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From: hakanson@orstcs.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.auto
Subject: Re: Abnormal Tire Wear (Another opinion) - (nf)
Message-ID: <2386@hp-pcd.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 10-Nov-83 03:22:19 EST
Article-I.D.: hp-pcd.2386
Posted: Thu Nov 10 03:22:19 1983
Date-Received: Sat, 12-Nov-83 15:11:24 EST
Sender: notes_gateway@hp-pcd.UUCP
Organization: Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR
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#R:ihuxr:-75400:orstcs:3000019:000:1973
orstcs!hakanson    Nov  8 22:55:00 1983

I must both agree and disagree with the above opinion (that FWD cars
should not have their tires rotated, because that way the back ones
will last forever).

There is the advantage that the above scheme lets you get away with
buying only two tires at a time.  I can see no other advantage.
In all, the total mileage given by all four (or six, or eight) tires
that you wear out on your car will probably be the same whether or not
you rotate them (assuming, of course, that your front end is aligned
and your front tires wear evenly).

This, then brings me to what I consider the disadvantages of the
"wear out the front tires only" scheme.  First, it could end up
being hazardous to have tires of (possibly radically) different
condition on both ends of your car.  Second, it's entirely likely
that you won't be able to buy the exact same tires that are on
the back of your car, so you may end up with different styles
or brands of tires on either end of your car.  This can also lead
to hazardous handling characteristics.  If your car was delivered
with all 4 tires exactly alike, then there is a very good possibility
that the car was designed to handle best with the same type tire
on each corner of the car.  It's just common sense that mixing
tire conditions and types will upset the balance of handling.

Third, when the rubber of your rear tires becomes old and brittle,
and one of them blows out because it got tired after 100K miles,
even though it still has useable tread on it, you won't be able
to use that tread anymore.  And fourth, why would most manufacturers
recommend that you rotate the tires on your FWD car (usually more often
than on a RWD car) if it doesn't sell more tires or more cars?

Of course, if you never find yourself in the extremes of traction,
and you never expect to do so, then you may ignore the above
disadvantages.  (Good luck!)

Marion Hakanson		{hp-pcd,teklabs}!orstcs!hakanson	(Usenet)
			hakanson@{oregon-state,orstcs}		(CSnet)