Tire Rotation; Tire Design - Ford Ranger Maintaince And Repair Manual

HOW TO USE THIS BOOK

TIRE ROTATION

Tires must be rotated periodically to equalize wear patterns that vary with a tire's position on the vehicle. Tires
will also wear in an uneven way as the front steering/suspension system wears to the point where the
alignment should be reset.
Rotating the tires will ensure maximum life for the tires as a set, so you will not have to discard a tire early
due to wear on only part of the tread. Regular rotation is required to equalize wear.
When rotating "unidirectional tires,'' make sure that they always roll in the same direction. This means that a
tire used on the left side of the vehicle must not be switched to the right side and vice−versa. Such tires should
only be rotated front−to−rear or rear−to−front, while always remaining on the same side of the vehicle. These
tires are marked on the sidewall as to the direction of rotation; observe the marks when reinstalling the tire(s).
Common tire rotation patterns for 4 and 5−wheel rotations
Click to enlarge
Some styled or "mag'' wheels may have different offsets front to rear. In these cases, the rear wheels must not
be used up front and vice−versa. Furthermore, if these wheels are equipped with unidirectional tires, they
cannot be rotated unless the tire is remounted for the proper direction of rotation.
The compact or space−saver spare is strictly for emergency use. It must never be included in the tire
rotation or placed on the vehicle for everyday use.

TIRE DESIGN

For maximum satisfaction, tires should be used in sets of four. Mixing of different brands or types (radial,
bias−belted, fiberglass belted) should be avoided. In most cases, the vehicle manufacturer has designated a
type of tire on which the vehicle will perform best. Your first choice when replacing tires should be to use the
same type of tire that the manufacturer recommends.
When radial tires are used, tire sizes and wheel diameters should be selected to maintain ground clearance and
tire load capacity equivalent to the original specified tire. Radial tires should always be used in sets of four.
TIRE ROTATION 97