Someone asked wether it is worth rotating roaring rears. As a confirmed non-swapper, I was reluctant to try, but also averse to binning the Bridgestone Howlers. So, S or B, I did the deed, front to rear and after a few miles the banshee subsided and I was able to use up the last half of a pair of tyres. Just to add to the debate re rotating in general, As a student, we had to plot suspension paths on a whole range of vehicles both front and back. Essentially what we found was different suspension types ie wishbone verses macpherson strut caused completely different transverse wear profiles. Change the tyre and a new profile was scrubbed in quickly, throwing away quite a lot of rubber in the process. Naturally, there was reduced grip and therefore loss of control during this scrubbing period. Hence my aversion

What?

Hes saying that you have your opinion....How dare anyone have another!!! LOL

Mine now:

NEVER roate tyres. Never have.

Many years of experience too

Just replace the fronts with the rears and put new on the rear

Cheaper outlay and recommended by Skoda/VW

Hes saying that you have your opinion....How dare anyone have another!!! LOL

Mine now:

NEVER roate tyres. Never have.

Many years of experience too

Just replace the fronts with the rears and put new on the rear

Cheaper outlay and recommended by Skoda/VW

I understand why people do this and it's personal preference. There's pros and cons.

It just makes logical sense (to me) that to get the most optimal and balanced all round grip that you need tyres of equal wear all round.

The recommended approach by VW/Skoda is unclear based on comments above but I've always rotated and will continue to do so.

Sorry, but your assertion is totally illogical!

The front and rear tyres are having to deal with completly different loads and geometry. The requirements are just Not the same, so throwing away money to have inferior grip and control is only good for the tyre companies.

Sorry, but your assertion is totally illogical!

The front and rear tyres are having to deal with completly different loads and geometry. The requirements are just Not the same, so throwing away money to have inferior grip and control is only good for the tyre companies.

Why is it throwing away money? Whether you buy 2 new tyres followed by another 2 new tyres at a later time you spend the same money as buying 4 at once!

So just to be clear, you are asserting that optimal grip is obtained by having 2 worn tyres and 2 new tyres?

It is throwing money away because every time you transpose your tyres, a fair amount of rubber is uselessly scrubbed away to conform to the dictates of the changed suspension geometry, which is different at each end. During this time, grip and therefore control is reduced.

If I only buy two tyres, then the money I didn't spend on the other two can be usefully employed by me, rather that some tyre company. Until I need/choose to did my hand in my pocket again - I may after all decide/need to change vehicles.

I suppose you think four worn tyres are better?

It is a matter of personal choice, I would only do it in the circumstances I stated above.

I think 4 tyres of equal wear is better.

Running down your front tyres to say 2mm whilst your rears are say 8mm due to less wear you will have less front end grip, especially in the wet, hence your grip isn't as well balanced and therefore sub-optimal in my opinion.

I swap mine when the fronts are 5-6mm. The rears are around 7mm at this time. I then change them all at 3mm. Makes sense to me.

I swap mine when the fronts are 5-6mm. The rears are around 7mm at this time. I then change them all at 3mm. Makes sense to me.

I do similar although I have swapped them more than once in the past. Sign of having too much time on my hands perhaps!

I'm 100% with Jonno on this one - I replace a set of 4 all together, and rotate when they are half way through.

I've read all the arguments as to why you should not rotate, and a bunch of stuff saying I should have **** tyres on the front otherwise I'm going to die in a flaming fireball. Not say these are all incorrect, just for me, they way I drive and the experience I've had in cars doing it both ways - rotation is the answer.