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Old 04-06-2020, 01:46 PM   #1
bobmc
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Default Tire Rotation

Its a bright sunny day here in western Pa. Practicing social distancing I am killing two birds with one stone. First i am getting the A ready for the green light that will allow our club to begin touring again, and second i am passing the time working on the car. Did all the usual preseason stuff, oil change,lube, tune-up, check brakes and packed wheel bearings. This brings me to my question. All four tires have enough tread with no cracks to allow me the entire touring season use. Since all four tires are off what is the thought on rotating the tires? How do you do it? Front on back, cross back tires and install on front?

thanks
Stay Safe!

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Old 04-06-2020, 02:15 PM   #2
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Default Re: Tire Rotation

I do front/ back, back to front- but are they balanced?
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Old 04-06-2020, 03:37 PM   #3
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Default Re: Tire Rotation

I do like radial tires. Front to back and back to front.
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Old 04-06-2020, 06:49 PM   #4
Dale G.
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Default Re: Tire Rotation

I worked in gas stations and tire stores when I was a kid, we were always taught to rotate bias-ply tires, spare to left front, left front to right rear, right rear to right front, right front to left rear. right rear to spare.
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Old 04-07-2020, 04:26 AM   #5
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Default Tire Rotation

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I do front/ back, back to front- but are they balanced?

I’m curious. How do you balance Model A tire? Glass beads? https://www.amazon.com/DIYK-4-Counte...6251525&sr=8-6

If so, how many ounces per tire do you need to achieve a balanced tire?


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Old 04-07-2020, 04:28 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Dale G. View Post
I worked in gas stations and tire stores when I was a kid, we were always taught to rotate bias-ply tires, spare to left front, left front to right rear, right rear to right front, right front to left rear. right rear to spare.

Thanks for posting. I was wondering about the tire rotation pattern.


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Old 04-07-2020, 06:25 AM   #7
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Default Re: Tire Rotation

On the beads you use 4oz per tire.

i firmly believe in them but could never get them to enter the stem, both with a metal and rubber stem. Tried many times with vibration, small funnels, gave up.

I purchased a HF tire balancer and used stick on weights just on the inside and painted them tire color.
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Old 04-07-2020, 10:24 AM   #8
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I purchased a HF tire balancer and used stick on weights just on the inside and painted them tire color.
Sorry, what does HF mean?


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Old 04-07-2020, 10:56 AM   #9
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Harbor Freight.
Paul in CT
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Old 04-07-2020, 02:52 PM   #10
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Harbor Freight.
Paul in CT

Thanks.


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Old 04-07-2020, 02:58 PM   #11
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I purchased a HF tire balancer and used stick on weights just on the inside and painted them tire color.

Is this the one you purchased? https://www.harborfreight.com/portab...cer-39741.html


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Old 04-07-2020, 04:04 PM   #12
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Yes thats it, and It works pretty darn good. With the 20% coupon its $67.99.

Get some of these as well. The quarter oz. fit better on the lip of the rim.

https://www.harborfreight.com/1-4-qu...hts-67225.html
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Old 04-07-2020, 05:37 PM   #13
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Yes thats it, and It works pretty darn good. With the 20% coupon its $67.99.

Get some of these as well. The quarter oz. fit better on the lip of the rim.

https://www.harborfreight.com/1-4-qu...hts-67225.html

Thanks for the coupon reminder and the link to the weights. I never thought about Harbor Freight having wheel balancing products.


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Old 04-07-2020, 08:29 PM   #14
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Default Re: Tire Rotation

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On the beads you use 4oz per tire.

i firmly believe in them but could never get them to enter the stem, both with a metal and rubber stem. Tried many times with vibration, small funnels, gave up.

I purchased a HF tire balancer and used stick on weights just on the inside and painted them tire color.
old31, I have beads in my tires and they seem to work great. 4oz. as you stated. And yes you have to have a lot of patients but I got them in.

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Old 04-08-2020, 04:23 AM   #15
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old31, I have beads in my tires and they seem to work great. 4oz. as you stated. And yes you have to have a lot of patients but I got them in.


How did you get them into the tire? One glass bead at a time?


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Old 04-08-2020, 11:08 AM   #16
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Default Re: Tire Rotation

I have heard that you never want to reverse the rotation of a radial tire.
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Old 10-26-2021, 06:04 PM   #17
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Default Re: Tire Rotation

I just rotated my tires. LF switched with RR, RF switched with LR. My rear tires have had a lot more wear than the front. I have a 1930 Fordor with a heavy metal trunk that I keep my tools in and the spare wheel mounted aft of the trunk. Is it usual for the rear tires to wear more than the front? The front tires are bald now (I have new tires on order) and it makes the car wonder and be more susceptible to undulations in the road.

Plus, What is the answer to Rocket's question about radial tires.
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Old 10-26-2021, 06:29 PM   #18
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I have heard that you never want to reverse the rotation of a radial tire.
I've been told that too and that the walls don't like it but I'm sceptical. If we consider the rear tyres, they are driven in one direct by the motor, then driven in the other when the brakes are applied. Forward and back, forward and back many times a mile in the city. I don't think it matters much but who am I to say.
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Old 10-26-2021, 06:32 PM   #19
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Default Re: Tire Rotation

In the mid-70's the tire reps drilled into us to only move the new radial tires to keep the same direction of rotation.Left stayed on left and right stayed on right.15 years later I was talking to a tire rep and asked him about it.He said the technology had changed,and we were supposed to rotate tires like you did with the old bias ply.Old habits die hard,the only thing new radials have in common with old radials is the name radial.
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Old 10-27-2021, 06:30 AM   #20
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Default Re: Tire Rotation

Thanks for the comments about the radials. Much appreciated.

What about the rears wearing faster than the fronts? Have you seen this too? Or is just the way I am driving?
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Forget the brakes, they really don't work.
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My car grows red hair, and flies through the air.
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Old 10-27-2021, 06:55 AM   #21
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Default Re: Tire Rotation

Here's a do it yourself tire balancing technique for the Model "A":
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Old 10-27-2021, 10:17 AM   #22
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Default Re: Tire Rotation

[QUOTE=nkaminar;2070625What about the rears wearing faster than the fronts?[/QUOTE]

That's normal.
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Old 10-27-2021, 04:15 PM   #23
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My tires wear faster in the rear then the front. It's probably our driving habits. I think it is a good sign that your front alignment and suspension is in decent shape if there is less wear then the rear.
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Old 10-27-2021, 05:10 PM   #24
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Default Re: Tire Rotation

Thank you all for your response. I have some radials on order and am anxiously awaiting their arrival. Just my imagination but it seems they are shipped by ox cart. I intend to balance using the method Bob showed. I have done this before with good results. Results depends on if the unbalance is in a plane or a dynamic unbalance. Driving the car will answer the question.
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Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die.
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Old 10-27-2021, 05:13 PM   #25
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Default Re: Tire Rotation

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Originally Posted by Gary WA View Post
I do front/ back, back to front- but are they balanced?
OK, where do I get one of those Walter shifter knobs?
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Old 10-27-2021, 08:10 PM   #26
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How did you get them into the tire? One glass bead at a time?


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I stuck a piece of clear vinyl tubing about a foot long over the valve stem.
Filled it with the beads and vibrated it by putting this sander next to the tube and watched them flow into the tube.
Took maybe 10 minutes per tire.

https://www.harborfreight.com/2-amp-...4aAsaAEALw_wcB

Last edited by GPierce; 10-28-2021 at 03:10 PM.
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Old 10-27-2021, 09:48 PM   #27
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Default Re: Tire Rotation

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Here's a do it yourself tire balancing technique for the Model "A":
I do basically the same thing. I made a balancing stand out of an old hub and used bearings. I set it so they run free. Once I have located the heavy spot (6 O'clock), I tape a weight to the top of the tyre and try again. Once balanced, I stick that weight to the rim. It doesn't take long to learn to estimate how much weight is needed by how the wheel moves as the heavy spot goes tot he bottom.
I have had wheels I have balanced this way up to about 100 Kph (60+mph) with absolutely no sign of vibration. That's enough for me.
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Old 10-28-2021, 05:47 AM   #28
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Here's a do it yourself tire balancing technique for the Model "A" - from Bob Bidonde
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Old 10-29-2021, 09:42 AM   #29
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Default Re: Tire Rotation

When just rotating 4 tires, just X them.

Always leaving radial tires one the same side has now become an old wives tale. True at one time but no longer.

Balancing them is the same as any other vehicle. I put them on the spin balancer and mount the weights on the inside.
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Old 10-29-2021, 07:02 PM   #30
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Default Re: Tire Rotation

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Originally Posted by nkaminar View Post
Thanks for the comments about the radials. Much appreciated.

What about the rears wearing faster than the fronts? Have you seen this too? Or is just the way I am driving?
Sounds like too many burn outs!!!

I have always heard bias tires get crossed and radials stay on same side. This comes from my service station days of the 70s.
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Old 10-31-2021, 03:08 PM   #31
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Thanks for the comments about the radials. Much appreciated.

What about the rears wearing faster than the fronts? Have you seen this too? Or is just the way I am driving?
The powered tires typically wear quicker, unless the alignment is off, then that will cut tires very quickly.
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Old 10-31-2021, 03:24 PM   #32
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I balanced the wheels/tires as Merc Man outlined. However I noticed that the hub with brake drum was rotating on its own. I stuck 1.5 ounces of weights on the drum to balance it, equivalent to 3/4 ounce at the wheel rim.

So, even with perfectly balanced wheels they could still be out of balance if the drums are not balanced. I seem to remember steel weights spot welded to brake drums in the past.

The stick on weights will not stay on the drum so they got removed. So the wheel on that corner is 3/4 ounce out of balance. I drove the car and did not notice it.
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A is for apple, green as the sky.
Step on the gas, for tomorrow I die.
Forget the brakes, they really don't work.
The clutch always sticks, and starts with a jerk.
My car grows red hair, and flies through the air.
Driving's a blast, a blast from the past.
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