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Five Wheel Tire Rotation -- anyone?

4K views 30 replies 27 participants last post by  RubiconSS 
#1 ·
Getting new rims for the Wrangler, and wondering if I should get 4 or 5 ?
Or whether to get four or five tires?
Is it just too much hassle to do five tire rotation or should I just use four and keep a lower priced cheap tire as the spare?
Thoughts?
 
#2 ·
You could always hunt down a "used" tire in the correct size and save yourself some money.
 
#5 ·
Also do a 5 tire rotation every 5000 miles and my tires are definitely thanking me for it. Got 25k miles on my Duratracs and they still look new.
 
#9 ·
5 tire is always best, keeps the spare the same size and wear pattern as the others. You can in reality have a difference of over an inch between a new and worn M/T, not good for the drivetrain if you have to use it.
As for using a spare of a different brand, well not all tires are the same physical size even if the stamped size is the same.
 
#10 ·
If you can afford it go with 5 and rotate 5. The payback is over the life of all 5 tires but well worth it kinda like spend more now save even more later. Also I wouldn't want to have an Oh F*** Oh Dear moment and have to drive out on a cheaper different size tire which really might end up costing more. It happens.
 
#11 ·
Don't be "that guy" that has 4 beautiful wheels and 33"/35" tires and the stocker covered up by the wheel cover. Get 5 and do the 5-tire rotation. Longer tire life and you have 5 tires that match.

Only 4 wheels/tires for cars, not Jeeps.
 
#13 ·
Does it make any sense to have 5 matching tires but still only rotate the four that are being driven on?

This way you would have a spare that's the same as the rest, the only difference being any size difference due to wear.
And when it comes time to buy new tires, only four would need to be purchased each time.
 
#14 ·
Does it make any sense to have 5 matching tires but still only rotate the four that are being driven on? This way you would have a spare that's the same as the rest, the only difference being any size difference due to wear. And when it comes time to buy new tires, only four would need to be purchased each time.
Yes it makes total sense to rotate all 5 tires. There can be up to an inch difference between a brand new tire and a worn tire of the same kind.
Rotating all 5 tires prolongs the need to replace tires.
A tire on a carrier may not brand new as in never used but can suffer from sun rot and be useless after 2 years.
 
#17 ·
Yep, 5 tires. You'll get longer life to offset the cost of buying 5 and if you decide to go with different tires you won't have a mismatched dry rotted tire hanging off the back. I do mine every oil change, which is every 5k miles. I like really simple math.
 
#20 ·
Rotate all 5 and yes buy 5 tires & wheels. Especially if you are running larger tires and/or a lift you may need less backspacing. If your spare is the stock wheel, even if your new tires fit on it and you're just doing a 4 tire rotation, you won't ever be able to use that spare in that case if backspacing is an issue.

You won't save any money really by just keep the spare tire "pristine" forever and not rotating it. It's recommended to replace tires after 6 years even if the tread is not worn out because the rubber can still dry out and crack. You'll just be throwing away a completely unused tire.

5 tire rotation your tires will last longer between having to buy new ones as well, and if you're buying them from some place like Discount Tire just bring it in and tell them you want a 5 tire rotation when it's rotation time. I do that ever 4K on my Duratracs.
 
#22 ·
Interesting, guess I really didn't think about this enough with my previous Wrangler a 2002 TJ.

After 9 years of owning that Jeep I wound up with one old and faded Goodyear Wrangler tire in the spare carrier and 4 BFG AT's on the pavement.

That really bothered me and my OCD so I guess I'm going down a different road with my new JKU.
 
#24 ·
Yep, I think 5 is easier than 4. With 5 you can do them all with one jack and a total of 23 lugs. With 4, you need a jack, a jack stand, and still have 20 lugs to do.

I would also say that the cost of 5 tires is the same as 4 over the life of the tires. You will get 25% more life out of the set.
 
#27 ·
I'm in the 5 tire rotation every other oil change club. Roughly 6k miles. As others have said, it's alittle more work rotating them often but it'll be worth it in the long run.
 
#29 ·
A five tire rotation takes me about 20 minutes using an impact.

If you jack up the side of the vehicle rather than at the axle, you can do it in no time at all. Start with the passenger side, and you only have to lift and lower the Jeep twice.
 
#31 ·
I do a 5 tire rotation.

I put my entire Jeep up on stands (after loosening the lugs) I do this while my oil drains.
I then take ALL 5 wheels off and put them where they will end up BUT NOT ON.
I take this opportunity to wash the inside of ALL 4 that were pulling duty.
Mount and snug.
Finish the Oil.
Drop the rig and torque to spec.

Jeepers are notorious for NOT getting the same tires again, by using all Five(5) you aren't the guy running around with the mis-matched spare that may even be the wrong size now.

It's a No-Brainer IMO.
 
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