Questns abt handling of 325xi AFTER tire rotation etc.
Posted: Mon Apr 04, 2005 5:28 pm
I needed a new front tire for my BMW 325xi (AWD) recently.
[*** I am mentioning the car's exact model in case it matters due to tire sizes, suspension, BMW's type of AWD system etc. effect on handling etc.]
Right after the front right tire replacement, the car handled well, even at highway speeds.
The next day, since my car is AWD (I read up online about tread differences and what it can do to AWD) and also for handling in general I also decided to have the right front (the new tire) rotated to the back right (13,000 miles on that one) - I was trying to keep tread on each axle as even as possible.
My thinking of doing the rotation was because the left rear was replaced at 7,000 miles, so it has about half the wear of the original right rear (which as 13,000 miles on it).
Therefore moving the brand new right front tire to the rear and the old right rear to the front would more closely balance the four tire's tread, on a per axle basis; this was my reasoning.
However, after rotating the right side, the steering wheel vibrates slightly at high speed and the handling is 'loose' at higher highway speeds (i.e. car doesn't track as solidly as before the rotation).
NOTE (in case it matters that a tire was inflated to one pressure for 13,000 miles [35 lbs] then to 30 lbs afterwards - i.e once moved to front);
Rear tire pressure is 35 lbs and front is 30 lbs.
I know that the vibration could be due to rear tire having worn differently.
In addition, the 5 lb lower pressure once it was put on the front may also make a difference.
Questions / ideas:
Solution 1:
a) I guess, maybe the right tires should both be rebalanced, especially due to different
pressures from when they were originally balanced?
b) Will the vibration (and handling looseness that started right after rotation) subside after a few hundred miles when the front right tire adapts to its new position and new lower pressure (30 lbs vs. 35 lbs before rotation)?
Solution 2:
Keeping in mind that the remaining tread for each tire is, approximately, as follows:
New tire (was on right front, now rotated to right rear): almost 5/16"
6,000 mile old tire (on left rear): approx 4.2/16"
Other two (original) tires (one on right front; other one was on right rear and was rotated to right front): 3/16"
would anyone recommend just rotating them back the way they were?
Due to AWD, I was trying to keep the two tires on each axle as close as possible in terms of tread depth, BUT I want handling to be better (I don't mind if it take a couple of hundred miles for the tires and handling to adapt, as long as it DOES happen).
Any tips / suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!
[*** I am mentioning the car's exact model in case it matters due to tire sizes, suspension, BMW's type of AWD system etc. effect on handling etc.]
Right after the front right tire replacement, the car handled well, even at highway speeds.
The next day, since my car is AWD (I read up online about tread differences and what it can do to AWD) and also for handling in general I also decided to have the right front (the new tire) rotated to the back right (13,000 miles on that one) - I was trying to keep tread on each axle as even as possible.
My thinking of doing the rotation was because the left rear was replaced at 7,000 miles, so it has about half the wear of the original right rear (which as 13,000 miles on it).
Therefore moving the brand new right front tire to the rear and the old right rear to the front would more closely balance the four tire's tread, on a per axle basis; this was my reasoning.
However, after rotating the right side, the steering wheel vibrates slightly at high speed and the handling is 'loose' at higher highway speeds (i.e. car doesn't track as solidly as before the rotation).
NOTE (in case it matters that a tire was inflated to one pressure for 13,000 miles [35 lbs] then to 30 lbs afterwards - i.e once moved to front);
Rear tire pressure is 35 lbs and front is 30 lbs.
I know that the vibration could be due to rear tire having worn differently.
In addition, the 5 lb lower pressure once it was put on the front may also make a difference.
Questions / ideas:
Solution 1:
a) I guess, maybe the right tires should both be rebalanced, especially due to different
pressures from when they were originally balanced?
b) Will the vibration (and handling looseness that started right after rotation) subside after a few hundred miles when the front right tire adapts to its new position and new lower pressure (30 lbs vs. 35 lbs before rotation)?
Solution 2:
Keeping in mind that the remaining tread for each tire is, approximately, as follows:
New tire (was on right front, now rotated to right rear): almost 5/16"
6,000 mile old tire (on left rear): approx 4.2/16"
Other two (original) tires (one on right front; other one was on right rear and was rotated to right front): 3/16"
would anyone recommend just rotating them back the way they were?
Due to AWD, I was trying to keep the two tires on each axle as close as possible in terms of tread depth, BUT I want handling to be better (I don't mind if it take a couple of hundred miles for the tires and handling to adapt, as long as it DOES happen).
Any tips / suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!