Too lazy to rotate truck tires so just bought new ones

[corn18]

Actually, my wife and I were driving in my truck to my DD's place of work to watch the eclipse with her. She made a comment that the truck was vibrating a lot (and how that made her feel but that is R rated). And it was. The General Grabber tires have been floppy, noisy POS's since I bought them 40k miles ago. I just got used to it so stopped noticing. I had it on my todo list to rotate them but just ordered a new set of Michelin Defender LTX MS2's from Costco instead. I've had the LTX MS2's before and really liked them. Although maybe I should keep the Grabbers based on what she said in the truck.

 

[bikendan]

Those are great tires. I have them on my F150 and love them.

 

[MGD1961]

Actually, my wife and I were driving in my truck to my DD's place of work to watch the eclipse with her. She made a comment that the truck was vibrating a lot (and how that made her feel but that is R rated). And it was. The General Grabber tires have been floppy, noisy POS's since I bought them 40k miles ago. I just got used to it so stopped noticing. I had it on my todo list to rotate them but just ordered a new set of Michelin Defender LTX MS2's from Costco instead. I've had the LTX MS2's before and really liked them. Although maybe I should keep the Grabbers based on what she said in the truck.

Curious what your truck is? I’m on my second Ram 1500 and have never had to rotate tires at all. I’ve had several different brands and they all seem to wear flat as can be. Could it be more about the truck?

Ran the last truck to 208k had Goodyear. Summit and Ironman tires. This truck is at 45k and have had the factory Goodyear and copper A/T. About to put on a set of Armstrong A/T. We will see but rotation has never been a thing for me.

 

[jimmarako]

Curious what your truck is? I’m on my second Ram 1500 and have never had to rotate tires at all. I’ve had several different brands and they all seem to wear flat as can be. Could it be more about the truck?

Ran the last truck to 208k had Goodyear. Summit and Ironman tires. This truck is at 45k and have had the factory Goodyear and copper A/T. About to put on a set of Armstrong A/T. We will see but rotation has never been a thing for me.

I've had three trucks since 1990 and I don't think I've ever rotated the tires. Certainly not on my two 3/4 tons since 2001. As you said the tires always wear well. In fact the back tires tend to wear out a bit faster than the front. But as I get 60K+ mile out of them I'm not complaining. I don't remember if I rotated them on my wife's old Tahoe.

Now the front wheel drive cars need a bit more TLC. Usually around 15K. The good thing about the little FWD cars is that I can position the floor jack in the proper spot and get both side wheels off the ground at the same time. Like a NASCAR pit crew.

Jim M.

 

[bweigele]

Sounds like they needed to be rebalanced. Rotating probably won't fix a vibration.

 

[jimmoore13]

I have the same Michelins. Love them.
I did have them rotated when I had the truck in the shop for something else. Just a front to rear rotation, because the rears tend to wear a little quicker than the fronts. At least 1/2 of my miles are towing, so I presume the extra weight on the rear axle accounts for the extra wear.

You made a good choice. These are perennially at the top of the list for LT tires from Consumer Reports.

 

[corn18]

Sounds like they needed to be rebalanced. Rotating probably won't fix a vibration.

I balanced them multiple times.

 

[jimmoore13]

I balanced them multiple times.

...which hints at tread separation. If that's the case, the failing tire is likely to fail catastrophically fairly soon. It's good that you are replacing them.
If the failing tire is on the front axle, the shake will be far more noticable, but moving it to the back and then adding a full load towing may be more hazardous when the tread lets go.

 

[corn18]

...which hints at tread separation. If that's the case, the failing tire is likely to fail catastrophically fairly soon. It's good that you are replacing them.
If the failing tire is on the front axle, the shake will be far more noticable, but moving it to the back and then adding a full load towing may be more hazardous when the tread lets go.

They've been worked hard. Hauled at least 50 tons of stone, dirt, mulch and patio pavers with them. Plus towing the 5er @ 2300 lbs pin weight.

 

[D W]

I haven't rotated tires in over 35 years. I have my alignment checked when tires are new and balanced, and run proper pressures. If I have a tire(s) that are wearing abnormally, I find the problem and have it corrected.

 

[corn18]

I installed a set of Centramatics today and left the same tires on the same corners. Went for a 20 mile ride on the interstate and they reduced the pleasure inducing shakes but did not eliminate them. When I had the tires balanced a few months ago, the paper said they added 6 oz to one tire, 4 oz to another and 2 oz to the other two. Something must have been happening to get them that far out of whack since the last balance 20k miles ago. And lord are they noisy.

I would like to think that if I had the Centramatics on these tires since new that they would have held up better. Who knows. The Michelins are in and I will get them installed this week. Sure will be nice knowing they will be balanced for their entire life. That's worth the cost for me.

 

[Bob K4TAX]

I have the same Michelins. Love them.
I did have them rotated when I had the truck in the shop for something else. Just a front to rear rotation, because the rears tend to wear a little quicker than the fronts. At least 1/2 of my miles are towing, so I presume the extra weight on the rear axle accounts for the extra wear.

You made a good choice. These are perennially at the top of the list for LT tires from Consumer Reports.

I've run Michelins on different vehicles for years. The only tire failure was not a Michelin tire. Presently the truck has LTX MS2 20" tires. They were balanced when installed new. I do rotate on a regular basis, which is the same time I drain and replace the oil and filter. Yes, at 81 I still do almost all of my routine maintenance.

Bob

 

[corn18]

Got a burr up my butt and rotated the tires (I wanted to rattle can the Centramatics anyway). Vibration got much worse. Started at 64 mph, got horrible at 72 mph and went away (almost) at 80 mph. I noticed one of the front tires had some cupping. It ended up on the passenger side rear. Im sure that's what the issue is. Costco sent me an email saying my Michelins have shipped so hopefully I can get them on this week. Although my wife would really enjoy the ride now.

 

[Donbren]

I Replaced the tire on my truck. Because they made road noise. PO did not rotate tires but got a lot of miles out of them. They needed replaced because of age anyway. They felt chopped did not feel smooth when running my hand across the tread. New tires made it drive nicer and quite no road noise. Tire guy said the will get chopped like that if not rotated. I am not planning on rotating for many miles however.

 

[Pappypreacher]

New tires

I bought new in 2020 a Silverado 1500 with 3.0 Duramax it has aggressive tires on it that are getting loud but they won’t wear out. I want to put Hankook LT’s 8 ply with 10 ply rating but I can’t justify buying new tires till these have more wear so just have to put up with rumble a while longer.

 

[Dakota 1120]

i ran a set of General Grabbers about 45,000 miles and NEVER rotated them. In fact, I've never been one to rotate tires on anything and got along just fine. When the rears are wore down, I buy a new pair, put the front tires on the rear and the new tires on the front.
AND MOST IMPORTANTLY - KEEP THE VEHICLES' ALIGNMENT PROPER AND THE TIRES BALANCED WITH EITHER BALANCE BEADS OR BALANCE RINGS.

Once the Generals were wore to about 1/32nd of tread, I wanted to try a set of Michelins', but none in stock online or elsewhere for about a month so I opted for a set of Coopers.

I'm pleased with them.

 

[2witzmans]

Seriously?

We must get all your tire.problems! We rotate tires every yr!
And we alliegn toyhauler every two yrs and replace those 4 tires every 1-2 yrs! We mostly only drive from MN to AZ and then back. (Fall and spring) I don't know the names of tire(I'm wife) but I know there top of the line. Cause I read these threads to husband (and he listens to me ) ps. The highways are the worst we've ever seen in the last 25yrs! Thanks for letting me vent.

 

[Off_we_go]

I put the Michelins on last year as well. Very happy with them. In that it is free I do rotate & balance my tires as recommended by mfr, and align every year or so. The only time I didn't rotate tires (on a previous truck) the tires wore out prematurely. But, to each their own.

 

[corn18]

UPDATE form OP:


I have put a few hundred miles on the Grabbers with the Centramatics and they are getting better. Have an appointment at Costco for the install of the Michelins tonight.

 

[PenJoe]

Wheel balance can cause flat spots that can result in hum and vibration. However, we had a 2013 Silverado that we purchased new. We had the tires rotated when first suggested. We ask that the tires be checked for balanced on rotation.

Planning on a long rod trip, we went from the dealership to the Interstate and put it up to speed. We noticed considerable vibration that we hadn't had before the rotation/ balance. Returning immediately to the dealer, the wheels were checked again and it was determined to be a tread separation on the right front. That previously would have been on the left rear wheel where it wasn't noticeable.

We now have a 2019 Silverado 1500. On the first oil change, I asked that the tires be checked for balance. The service rep said it should not be necessary, but I insisted-I will pay to have then checked. When the truck was ready, the service rep stated that all four tires required balancing. There was no charge.

We feel tires are the lifeline to the road. Had we not rotated the tires on the 2013 Silverado, it could have been trouble on the road when pulling a load. With the 2019, unbalanced tires would have caused flat spots that would have caused hum and some vibration.