When is too much over-servicing never enough?

[DV52]

Well, you can't please everyone. rotate the tyres - not good. Don't rotate the tyres - not good either.
What did they charge you for the service anyway?
Judging from the title of the thread, it must've been a lot.

Transporter: I know very little about this topic but it seems (from responses) that this is one of those issues where there is not an absolute answer. As a rank amateur when it comes to tire technology, the spread of views is very interesting IMO. Can't remember what it cost me to get the rotation done (wasn't much - I think, but it wasn't free either).

Snail Style's response is particularly pertinent (for me) because I have noticed more road noise from the tires since the service was done (what is tire "scallop" anyway and how does it happen on the rear wheels only?)

Anyhow, the principal reason that I posted my request was to learn - by hearing from others. There is much more information in views that are varied than in a litany of posts all containing similar answers (IMO).

[Idle]

When I was young and active enough, I used to rotate all wheels (we had real spares in those days) on every vehicle in the fleet every 10,000 or so.

They definitely lasted longer, but it did mean buying tyres in sets of 5 or 7.

The exercise did me no harm, either.

[Umai Naa!!]

The technician will usually decide at the time of performing the service if it's worthwhile rotating the tyres. They aren't mindreaders, and can't assume that you're expecting them rotated/not rotated.

No point doing them if the rears are already trashed, or badly scalloped.

[greg32]

I haven't noticed any scalloping on the rear of my car. I did get an all wheel alignment at a Bridgestone outlet on their new fangled machine. I also asked for less toe-in 0•5 as I have superpro LCAs that don't move as much as the standard LCAs. They also set the front camber to 1•5 degrees. I do swap front to rear every ~5000

[Transporter]

Transporter: I know very little about this topic but it seems (from responses) that this is one of those issues where there is not an absolute answer. As a rank amateur when it comes to tire technology, the spread of views is very interesting IMO. Can't remember what it cost me to get the rotation done (wasn't much - I think, but it wasn't free either).

Snail Style's response is particularly pertinent (for me) because I have noticed more road noise from the tires since the service was done (what is tire "scallop" anyway and how does it happen on the rear wheels only?)

Anyhow, the principle reason that I posted my request was to learn - by hearing from others. There is much more information in views that are varied than in a liturgy of posts all containing similar answers (IMO).

...and I had an impression from the title of your thread and your first post in it, that you were charged for something that you didn't request and in your view is not needed as you couldn't find anything in the owner's manual. Or am I wrong?

[brad]

I cross-rotate my tyres every 10,000km. I'm not sure if I'd be willing to pay for it but DIY allows me a chance to clean the wheels & brakes & apply some wax to the wheels.

[DV52]

I cross-rotate my tyres every 10,000km. I'm not sure if I'd be willing to pay for it but DIY allows me a chance to clean the wheels & brakes & apply some wax to the wheels.

Brad: Have you had any experience with the scallop issue on the back wheels and have you noticed increased road noise?
If the main motivation for tire rotation is more economical use of the four tires, do you have a view of the breakeven point where the accumulated additional cost at each maintenance exceeds the saving gained over the life of the tire?

[brad]

Brad: Have you had any experience with the scallop issue on the back wheels and have you noticed increased road noise?

If you put scalloped rear tyres directly to the front they won't be any noisier but you will notice the noise more because you are behind the noise not in front of it (Same reason the put First Class at the front of an aeroplane).

If you put the drive tyres to the other end (same side) and the lazy axle is put to the other side (L to R; R to L) then the noise will initially be even louder as the high spot has gone from being on the trailing edge to the leading edge but it should eventually wear off.

If the alignment has been done right, by adjusting the settings to suit the symptoms rather than blindly following the manufacturers specs, then you shouldn't be getting scalloping.

If the main motivation for tire rotation is more economical use of the four tires, do you have a view of the breakeven point where the accumulated additional cost at each maintenance exceeds the saving gained over the life of the tire?

No idea. I just do it because it has to be done no matter how good the alignment is and I like to buy my tyres as a set of 4.

You can get a 1200kg jack & some 4x stands for < $100 at SCA - less on special. If you are a bit limp-wristed it also gives you an excuse to buy a decent 18v cordless impact driver

[Transporter]

Brad: Have you had any experience with the scallop issue on the back wheels and have you noticed increased road noise?
If the main motivation for tire rotation is more economical use of the four tires, do you have a view of the breakeven point where the accumulated additional cost at each maintenance exceeds the saving gained over the life of the tire?

The question is, will you be paying less for the service without tyres rotation?
You probably find out that only the extra cost is the balancing the tyres. Which is most likely unnecessary on many cars, but if needed and not done, then out of balance wheel will have a negative impact on the steering components. The experienced drivers should (will) know when is the time to get the wheels balanced.

Sent from my GT-N8000

[Umai Naa!!]

The last VW dealership I was working for, they charged out a rotate and balance at 0.3 of an hour, with the labour rate for VW (multi-franchised dealership) at $130/hr +GST.