlitos_92]

That dealer has gone to extraordinary lengths and completely fabricated a line of reasoning to avoid what is 10 minutes of work on a lift with pneumatic tools.

When your tires are up for replacement (which might be a while at 6mm), I definitely would buy new tires somewhere else that offers free rotation/puncture repair. You might have to make two stops when maintenance time comes around, but at least you will get your tires rotated and not have to listen to liars.

 

[ehauser]

I agree. This isn't a situation where the tires are worn out and I am replacing two with new tires. You rotate to keep the tread at a similar wear, which rotating would do exactly that. If I leave them as is, the fronts will wear out first and then I will have only two tires that need replacing versus all 4. They are making excuses. I told them I wouldn't be using them for future maintenance and left a bad Google review. I just wanted to make sure that was justified. Thanks for the reassurance.

 

[ehauser]

BS. Go to Discount Tire; unless tires are below 4/32, they'll rotate for free.

I can actually do it myself but it is more that I had already prepaid for them to do it and they didn't and are now making excuses. Unacceptable.

 

[jewc75]

BS. Go to Discount Tire; unless tires are below 4/32, they'll rotate for free.

Discount Tire does the same thing, at least here they do. Ive tried several with different cars and they always give the over steer bs excuse. I only try to use them because i have the certs on our tires, i just end up doing them at home.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

Discount Tire does the same thing, at least here they do. Ive tried several with different cars and they always give the over steer bs excuse. I only try to use them because i have the certs on our tires, i just end up doing them at home.

I'll bet lawsuits are the reason why.

 

[The Real Maverick]

I can actually do it myself but it is more that I had already prepaid for them to do it and they didn't and are now making excuses. Unacceptable.

Do they KNOW this truck is FWD?

FWD in a truck is pretty rare so don't assume they know.

 

[Rob911]

I would ask what a rotation costs and then ask them to refund you this amount since you already paid for it.

(IN THE RAIN ONLY) If there was a huge difference in thread depth, with one set at end-of-life, then they are correct, but this is not the case here - one pair are in great shape and the other pair are still in good shape. Rotation is completely acceptable and safe in this instance. I don't believe that Nashville gets much snow but I could be wrong.

The rear tires at highway speeds (IN THE RAIN) do not need to evacuate anywhere near the same amount of water that the fronts do, in fact the better tires should be on the front, IF the rear tires are still in good shape. (In the SNOW this is the opposite). The better tires should ALWAYS ALWAYS be on the rear, regardless of front wheel, rear wheel or AWD.

This is coming from a driver with 40 years of experience driving in Canada who has learnt all these lessons the hard way, and have been very lucky in doing so.

 

[1929]

So I paid for the ExtraCare when I purchased my 22 Maverick Hybrid which covered the first 3 oil changes and tire rotations along with scheduled maintenance inspections.

I used the dealer valet service which will pickup your vehicle and return it after service is complete. When I got the invoice I noticed they hadn't done the tire rotation. Their explanation was that the front measured 6-7mm and the back measured 8-9mm and that a rotation was not needed. Isn't that why you rotate so that the wear is even? Obviously, the fronts wear faster but if you switch them, by the next rotation the wear should have evened out and then I could see not needing a rotation.

I talked to the service manager and he then explained the reason they didn't do the rotation is because higher tread on the front would cause oversteer in wet conditions. This is the first I have heard this and I guess it makes some sense, but seems that would be worse if the tires were at 3-4mm toward the end of their life, not when there is still good tread.

Does anyone have thoughts on this? Should I get them rotated or just wait until the front wear even more and then replace all 4?

Your tires need to be rotated. Expectation is the dealer rotate the tires during the service.
You are owed a rotation.

 

[Joe Strummer]

I talked to the service manager and he then explained the reason they didn't do the rotation is because higher tread on the front would cause oversteer in wet conditions. This is the first I have heard this and I guess it makes some sense, but seems that would be worse if the tires were at 3-4mm toward the end of their life, not when there is still good tread.

By the service manager's logic you would never rotate tyres since the fronts will always wear out faster than the rears. Total drivel.

 

[ehauser]

Research I've done shows that tires with the most tread go on the rear.
Your dealer is correct in their decision.
And yes I'm well aware of all the arguments. The fronts are always going to wear out sooner than the backz. The backs are free wheeling and just being dragged along.....

https://www.kenwoodtire.com/About/Blog/ArticleID/223/Tires 101 - Why Two New Tires ALWAYS Go On The Rear

https://www.tirebuyer.com/education/new-tires-front-or-back

https://www.goodyear.com/en_US/learn/choosing-your-tires/replacing-only-two-tires.html#:~:text=Installing Tires on the Rear,negative effects of the
oversteer.
If some can show something different. From a tire manufacturer or a safety study that contradicts the above please post it.

These are all talking about two new tires, not rotating your existing tires in good condition. While the argument may still hold that yes there will be more potential for oversteer with less tread on the front, the argument is also that is why you rotate so they wear evenly. Maybe they didn't rotate at 20k miles and now they are out more or every cycle will mean the fronts wear 2-3mm more than the back and so at 40k they will be closer to even?

 

[AlsMaverick]

Research I've done shows that tires with the most tread go on the rear.
Your dealer is correct in their decision.
And yes I'm well aware of all the arguments. The fronts are always going to wear out sooner than the backz. The backs are free wheeling and just being dragged along.....

https://www.kenwoodtire.com/About/Blog/ArticleID/223/Tires 101 - Why Two New Tires ALWAYS Go On The Rear

https://www.tirebuyer.com/education/new-tires-front-or-back

https://www.goodyear.com/en_US/learn/choosing-your-tires/replacing-only-two-tires.html#:~:text=Installing Tires on the Rear,negative effects of the
oversteer.
If some can show something different. From a tire manufacturer or a safety study that contradicts the above please post it.

I can accept that argument for installing two brand new tires, which all three videos are talking about. I always did that myself on front drive vehicles I've owned. But most people know that tires wear faster on the front of front drive vehicles and the Maverick AWD is mostly front drive. So when it's time for the first rotation the front tires are already worn more than the rear. So by this logic you can't rotate them front to back.
I'm not buying that. Brand new tread and worn tread can be very different. Okay. This difference would be way less. I say rotate them.

 

[Glen Baker LLC]

I can accept that argument for installing two brand new tires, which all three videos are talking about. I always did that myself on front drive vehicles I've owned. But most people know that tires wear faster on the front of front drive vehicles and the Maverick AWD is mostly front drive. So when it's time for the first rotation the front tires are already worn more than the rear. So by this logic you can't rotate them front to back.
I'm not buying that. Brand new tread and worn tread can be very different. Okay. This difference would be way less. I say rotate them.

Al,
Can you find anything regarding New or Used tires. Verifiable source.
That contradicts putting the tires with the most tread on the rear?
https://www.souzastireservice.com/Tires-101/Front-or-Rear#:~:text=Then, since the front tires,(economy), or safety.

Let's not forget tire rotation is to be done every 5,000 to 8,000 miles. For some of us, that could be one year's worth of driving. For others that could be every couple months.
If you've gone 9,000 to 11,000 miles depending upon your driving conditions. You now have more pronounced imbalance in tread depth.

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