Mr. Monk Thinks About Tire Rotation

[verbs4us]

It's a given on my road bike that the rear tire wears faster than the front. So I'm wondering: how many of you go to the trouble of rotating your tires to even out the wear?

[rice rocket]

I do not.

Keep more traction in the front, your bones will thank you.

[Mark McM]

A very common way to rotate tires is as follows: When the rear tire wears out, move the front the rear, and put a new tire on the front. The thinking is that the front tire is most important for traction and control, so you want the newest tire.

[AngryScientist]

I can’t be bothered, so no. I kill most of my tires due to irreparable damage at random intervals; before I can wear them out, so it wouldn’t work out most of the time anyway.

[Louis]

I don't bother. I just replace the one that needs to be replaced (although I let them go a lot farther than most) and let the other stay. No sense in making it more complicated than it needs to be.

My bike isn't Olive Wendell Holmes' proverbial "one-hoss-shay" and I don't win a prize if both tires finally have to be replaced at the same millisecond in time.

[dustyrider]

My routine is to: Buy two on sale, rotate front to rear, install new tire on front, wait for sale, and repeat.

Having an extra tire has paid off more than once for me in the past!

[cgolvin]

Originally Posted by Mark McM

A very common way to rotate tires is as follows: When the rear tire wears out, move the front the rear, and put a new tire on the front. The thinking is that the front tire is most important for traction and control, so you want the newest tire.

This is my approach, though when changing brands or models I don't commit to the third one until I'm sure I like them.

[a1k]

My wear rate is close to 2-1, so sometimes I replace just the rear when it's toast (while the front is fine). Then when the 2nd rear is worn out, I replace both

[ldamelio]

2:1 wear ratio so front to back to trash can for clinchers. I don't think it's OCD, just simple rational routine maintenance. Always have the fresh rubber where it matters most,

Tubulars I just wear out and replace in situ. Not worth the time and possible damage to base tape to rotate them IMO.

[Turkle]

I tried the whole rotate the front tire to the rear thing, and all I got was a lot of flats. So now the rear gets a fresh one when it's time to change tires.

[MikeD]

How come the tread wear of a rear tire squares off the tread whereas the front tire tread stays rounded?

[Louis]

Originally Posted by MikeD

How come the tread wear of a rear tire squares off the tread whereas the front tire tread stays rounded?

(This is just part of the reason. I'm sure the angle of the tire relative to the road is also different for the two locations, since the front steers, but the rear doesn't.)

https://www.vernier.com/vernier-idea...-on-a-bicycle/

[RoosterCogset]

I couldn't figure out how to route my chain thru the front wheel, so I gave up.

[Louis]

Originally Posted by RoosterCogset

I couldn't figure out how to route my chain thru the front wheel, so I gave up.

It's simpler than you think. On the other hand, maybe not...

[bikinchris]

Since ALL of my bikes have had two different sized tires, I never rotate tires. I always use a larger tire in the rear, since it holds more weight, is more likely to inch flat and wears out faster, it makes more sense to use a slightly larger tire.