I've changed my own oil and I've installed my own icebox and continuing on my saga to become a car mechanic, i've become interested in doing my own tire rotation. But I have a couple of questions. Some might sound dumb but please bare with me.

a.) Does it involve taking off the tire from the rims or does tire rotation merely involve changing the whole tire/wheel location?

b.) Is it as simple as following the tire rotation diagram in the acura manual?

c.) Do I need to do anything (ie. alignment) after the tire rotation is done?


TIA

 

You can just take the tire/wheel combo and move from front to back (assuming you have directional tires) If you don't have directional tires, then you can cross from side to side as well...

An alignment shouldn't be necessary unless your car is already out of alignment...(again assuming your wheels are properly balanced)


[Modified by typer98, 6:29 PM 6/13/2001]

 

Rotation from front to back is easy and done every time I change my oil.

The dismounting and swapping of tires from side to side is to utilize the inside tread on a tire, that usually is not worn as bad as the outside.

Only thing you will need to do after rotation is torque your lug nuts with a torque wrench.

Willis

-good luck

 

The whole wheel, silly.

Be advised that if you're still wearing RE010s they are both asymetrical and directional. Rotation is just FL to RL and FR to RR, in this case.

Usually not. It's a good idea when you get new tires... I got one of those "lifetime" alignments at Bridgestone... and they're already losing money on that deal!

 

Thanks for all the tips guys. Two more questions though.

a.) How do you know what properties (assymetrical and directional) a tire has? Are there any markings on the tire that will give me that information?

b.) Can you rotate your tires TOO often? I wouldn't mind doing them with every oil change but are there any downsides to doing it every 3K miles?


[Modified by CPR, 1:40 PM 6/13/2001]

 

a) a glance to the tread parrern will be the best way to tell. The factory RE-010's rotate in one direction only.

b) Never too often. It keeps them wearing nice and even.

Williz

 

If your tires are directional tires, then it will have an arrow drawn on the side-wall indicating they are directional tires.

As for asymmetrical tires, they have writings on the side-walls indicating which side should face the outside and which side should face the inside.

The more you can rotate the tires, the better. But rotating your tires at every oil change should be more than enough.


[Modified by green_GSR, 10:48 AM 6/13/2001]

 

Are there any downsides to NOT using directional, asymmetrical tires on the ITR?
tia.

 

Typically, the best tires are directional, but not all are asymetrical.

I think S-03s are definately directional... but not asymetrical. They're king-of-the-hill now, at least among street tires with no price limit...

 

One final question...I'm coming up on 10K miles and I'm going to rotate my tires for the first time this weekend. Will it be a problem since I waited so long?

 

Not really...rotating j00r tires, as the manual says, is to help increase life on j00r tires. (I don't know if it even helps the RE010's )

So it's not going to harm the tire if j00 don't rotate it, it's just that it'll live a shorter life. The front tires, since it's a front-wheel drive car, sees alot of stress. Not only do they have to steer, they also have to steer and put power to the ground. This increases the tire's wear. If j00 move them regularly to the rear then all four tires will evenly wear.

please feel free to correct any mistakes

 

They also do most of the braking, since the car's weight transfers to the front when you're braking.

 

Hehe... I'm sure my v700s could put the s-03s to shame. and yes they are street tires, that's the only tire i ever use on the type r.

 

10K miles on your rubber and you're JUST NOW gonna rotate them?

If you drive like the rest of us "and We tend to drive hard!" I'd think that your fronts will be already gone. I know mine were at around 8,900 miles on my first R.

I think the rotating with the oil change could be a good benefit though. I think since my first fluid change is this Monday I'll do a rubber rotate as well.

Thats all Just IMHO,Oh and a little experience "I'm still amazed that his Rubber woulden't be worn a little too much by 10K miles, especially with the soft RE-010's!" At least you should be more careful if there is wet weather since the rear would have less traction.

Good luck,

A.