This is probably a bit old fashioned, at least here in UK but curious to know how many members rotate wheels (front to back) to even wear?

My own location is a bit unusual being based on US grid system of blocks (see No 5 below) , this layout incorporates lots of roundabouts which play havoc on both tyres and brakes.

..we errhhmm love roundabouts..

http://www.roundaboutsofbritain.com/maggic-roundabout/

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David


1996 Mercedes S124 E300TD - 129k - rolling restoration project -

1998 Mercedes W210 300TD - 118k (assimilated into above vehicle)

I thought rotating tires was part of normal vehicle maintenance? It's certainly listed as part of the service schedule in my 2011 Honda. I rotate yearly or 10K miles, whichever comes first (usually yearly).

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Current stable:
1995 E320 149K (Nancy)
1983 500SL 120K (SLoL)

Black Sheep:
1985 524TD 167K (TotalDumpster™)

Gone but not forgotten:
1986 300SDL (RIP)
1991 350SD
1991 560SEL
1990 560SEL
1986 500SEL Euro (Rusted to nothing at 47K!)

Just rotated mine last week, cost to much not to.

A blonde friend of mine refuses to pay someone to rotate her tires. Shes says they rotate every time she drives.

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When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf jvyy unir cevinpl.

I never rotated tires on a benz as they wear evenly. My wife's mazda fwd mini van yes. Dodge cummins tow vehicle yes. If I left them alone I'd have three sets on back compared to one on front, due to all the towing.

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[SIGPIC] Diesel loving autocrossing grandpa Architect. 08 Dodge 3/4 ton with Cummins & six speed; I have had about 35 benzes. I have a 39 Studebaker Coupe Express pickup in which I have had installed a 617 turbo and a five speed manual.[SIGPIC]

..I also have a 427 Cobra replica with an aluminum chassis.

I rotate every oil change, SDL 5,000 miles, E300D 7000 miles, E320 10,000 miles.

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

Front drive cars need tire rotation because the rears will develop a lumpy tread. This lumpy tread is the result of the rears only seeing braking torque and very little lateral force.

Under braking or acceleration, tread blocks distort resulting in uneven wear. Take a soft rubber eraser, place one end on a table and give it a push across the surface. The leading edge will dig in and wear off with the trailing edge lifting up wearing less.

The overall goal on any car is to move the tire into a position that reverses improper wear regardless of X , L to R or F to R swap.

Front drive cars need a front to rear swap in order to get use out of the rears before they dry rot. This leaves us with a RR to LF or RR to RF decision. Look at the front tires and place the rears in a position that reverses wear. Some brake harder than they accelerate and VV so it depends on the driver.

Great to hear similar consensus, kwik fit is one of the UK's largest tyre shops, not sure what to make of their recommendations..

https://www.kwik-fit.com/tyres/information/tyre-rotation

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David


1996 Mercedes S124 E300TD - 129k - rolling restoration project -

1998 Mercedes W210 300TD - 118k (assimilated into above vehicle)

I keep re-reading the kiwk-fit statement, what ??

"Because of this, at Kwik Fit we do not recommend tyre rotation and we do recommend fitting your best tyres at the rear of the vehicle. "

Braking bias is to the front not to mention steering, many cars still have drums at the tail.

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David


1996 Mercedes S124 E300TD - 129k - rolling restoration project -

1998 Mercedes W210 300TD - 118k (assimilated into above vehicle)

Wow, never knew this.

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1998 Ford Escort ZX2 5 speed - 279,000 miles My Daily

1992 Mercedes 300D 2.5 202,000 - Pure junk
2000 Mercedes E320 Black - 136,000 miles - Needs repair

Don't forget to grease the screw and threads on the spring compressor.

I run 4 winter tires mounted on alloy rims and the summers on MB stock rims. I rotate them all. I find that while the tires wear evenly across the tread the rear tires wear more.

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1999 Mercedes E300TD daily driver sold at 238K miles 106K miles were mine, rust worm got it :-(
2006 Mercedes CDI new daily driver! 56,000 miles May 2016 now 85,625 Apr 2018 and Apr 2019 101,000 miles Apr 2020 109,875. March 2024 135,250

They want new tires on the rear to keep the rear end of the car from overtaking the front during lockup braking is what I was told when I worked as a tire and lube tech. If you have new rubber on the back, no matter how hard you brake the car will track straight.

I had it happen to me when I first bought my Civic. It was wearing 4 mismatched tires and when I locked up the brakes I had the rear end slide out about a foot to the right. Bought new tires the same week.

I rotate my tires every oil change with the Civic, as a lifetime balance and rotation was included with purchase price. With the 240D, I rotate about every 6,000 miles.

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Milan Brown 1979 240D, rebuilt OM617.952 turbo diesel, rebuilt 722.315 transmission (my only daily driver)

Instagram: @maximed93

The "best tires on the rear" advice is based primarily on the objective of preventing oversteer. Braking is not the primary consideration.

https://youtu.be/endLPwy3cQc

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When cryptography is outlawed, bayl bhgynjf jvyy unir cevinpl.

Costco require tire rotation every 6k miles to maintain road hazard warranty. They do free rotations for tires purchased there so....I rotate every 6k miles.

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-- Chris

'95 E300, 216k miles, Silver Surfer
'05 E320 CDI, 138k miles
'07 S550 4matic, 69k miles

Gone but not forgotten:

'76 300D, 350k miles?, SOLD in 1995
'75 240D, 300k miles, SOLD in 1991

Depends on the car, the better the balance of handling vs. power the less I need to rotate.

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1981 240D Four on the floor, Orient Red over Parchment, bought with 154,000 but it's a daily driver and up to 180,000 miles, mostly original paint and all original interior.