5 Tire Rotation Pointless on 21s?

[elektrode]

Just payed for my first 5 tire rotation on my new-ish 21s. Now I’m thinking that’s dumb. I was hoping to get that “extra 20% on miles” and not wind up with a dry rotted spare down the road.

Tread was reported as 7/32 on all tires. 7000 miles.

That’s 1/32 per 2,333 miles.

This means I have 5x2333 left on these tires for a total of 18.667k miles. (Replacing at 2/32)

My “5th” tire won’t even make it around one full cycle.

I guess the recommendation to rotate these every 9,000 miles is you get ONE front to back swap and then they are done?

What am I missing? Yes the spare doesn’t wear while the others do, but if you can’t get a full 5 rotations, then you can’t even things out.

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[COdogman]

Agree that 9k miles kinda makes it pointless. You could always rotate them more often than recommended.

 

[elektrode]

You could always rotate them more often than recommended.

good point.

1.2 x 18667 ~= 22,500. 22,500/5 = 4500

So 5 tire rotate @ 1/2 the recommend interval @ 4500 miles.

Busy schedule.

 

[COdogman]

good point.

1.2 x 18667 ~= 22,500. 22,500/5 = 4500

So 5 tire rotate @ 1/2 the recommend interval @ 4500 miles.

Busy schedule.

Exactly. So quit your job and rotate after every other road trip.

 

[goldburger]

When you get new tires can you put one as a spare and put the OG spare on the truck to avoid the dry rotted spare

 

[kizamybute']

Never understood the concept of putting the spare tire into the rotation. My goal is to get all tires to wear evenly. Throwing on a brand new tire with three older ones is not even wear.

For me, I rotate my four tires. When I need new tires, I buy three and put the spare to work at that time. I keep the best of the four used ones as my spare. It's only a spare that's needed in the unfortunate event of a flat. If I get a flat that can't be fixed, then I buy a new tire at that point.

Knock on wood, haven't gotten a flat. And I'll save money when the time comes to replace tires. The only way I'm paying for a 5th tire will be if I get TWO flat tires.

Using the spare, to end up with even tire wear, means having to rotate tires at 20% of their estimated life, which means rotating the tires far more often as well. More work, more money and no benefit other than you'll buy 5 tires and gain about 20% in tire range if you rotate them at the 20% mark throughout the tire life as the 5th tire will increase overall mileage of the tires around 20%. So, you get a little further, but are buying 5 tires. I go 20% fewer miles, but buy only 3 tires (40% less).

 

[elektrode]

So, you get a little further, but are buying 5 tires. I go 20% fewer miles, but buy only 3 tires (40% less).

But you only but 3 tires once on the second set. That “trick” doesn’t work again.

This is my first time doing a 5 tire rotation. I have not planned well and part of it is really not understanding how quickly this 7500lb truck was going to chew them up.

 

[WSea]

For me, it's much easier to do a 5 tire rotation with 1 bottle jack. And it doesn't take very long to do.

 

[kizamybute']

But you only but 3 tires once on the second set. That “trick” doesn’t work again.

This is my first time doing a 5 tire rotation. I have not planned well and part of it is really not understanding how quickly this 7500lb truck was going to chew them up.

Agreed. but, I generally only keep my cars for 3 years, so one tire change has been the norm before the vehicle is gone. May not be the case with the Rivian, we'll see?

And for me, even though we have full size spares, most vehicles have space saver spares, so I guess I still go by the same thinking. The spare will always be an extra tire I don't plan to use and will almost certainly never be "new" again as I'll always keep an old tire as the spare. And, I save $$ on the first change. If I need a second set, I'm still only ponying up for 4 tires instead of 5.

No criticism form me either way. I've just always viewed the spare as the emergency tire you hope to never use. And I do like to keep my tires as evenly worn as possible. Throwing in a new tire with three old ones just seems off to me in my own mind anyway. And again, more work. For me, If I spend more than 15-20 minutes rotating tires, I've gone too slow!

With the Rivian having 110 outlets, I leave an electric impact gun in the truck at all times, along with a torque wrench. For long distance trips, I take a floor jack with me as well.

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