5 tire rotation: local Valvoline were confused

[Steve o]

Last August I had my 5 tires rotated when I got my oil changed at the local Valvoline service center. Yesterday I went in for another rotation. About 7500 apart. The techs were so confused. Like, why would I want this? I explained why. They service lots of jeeps and broncos… but the last time they did a 5 tire rotation was mine last August. A tech was trying to (very politely) convince me otherwise... they didn't get it. Longer life span, even tire wear etc.

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[KurtVW]

They could just google it discussion over. I have to google it and I do my own rotation at 5k intervals LOL

 

[Dr Dan]

It can't be that rare? Can it?

 

[FstFrd00]

Local Discount Tire had no issues with it. At ~90lbs per wheel, just easier to go with a tire shop.

 

[kr_1315]

Another reason for DIY. This also allows a thorough brake and suspension inspection during each rotation.

 

[BudgetBronco]

Another reason for DIY. This also allows a thorough brake and suspension inspection during each rotation.

100% agree, and a 5 tire rotation is so much easier to DIY than a 4 tire, you only have to jack up one corner at a time

Agreed getting the heavy spare off and especially on is not easy, and for me not a one person job, I always get a helper for that part.

 

[SoDak1623]

If this service is so difficult to comprehend for any shop you visit, I'd recommend leaving and getting the rotate elsewhere. If they can't just google the simple procedure or can't understand why rotating the extra tire is worth while, then they aren't qualified to service your rig, full stop.

 

[Brian_B]

If they want to sit around and debate it, maybe time to find a different shop...

 

[Brian_B]

Local Discount Tire had no issues with it. At ~90lbs per wheel, just easier to go with a tire shop.

Assuming they don't want to stand around and argue with you

 

[Brian_B]

It can't be that rare? Can it?

I can't count the number of Jeeps around here that are. And now that Broncos are starting to become more popular, I'm starting to see it on some of those too, sadly.

- Balding front tires showing obvious alignment issues because they've never been rotated
- Balding tires in general (almost always KO2s for some reason), but brand new spare still has the new tire nubs
- Different brand/size spare tire, because it's never been rotated in

I mean, there is no requirement to do a 5-tire rotation, by any means. But it makes a lot of sense when you have a full sized spare hanging out over the tailgate - why would you not use it? The only good reason I can think of for just doing 4-tire is because you did a spare tire delete and just don't have 5 any longer.

 

[MilesTeg]

100% agree, and a 5 tire rotation is so much easier to DIY than a 4 tire, you only have to jack up one corner at a time

Agreed getting the heavy spare off and especially on is not easy, and for me not a one person job, I always get a helper for that part.

I've been doing regular 4 tire rotations using the spare (as a temp placeholder) for quite a while, so that I don't have to put the vehicle up on stands to rotate tires. Less work, quicker, and safer (IMHO) that way. I started doing it when I got my Mustang and didn't want to deal with the inconvenient jack stand points.

 

[AZ_Liberty]

Discount has no problem.

But, Discount's default 5-tire is different than the manual, so I always print the rotation pattern for them so the order stays the same.

Stupid Bridgestones are finally about shot, next time I'm just going to tell them, rotate the best two to the rear and the worst to the spare.

Fundamentally... not sure it matters. I have a hard time wearing out the tread before the sidewalls start rotting out here in AZ.

 

[CalvinT]

I think it depends on what vehicles they mostly service. If they get mostly passenger and few Jeeps and Broncos they won't be familar with 5 wheen rotation.

 

[CalvinT]

I have a hard time wearing out the tread before the sidewalls start rotting out here in AZ.

Also in AZ, I've had tires "time out" before they wore out.

 

[GoHawks63]

I've been doing regular 4 tire rotations using the spare (as a temp placeholder) for quite a while, so that I don't have to put the vehicle up on stands to rotate tires. Less work, quicker, and safer (IMHO) that way. I started doing it when I got my Mustang and didn't want to deal with the inconvenient jack stand points.

Maybe I'm not understanding. If doing a 5-tire rotation, you won't need to put the truck on stands. Jack up one corner, replace that tire with the spare, drop that corner, jack up the next corner, replace that tire with the one you just took off, lower it and jack up the next corner.... and so on.

Never need to have more than one corner off the ground at one time.

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