[LarryK1000]

And, if NOT, how much should a BMW dealer charge for it?

And, for us with all four tires the same size, how often are you planning on rotating the tires?

I've heard some people say 5,000 and some every 6,000 miles.

Thanks.

Larry

[CMC]

Not in free maint. program.
Shouldn't be much more than $20, IMO.
My tire shop suggests rotating every 6,000 miles.

[Kuma]

However with a sport package and run flats is it possible to rotate tires? I thought the tires were a bit different in size between the front and rear tires.

Dealers gouge for things like this, my local Mitsu dealer wanted $60 to rotate and balance the tires on my SUV, i took it to Americas Tire Store and had both done for $25 instead.

Ed

[SCA]

Can not rotate tires on E90s equipped with SP. Furthermore, on BMWs that you would be able to rotate, BMW recommends against rotating tires. It is the owners manual.

[ctgazer]

yea, the tires are all different..even tho i dont think they are directional, i think they make really loud noises when you change the direction from the norm...also the offsets are different from front and back even tho the width may be the same...i'd say dont rotate but thats my opinion

[JSpira]

Originally Posted by LarryK1000

And, if NOT, how much should a BMW dealer charge for it?

And, for us with all four tires the same size, how often are you planning on rotating the tires?

I've heard some people say 5,000 and some every 6,000 miles.

Thanks.

Larry

Not supposed to rotate the tires so a BMW won't have a charge for it!

[Kuma]

Originally Posted by ctgazer

yea, the tires are all different..even tho i dont think they are directional, i think they make really loud noises when you change the direction from the norm...also the offsets are different from front and back even tho the width may be the same...i'd say dont rotate but thats my opinion

I noticed a difference in the measurements (the numbers) on my front and rear tires, i have the sport package. I think RFT's are directional, ill have to check later today. I know i have seen "outside" on them, not sure about a arrow to show direction.

Not meaning to sound stupid here but what do you mean the offset is different from the front and rear tires on sport package equipped E90's? I am not too mechanically inclined

[petesamprs]

Sport package tires ARE directional (in that they say outside/inside on them) and front/back are different sizes. That means each tire can only go in 1 of the 4 places on the car, so no rotation. This is not the case on non-SP cars, as you can move a front tire to rear on the same side and vice versa.

[shragon]

bmw advises against rotation for all cars.

[Asiann]

If you rotate the tires from side to side every 8k miles then you will be ok. Inspect the tires atleast once a year or more to see if there is uneven wear or one side is lower than the other.

[jze90]

Originally Posted by petesamprs

Sport package tires ARE directional (in that they say outside/inside on them) and front/back are different sizes. That means each tire can only go in 1 of the 4 places on the car, so no rotation. This is not the case on non-SP cars, as you can move a front tire to rear on the same side and vice versa.

So do you mean that i can not use my right rear tire on my left rear side (I have a 330i sp)? The reasone i ask is because i got a nail on my left rear, and changed the tire. After changing the tire, i noticed that i put on the right rear tire instead of the left one (the directional of the tread of both tires are opposite). I wonder if this will have negative effects both the short term and long term. When i bring both of my rear tires (taken off another 330i SP) to american tire, i ask them if which one goes to which side matters, they told me the tires are asymmetrical (direction does not matter). I guess they lie to me :mad:

[carbo]

The tires are directional. This means there is an arrow on them as to which way they must roll. Tires are same as they can mount them either side out when putting them on the rims. Check your rotation arrows. Reversing them would be bad for wear and may hydoplane in wet as it pushes water to the insde instead of out.(on some tread patterns)

[jze90]

Originally Posted by carbo

The tires are directional. This means there is an arrow on them as to which way they must roll. Tires are same as they can mount them either side out when putting them on the rims. Check your rotation arrows. Reversing them would be bad for wear and may hydoplane in wet as it pushes water to the insde instead of out.(on some tread patterns)

Thanks, both of my rear tires stated the word "outside" on them.

[Asiann]

I retract my statement since I did not notice they were directional. No rotation in any direction!

[StevoSEA]

Tire Rotation Examined
Text and Photo By Mike Miller

Initially, if your BMW has staggered tire and wheel sizing, meaning the rear tires are bigger than the front tires, click the little box in the upper right hand corner of your screen. You can’t rotate your tires anyway.

BMW presently recommends against rotating tires. Here’s why: In the US, it's normal to bend wheels occasionally, to one extent or another. And not all tires anywhere in the world are perfectly round. When a technician mounts and balances new tires, during the balancing process he will typically note which tire and wheel assembly is the "roundest", i.e., which has the least runout and requires the least weight to achieve 000 on the balancer. These two "roundest" assemblies he will mount at the front owing to BMW's incredible sensitivity to wheel balancing issues.

Then, down the road, the owner or another well-meaning tech rotates the tires front-to-rear. Next thing you know Old Jed's a millionaire -- you've got a vibration in the steering wheel. The reason is that one of the tire and wheel assemblies formerly at the rear and now at the front are not entirely round. If a technician rotated the tires, the customer then brings the car back to the shop complaining of a vibration, requiring a road test, dismounting, balancing, more road testing, etc. Often the customer will balk at paying for the additional work.

Moreover, at BMW dealerships, the customer satisfaction index (CSI) is hugely important in dealer relations with BMW of North America. When NA does a random CSI call on a service customer, scenarios like the foregoing result in comments like, "Well, I had my car at Big Mega Dealer and now I have a front-end vibration! So, I guess I can’t give them a high score now can I?" The system is not set up for further explanation, and without that further explanation, the customer input impacts negatively on the dealer’s CSI score. Eventually dealers complained to BMW of North America, and the end result is the no-rotation policy.

The thinking is, when you have a BMW that doesn't shake, leave it alone.

Now, armed with this knowledge, if you want to rotate your tires front-to-rear, there's no doubt that you'll get longer tire life. Just be aware of the possible balancing ramifications.

The presumption that the customer is incapable of understanding, or unwilling to understand, these issues is, unfortunately, often correct. However, Roundel Tech Talk takes the approach that it is better to at least attempt to educate people rather than throw out the baby with the bath water.

© 2002 Mike Miller

[jze90]

Originally Posted by StevoSEA

Tire Rotation Examined
Now, armed with this knowledge, if you want to rotate your tires front-to-rear,

how about left to right (more specific, both rear wheels has the right side tire)

[carbo]

rotating side to side (LR swap w/RR) changes rolling direction of the tires so NO.