Topic: Tire rotation/balance - questions

[jtmann]

Hello,

I have a some noobie questions for the forum re: proper approach to tire rotation and balancing. I have a 2007 Camry LE 4-cyl. The owners manual appears to recommend same-side rotation (i.e., front to rear/rear to front, always on same side) (picture only, no text, so I assume that's what they mean!)

1. Does that mean that two tires will always stay on the drivers side and two on the passengers side? i.e., they'll never be put on the opposite side, not even after already rotating once on one side?

2. Recently when I had my all season rubber taken off rims and winter rubber put on, the mechanic mistakenly switched drivers front to passenger front (and vice versa) and driver rear to passenger rear (and vice versa). I had the tires marked properly to guide the switch, but the mechanic messed up. If the Toyota direction noted above is indeed that tires should be front-rear switch and never switch sides, how big a deal is this mechanic's mistake? I'll be keeping the winters on for around 3,500 miles (bringing their total wear to around 7,000 miles on front - albeit once on drivers front once on passengers front but last two rotations on front). Going back for another appointment is a pain so I'd do it only if it could cause significant mechanical issue. I assume it's not?

3. Re: rotation pattern, do I follow tire manufacturer recommendation or car manufacturer (if conflicting direction)? Same question for frequency of rotation/miles/km?

4. My tires get rotated and balanced whenever I change rubber (not rims) for all-seasons/winters. Some places offer to rotate (whole tire/on-rim) when I get an oil change - I assume balancing is only needed when rubber changes on rim?

Thanks!

[dr_spock]

1. Yes, same side.

2.  Probably not an issue unless your tires are unidirectionals.

3.  Follow the instructions in your owner's manual.

4.  As your tires wears over the years through usage, re-balancing may sometimes be required.   Otherwise you do a balance when you install new rubber on the rims. 

[ktm525]

As noted check to see if your tires are directional. If so then they must stay on the same side unless they are removed from the wheel itself and remounted so the left tire outside sidewall is now the inside sidewall on the right side. This is only possible if the tires are NOT asymmetric and/or don't have the markings "outside" printed on the sidewall.