Dually tire rotation

[JLMcCormick]

So, I know this has been asked before, but I couldn't find anything within the last several years and nothing that addresses the polished wheels. My 2015 Laramie Longhorn Dually has the polished aluminum wheels, so I can't rotate the tires (front to rear, anyway) without dismounting them from the wheels. My local tire shop, with whom I have a long and very good relationship, seems to not want to do this and has actually advised me to just replace the fronts when they
get worn out on the edges. This just doesn't seem to make sense to me. What is everyone doing to rotate their tires on a dually?

 

[Hoefler]

I rotate my tires every 7500 miles, dismount, remount, and balance. My tire dealer charges me $30, my service department at the dealership charges $50.

 

[GSchlegel]

Jim,
if you have a 4 x 2 you could do that and then rotate the rears side to side. Not the best but cheaper. My 4 x 4 gets rotated around 15,000 miles. The original tires went over 60,000 rotating every 15,000 or so. I look at the tires and rotate when I see wear on them. I do run light most of the time.

 

[BigPapa]

My tire dealer charges me $30, my service department at the dealership charges $50.

That's got to be per wheel. If not your guy is paying you at that price.

You also run the chance of messing up a wheel. Just not worth the risk and expense. I always recommended running them as is and replacing the fronts when they need it, like your local guy recommended.

 

[KCJackson1]

So, I know this has been asked before, but I couldn't find anything within the last several years and nothing that addresses the polished wheels. My 2015 Laramie Longhorn Dually has the polished aluminum wheels, so I can't rotate the tires (front to rear, anyway) without dismounting them from the wheels. My local tire shop, with whom I have a long and very good relationship, seems to not want to do this and has actually advised me to just replace the fronts when they
get worn out on the edges. This just doesn't seem to make sense to me. What is everyone doing to rotate their tires on a dually?

The prescribed rotation for a dually with aluminum wheels is just side to side since you're dealing with three different rims. Outer duals also gain the "training wheel" effect which can change wear patterns from the other 4 tires, depending on how you load the truck and how you take corners. The differing air pressures front to rear will also affect wear patterns. If you really wanted to spend the time and money to dismount and remount the tires to keep the rims in place, you would have to do it so often because of these other factors, it would probably become cost-prohibitive in short order.

 

[Cummins12V98]

Owning two RAM Dually's the BEST method is to leave the rears where they are and never even balance. Run the rears at 30-35psi unloaded and 65 if running full RAWR as I do.

Front tires run at 80psi ALL the time and rotate side to side with the rotation staying the SAME!!! Leave wheels on the side they are on all the time. BIG secret is to get your toe adjusted to a MAX of 1/16" and preferably less. Your toe from the factory is at 1/4" and causes stepping/outer tire wear.

Listen to my "SAGE" advise or not.

 

[bednar1320]

I have never been a fan of switching tires side to side, doing so reverses the direction of rotation, not ideal........

 

[BigPapa]

I have never been a fan of switching tires side to side, doing so reverses the direction of rotation, not ideal........

There are many schools of thought on tire rotation. Do you like Dodge or Ford? Chocolate or Vanilla? Arguments can be made for and against every rotation pattern.

I understand your point, but the counter point is that the FORCE applied to the tire deems that tires should be crossed front to rear. RF to LR, LF to RR. The force applied to the front tires is during braking, the rears during acceleration and pulls.

 

[SnoKing]

When I rotated on my 2001.5 the rears went straight forward and the fronts crossed to the rear. Never had a tire problem in 14 years and three sets of tires. SnoKing

 

[kthaxton]

I have never been a fan of switching tires side to side, doing so reverses the direction of rotation, not ideal........

If this was indeed an issue, I believe tire and vehicle manufacturers would not be telling us to do it.

 

[BigPapa]

I dare say nobody has actually ever had a problem due to improperly rotating their tires. Least not in the past 20 years. I believe it's just like the other old wives tales like running ATF in your fuel, don't change your transmission fluid, don't change brands or weights of motor oil, etc...

 

[Cummins12V98]

I have never been a fan of switching tires side to side, doing so reverses the direction of rotation, not ideal........

Read what I said above, the rotation is still the same.

 

[RVTRKN]

If this was indeed an issue, I believe tire and vehicle manufacturers would not be telling us to do it.

I contacted Michelin about my MS2 tire's and confirmed that rotation can be reversed, when I rotate. OP, thanks for the reminder, mine are due.

 

[kthaxton]

I contacted Michelin about my MS2 tire's and confirmed that rotation can be reversed, when I rotate. OP, thanks for the reminder, mine are due.

The only time switching side to side is a problem, is if the tires are directional. While I don't claim to have seen all tires available for a truck, I have never seen a truck tire that was directional.....I'm sure they exist, but likely not a tire most of us would be interested in using.

 

[KCJackson1]

The only time switching side to side is a problem, is if the tires are directional. While I don't claim to have seen all tires available for a truck, I have never seen a truck tire that was directional.....I'm sure they exist, but likely not a tire most of us would be interested in using.

Some dedicated winter LT tires are directional... Firestone Winterforce and a few others.