Can you flip the front tires?
08-15-2007, 10:33 AM
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Can you flip the front tires?
Can you switch the front tires (unmount and remount them) so that the outside edge become the inside edge while keeping the same direction? Thnx.
The reason I'm asking is because the outside edges are starting to get worn down while the rest of the tire is just fine. I don't know if the edges have a different compound.
The reason I'm asking is because the outside edges are starting to get worn down while the rest of the tire is just fine. I don't know if the edges have a different compound.
08-15-2007, 10:47 AM
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Originally Posted by Hobbs5313,Aug 15 2007, 01:33 PM
Can you switch the front tires (unmount and remount them) so that the outside edge become the inside edge while keeping the same direction? Thnx.
The reason I'm asking is because the outside edges are starting to get worn down while the rest of the tire is just fine. I don't know if the edges have a different compound.
The reason I'm asking is because the outside edges are starting to get worn down while the rest of the tire is just fine. I don't know if the edges have a different compound.
I personally wouldn't do that just incase in a tight cornering situation where both sides of the tires are touching.
Not worth the trouble of unmounting. Maybe if you switch the rims every 1k miles. 
08-15-2007, 03:09 PM
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Originally Posted by LiQUiD iCE,Aug 15 2007, 01:36 PM
Yes you can do it.
Its not often that people do it though, but if you have uneven tire wear and you catch it early enough (I didn't!) then you can probably swap 'em.
Its not often that people do it though, but if you have uneven tire wear and you catch it early enough (I didn't!) then you can probably swap 'em.
Just wondering. I think I caught it early enough. Just curious, that's all.
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08-15-2007, 06:52 PM
#8
I've done that a number of times. The $$$ spent is worth getting basically twice the time with the tire. I always seem to have to address my rationale with my mechanic each time 
...but he comes around (hey, the customer's always right! ). My rationale is that a pair of new fronts cost me (just this past week $190). I can take that pair...run them into the ground at about 6K miles. Or I can do the swap at about 4-5K miles and get another 4-5K miles out of them. That swap cost me approx. $80 in mounting fees...so (at least in my mind) I've saved $100. I'm not suggesting I do this until I have 'pie-bald' tires 
. I simply get twice the use out of the tire...but I won't do this to the point of compromising my life or the safety of my car 
. But as you indicated...caught early enough, you've allowed the more worn side to be used up to a specific amount (noting the other side nearly unworn)...then swap to get the life out of that unworn side.
As for wear pattern...in my case however...its the inside meat that gets gnawed to the bone. So I watch around 4-5K miles into the tires...and then take them in for a swap across the rims. Dismount them, pass them across one-another while retaining same direction, remount so that the part of the tire that has not been receiving much wear is now the most useful part based on your alignment setup, and spin-balance.
BTW...PJCC...if I'm interpreting your suggestion correctly, please note that our tires are uni-directional. In other words...we don't have the luxury of taking the left rim/tire off the left side of the car, and then mounting it on the right side. That would reverse the tread pattern. And that would be bad -- both for grip/traction, as well as water dispersion. You can do that to an Escort all day long...(or for any tires that are bi-directional). But now our setup. Sorry!
- Dave
...but he comes around (hey, the customer's always right! ). My rationale is that a pair of new fronts cost me (just this past week $190). I can take that pair...run them into the ground at about 6K miles. Or I can do the swap at about 4-5K miles and get another 4-5K miles out of them. That swap cost me approx. $80 in mounting fees...so (at least in my mind) I've saved $100. I'm not suggesting I do this until I have 'pie-bald' tires . I simply get twice the use out of the tire...but I won't do this to the point of compromising my life or the safety of my car . But as you indicated...caught early enough, you've allowed the more worn side to be used up to a specific amount (noting the other side nearly unworn)...then swap to get the life out of that unworn side.As for wear pattern...in my case however...its the inside meat that gets gnawed to the bone. So I watch around 4-5K miles into the tires...and then take them in for a swap across the rims. Dismount them, pass them across one-another while retaining same direction, remount so that the part of the tire that has not been receiving much wear is now the most useful part based on your alignment setup, and spin-balance.
BTW...PJCC...if I'm interpreting your suggestion correctly, please note that our tires are uni-directional. In other words...we don't have the luxury of taking the left rim/tire off the left side of the car, and then mounting it on the right side. That would reverse the tread pattern. And that would be bad -- both for grip/traction, as well as water dispersion. You can do that to an Escort all day long...(or for any tires that are bi-directional). But now our setup. Sorry!
- Dave
08-15-2007, 07:07 PM
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Originally Posted by w1ngman,Aug 15 2007, 06:52 PM
I've done that a number of times. The $$$ spent is worth getting basically twice the time with the tire. I always seem to have to address my rationale with my mechanic each time ...but he comes around (hey, the customer's always right! ). My rationale is that a pair of new fronts cost me (just this past week $190). I can take that pair...run them into the ground at about 6K miles. Or I can do the swap at about 4-5K miles and get another 4-5K miles out of them. That swap cost me approx. $80 in mounting fees...so (at least in my mind) I've saved $100. I'm not suggesting I do this until I have 'pie-bald' tires . I simply get twice the use out of the tire...but I won't do this to the point of compromising my life or the safety of my car . But as you indicated...caught early enough, you've allowed the more worn side to be used up to a specific amount (noting the other side nearly unworn)...then swap to get the life out of that unworn side.
As for wear pattern...in my case however...its the inside meat that gets gnawed to the bone. So I watch around 4-5K miles into the tires...and then take them in for a swap across the rims. Dismount them, pass them across one-another while retaining same direction, remount so that the part of the tire that has not been receiving much wear is now the most useful part based on your alignment setup, and spin-balance.
BTW...PJCC...if I'm interpreting your suggestion correctly, please note that our tires are uni-directional. In other words...we don't have the luxury of taking the left rim/tire off the left side of the car, and then mounting it on the right side. That would reverse the tread pattern. And that would be bad -- both for grip/traction, as well as water dispersion. You can do that to an Escort all day long...(or for any tires that are bi-directional). But now our setup. Sorry!
- Dave
...but he comes around (hey, the customer's always right! ). My rationale is that a pair of new fronts cost me (just this past week $190). I can take that pair...run them into the ground at about 6K miles. Or I can do the swap at about 4-5K miles and get another 4-5K miles out of them. That swap cost me approx. $80 in mounting fees...so (at least in my mind) I've saved $100. I'm not suggesting I do this until I have 'pie-bald' tires . I simply get twice the use out of the tire...but I won't do this to the point of compromising my life or the safety of my car . But as you indicated...caught early enough, you've allowed the more worn side to be used up to a specific amount (noting the other side nearly unworn)...then swap to get the life out of that unworn side.As for wear pattern...in my case however...its the inside meat that gets gnawed to the bone. So I watch around 4-5K miles into the tires...and then take them in for a swap across the rims. Dismount them, pass them across one-another while retaining same direction, remount so that the part of the tire that has not been receiving much wear is now the most useful part based on your alignment setup, and spin-balance.
BTW...PJCC...if I'm interpreting your suggestion correctly, please note that our tires are uni-directional. In other words...we don't have the luxury of taking the left rim/tire off the left side of the car, and then mounting it on the right side. That would reverse the tread pattern. And that would be bad -- both for grip/traction, as well as water dispersion. You can do that to an Escort all day long...(or for any tires that are bi-directional). But now our setup. Sorry!
- Dave
08-15-2007, 07:29 PM
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Calvin... wearing the OUTSIDE of the tires... NICE..
deffinatly driving fast enough!
You can flip RA-1s for sure (if you dont use them for rain tires) Im guessing its the same for street tires. as long as you dont care about driving in the rain (at the track)
my street tires wear inside... track tires wear outside.
deffinatly driving fast enough!
You can flip RA-1s for sure (if you dont use them for rain tires) Im guessing its the same for street tires. as long as you dont care about driving in the rain (at the track)
my street tires wear inside... track tires wear outside.