Club 80-90 Forums

sorry to bring this up again but does anyone know at what intervals one should rotate tyres as from posts i the past its been said that after 5-600 miles, 2000 miles and heard recently 2000 km and the vanagon site (doesn't mention after what distance) so very confused and don't want to mess up my new goodrich AT's also there seem to be differing opions about whether one should keep the tyres on the same side or cross them I have two spares so my last rotattion was two spares to the front the two fronts to the back and the two backs to the spares and not crossing this was after 2500 kms but seems like I'll be rotating on a very regular basis if i keep to that distance any ideas ?? thanks

Good question and one that also confuses me.

I suspect that that it's the tread depth that's critical so mileage alone may not be the guiding factor.

I also don't understand why syncro's specifically need this? Is the syncro VC system not as tolerant as other vehicles with VC's?

Cheers
Mick

I think it is probably the case that all VC based systems are likely to suffer from transmission wind up caused by a failing VC, so it makes sense to look after them. However perhaps not all manufacturers are too bothered about suggesting to thier customers that they look after it, afterall, if it lasted forever how would they sell you a new one.

Most of VC's in the vans around and about will most likely be as old as the van, so its even more important to look after it when its had that long a life.

I rotate mine once every 3 months or so, like you say its all about even wear on the tyres, so keep eye on them especially the fronts and change em around if they start to look a bit different to the backs.

As for rotation pattern, if it were me and i had 2 spares, i would do as you are, but add in changes of sides, spread as equally as possible, just to keep the tyre edge wear as even as you can.

With one spare, i put the spare on the rear offside, rear offside to front nearside, front nearside to rear nearside, rear nearside to front offside.

hope that helps

swap opposite corners,thats it.

Most proper 4x4's don't have VCs so there isn't an issue with them. The exception is some range rovers which I've herd little critisisums of though as they are ageing VC failures are comming to light, usually through no drive. Rangy's can blow diffs/halfshafts if abused so maybe a faulty VC kills that rather than the 'box and the owner asumes its "just a diff." People who offroad them hard favour the models with locking centre diffs - same resion behind the syncros decoupler/bar setup, for most a properly working VC is as good and works automaitcly if maintained. Freelanders have a VC system too and thats becoming notoreous for failing, as if you need an excuse not to buy one.

Audi quattros are said to be fussy on tyres, so must be simular to the syncro, probubly fairly tight transmisions as standard. All other 4x4 cars and soft roaders I don't think have very tight VC's so don't suffer the going stiff issue to a noticeble degree, if they go slack no one notices as most owners don't need or use 4WD anyway.

I run 5 tyres in rotation, I change them clockwise by missing a wheel, its a bit like tightening wheel nuts. Spare comes out boot, miss the rear left and goes on front left, that goes rear right (missing front right), then rear left... the last goes back as spare.

How often to do it, I guess that really depends on how hard you like throwing it into roundabouts .

thanks guys wasn't sure about swapping the corners but will start to do so more concerned about mileage what intervals do most people do it at to run the most even wear

The "new" Panda 4x4 recomends tyre rotation in the manual...

regular inspection and observing wear patterns is prob more important than actual mileage... and correct alignment and tyre pressures are just as important...

toomanytoys wrote:The "new" Panda 4x4 recomends tyre rotation in the manual...

Thats because it has a VC 4x4 system by GKN. The old Steyr puch system in the original just had a leaver on the floor to engage the rear axle when needed (oh the memorys). New one still has a Zippo for a fuel tank though.

Yes I know that Glen thats why I mentioned it...

No idea if the Scenic RX4 has any mention of tyre rotation and that has a VC and they seem to suffer from scrubbing..... an owner I quizzed a while ago just thought I was a nutter.........

Matched tyres and rotation are also very important on land rover freelanders seen 3 recently with chewed up transfer boxes due to being run on badly matched tyres............similar set up to a t4 syncro with the vc on the rear propshaft.........

Syncro G wrote:Most proper 4x4's don't have VCs so there isn't an issue with them.

Andy syncro-nutz wrote:

Syncro G wrote:Most proper 4x4's don't have VCs so there isn't an issue with them.

I think its the "proper" that might have caused the giggle........

Syncro G wrote:

Andy syncro-nutz wrote:

Syncro G wrote:Most proper 4x4's don't have VCs so there isn't an issue with them.

Its eather 4x4 or not 4x4! Am i missing somthing I did once loose a wheel off my imprezza did that make it not a 4x4