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Old Jun 1, 2006 | 07:59 PM
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Default Rotation every 5k miles?

The dealer insists that the tires have to be rotated every 5,000 miles in my TC. is this for real, or just another trick to make more money, like the "recommended" services.
Old Jun 1, 2006 | 08:02 PM
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Have you read your manual?
Old Jun 1, 2006 | 08:33 PM
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Yes you should rotate them, but you don't have to... And you can always rotate them yourself. You don't have to pay the dealer to do it. Takes 10 minutes with a floor jack.

-THE DON
Old Jun 1, 2006 | 10:47 PM
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yeah you should def rotate them. My car starts to pull to the left after a few thousand miles, then i rotate and make sure the correct air pressure is in the tires. You'll def notice a smoother ride
Old Jun 2, 2006 | 01:17 AM
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yeah, mine are only at ~10k and they're fubared
Old Jun 2, 2006 | 05:09 PM
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ditto ^^^^^^^^^^

rotate them
Old Jun 2, 2006 | 05:18 PM
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i was debating NOT rotating mine so the fronts wear down and then i change the awful RE92's out for something that won't get me sideways in a ditch if it drizzles and use one of the rears for a full size spare. well i decided just to wear them evenly and put off the tire purchase...they don't last very long (even when rotated) anyway.
Old Jun 2, 2006 | 06:21 PM
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actually im not surprised about tread wear with the factory tires.. the RE92's (tirerack has the factory size as 215-45-17) have a tread wear of 160 if im not mistaken (again going by tirerack)... pretty low number (or better said ,pretty high wear).. and with spirited driving i can understand how they not lasting.....

however.. this does suprise me alittle since everyone complains of how bad they are.... with such a low treadwear number i would think they would stick pretty well.... im not talking their anti-hydroplaning ability.. im talking grip.. i would think that for "STREET" driving they would be pretty good though... but i can't judge the tires personally since i got my tc off the lot with 19's....

with that high of wear.. rotation is defenetly recommended... and as someone posted above... do it yourself... paying a dealer to rotate your tires is like burning money...
Old Jun 2, 2006 | 06:46 PM
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for the sake of the conversation, does anybody happen to know just how much the dealership charges to rotate tires?
Old Jun 2, 2006 | 09:42 PM
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Depends on the dealership, but I would guess about 30 mins. labor at their hourly rate, which is anywhere from $60-$80 / hr.

Paul G.
Old Jun 2, 2006 | 09:52 PM
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Originally Posted by GetCaughtDead
for the sake of the conversation, does anybody happen to know just how much the dealership charges to rotate tires?
I believe it was 30 bucks last time i was there, they did when i got my last oil change
Old Jun 2, 2006 | 10:24 PM
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That tire wear index of 160 is from the tire manufacturer as required by the feds, not something made up by tirerack. Very wear-prone tires!
Old Jun 3, 2006 | 01:00 AM
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Originally Posted by Tomas
That tire wear index of 160 is from the tire manufacturer as required by the feds, not something made up by tirerack. Very wear-prone tires!
Yup, it is made up by manufactures:

When looking at UTQG ratings it is important to realize that the Department of Transportation does not conduct the tests. The grades are assigned by the tire manufacturers based on their test results or those conducted by an independent testing company they have hired. The NHTSA has the right to inspect the tire manufacturer's data and can fine them if inconsistencies are found. While most new tire lines have their grades established when they are introduced, they are allowed a 6-month grace period to allow the tire manufacturer to test actual production tires. Once a grade is assigned it must be branded on the tire's upper sidewall and printed on its label.

Unfortunately, the rating that is of the most interest to consumers is the one that appears to be the least consistent. While the Treadwear Grade was originally intended to be assigned purely scientifically, it has also become a marketing tool used by manufacturers to help position and promote their tires.
From: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tirete....jsp?techid=48

Cliff notes, you really can't use the number to comapare tires from different manufactures. The testing isn't standardized or run by in independent agency.

Paul G.
Old Jun 3, 2006 | 01:31 AM
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WalMart, six dollars. Can't beat that.
Old Jun 3, 2006 | 02:03 AM
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I'd never let walmart touch my tC. used to take the crx there for tires, but that's only because I secretly hoped they'd wrap it around a light pole for me.
Old Jun 3, 2006 | 02:20 AM
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Correct, Paul. While the feds require the number, and provide a detailed guide on how the testing is supposed to be done, they have little control over the actual testing.

Thing is, if a manufacturer who makes tires they rate in the eight hundreds, rates one of their tires only a 160, it's a pretty sad tire... Either it sticks like glue or it is just too soft a tread, and wears off like a rubber eraser.

Heck, if the rate it only a 160, that number is probably as high as they could possibly stretch the truth. :D
Old Jun 3, 2006 | 10:05 PM
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they recommend the rotation every 5k so the treadwear could be somewhat even.

discount tire co rotates them for free. (if you buy the tires there i believe)
Old Jun 3, 2006 | 11:02 PM
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uhh.. typical price for rotaing tires is $20... you shouldn't pay a cent more than that..

but if you can... free is nice.
Old Jun 3, 2006 | 11:39 PM
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My local tire shop (a Les Schwab) charges $20 + tax IIRC, but they did it free last time I stopped in - no reason (my wheels/tires aren't even brands they carry so...).
Old Jun 4, 2006 | 01:40 AM
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Originally Posted by Petem
actually im not surprised about tread wear with the factory tires.. the RE92's (tirerack has the factory size as 215-45-17) have a tread wear of 160 if im not mistaken (again going by tirerack)...this does suprise me alittle since everyone complains of how bad they are.... with such a low treadwear number i would think they would stick pretty well.... im not talking their anti-hydroplaning ability.. im talking grip.. i would think that for "STREET" driving they would be pretty good though...
also the tC isn't light so tossing it around does challenge the tires. but dry traction is average at best and wet traction forget it. I could understand if they were like rubber cement in the dry but they most certainly are not.



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