Do you rotate your tires?

[spinarelli]

For most people the rear tire wears out faster. Do you rotate the tires to even out the wear? If so how often/miles?
Or, if you don't, do you only replace the rear tire with a new tire and keep the front as it is?
Or, are you as OCD as me, and when you have to replace one tire you replace both because you want the tan sidewall fading/yellowing to match?

[rwsaunders]

I just rotate the air.

[pjm]

When the rear wears out I move the front tire to the rear and put a new tire on the front.

[Dave]

I buy tires in threes - two for the rear and one for the front, no rotation.

[spinarelli]

that's actually a good idea, especially with the current prices across the pond.

Originally Posted by Dave

I buy tires in threes - two for the rear and one for the front, no rotation.

[Cicli]

Originally Posted by pjm

When the rear wears out I move the front tire to the rear and put a new tire on the front.

This, you always want your best tire up front. If you have ever had a front explode you will know why.

[rnhood]

Originally Posted by Dave

I buy tires in threes - two for the rear and one for the front, no rotation.

This is the proper protocol, because rotating tires means the front will have the flattened tread pattern from rotating the rear to the front, and that can compromise its handling.

But if you just commute or putter about, rotating is probably fine. Just be careful when riding in wet weather.

[Mark McM]

Originally Posted by pjm

When the rear wears out I move the front tire to the rear and put a new tire on the front.

This is my rotation system as well. You generally want the better tire on the front, for a variety of reasons: Front flats at speed are more dangerous than rear flats, and newer tires less likely to puncture; Front wheel skids are more dangerous than rear wheel skids, and newer tires usually have better traction; recent wind tunnel testing shows that aerodynamic drag increases with tire wear, and front wheels produce more aerodrag than rear wheels, so for aero reasons you want the tire with the least wear in the front.

[OtayBW]

Originally Posted by pjm

When the rear wears out I move the front tire to the rear and put a new tire on the front.

Yerp!

[johnniecakes]

Originally Posted by pjm

When the rear wears out I move the front tire to the rear and put a new tire on the front.

This is my method also

[marciero]

No rotation. The rears wear differently. Flatter.

More reasons for new-on-front are that most of the ride quality, handling, shock absorption, and braking come from the front.

[Big Dan]

Originally Posted by Dave

I buy tires in threes - two for the rear and one for the front, no rotation.

Same here.

[Peter P.]

Originally Posted by pjm

When the rear wears out I move the front tire to the rear and put a new tire on the front.

I do what pjm does. Otherwise, my front tires would get hard and I'd lose grip, the tread would start to peel away from the casing, or the sidewalls would crack.

[AngryScientist]

nah, i dont bother. i replace stuff as it wears out.

[Matthew]

Guess I'm the in the minority here. I rotate mine. In fact I did on one bike today. I've never had an issue by doing this. When the rear wears out after rotation I get a new pair. Never noticed any ride difference or poor cornering, etc. I just check the wear a little more often after moving it to the front.