Tire rotation and balance

GO_VOLS! · 08-04-2005, 11:51 AM

Do any of you know if we take our truck back to the dealer, if they'd rotate the tires and balance them for free? Or would a Good Year dealer do it? I usually do it myself, but I don't like doing on my truck b/c there's 4 more lugs than I used to have and I need a heavier jack now.

rjspitz · 08-04-2005, 12:22 PM

I've never purchased from a dealer that did work for free.

If you have NAV, you will need to have them reset the Tire Pressure Monitor, so you might as well take it in. The TPS knows which tire is where, and if you play musical tires, the NAV needs to know.

grunge311 · 08-04-2005, 12:36 PM

your other vehicle only has 2 lugs?

Titan XE · 08-04-2005, 12:45 PM

A friend of mine takes his Honda Pilot to his local Costco. He says for about $18.00 they balance and rotate all 4 tires and fill them up with nitrogen instead of air. They replace the tire caps with green colored ones to indicate they have nitrogen. He says it makes for a better ride. I do not know if it cost extra if you have the tire pressure system we have or not.

GO_VOLS! · 08-04-2005, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by grunge311

your other vehicle only has 2 lugs?

Last car had 4 lugs per wheel. Titan has 5 per wheel. Wheels weigh twice as much too. Between work and all the house work, I'd rather pay someone to do it in 15 minutes than doing it myself in 1+ hr.

Wal-Mart suposedly has lifetime balance and rotation for ~$20. Pretty tempting, but it is Wal-Mart.

TOK · 08-04-2005, 01:22 PM

6 per wheel.

tnbowhunter · 08-04-2005, 01:22 PM

If you buy replacement tires most times the store you purchased them from will balance them free 1 time but will rotate them every 6K or so for free. I have yet to see a car dealership do anything for free.

scr38 · 08-04-2005, 01:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjspitz

I've never purchased from a dealer that did work for free.

If you have NAV, you will need to have them reset the Tire Pressure Monitor, so you might as well take it in. The TPS knows which tire is where, and if you play musical tires, the NAV needs to know.

You do not have to have them reset. Look at this TSB:

DeeDubya · 08-04-2005, 01:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Titan XE

A friend of mine takes his Honda Pilot to his local Costco. He says for about $18.00 they balance and rotate all 4 tires and fill them up with nitrogen instead of air. They replace the tire caps with green colored ones to indicate they have nitrogen. He says it makes for a better ride. I do not know if it cost extra if you have the tire pressure system we have or not.

I don't think filling them with Nitrogen is such a big deal. First of all, the plain ole air we breath is 78% Nitrogen. Second, if you have a flat then you would have to go to a place with nitrogen to refill it, assuming you would want them all the same. Third, the ride is not improved, pressure is pressure and air compresses just like nitrogen. Fourth, who wants green caps on their wheels?

FluxCubby · 08-04-2005, 02:32 PM

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What he said. Oh yeah, and I've seen prices at wal-mart for $1.50 per tire rotation service...not sure about balancing though.

rjspitz · 08-04-2005, 03:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scr38

You do not have to have them reset. Look at this TSB:

That's sweet. I haven't seen that TSB.

rjspitz · 08-04-2005, 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DeeDubya

I don't think filling them with Nitrogen is such a big deal. First of all, the plain ole air we breath is 78% Nitrogen. Second, if you have a flat then you would have to go to a place with nitrogen to refill it, assuming you would want them all the same. Third, the ride is not improved, pressure is pressure and air compresses just like nitrogen. Fourth, who wants green caps on their wheels?

Actually, nitrogen does make a big deal. Generally, the air put into a tire is not the air we breath, it has a lot of water in it from the compressor tank that inflated it. And we all know what damage comes from water and metal. Water also permiates the inner liner of the tire and can start to corrode the steel belts. The oxygen in the air oxidizes the inner liner of the tire also, causing premature wear. Also, the water, oxygen, argon, and nitrogen in a conventional "fill-up" all heat up at different rates. Causing warm-up temperatures to be erratic. As tires heat up, pressure increases and the tires expand. On long trips or during spirited driving, this can mean a pressure difference of 10%-20%, the more water, the more expansion. If the expansion is not controlled, you can over-inflate your tires and not even know it. Putting 100% nitrogen insures proper inflation and heat build-up in the tire without worry of over-inflation due to heat. And since nitrogen is dry and inert, it cannot cause oxidation or rust.

phillipyang · 08-04-2005, 03:31 PM

If you go to a reputable tire store, they will offer some type of service for free if you purchased a set of tires from them. I have mine set at every 6k miles every rotation for free.

DeeDubya · 08-04-2005, 04:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rjspitz

Actually, nitrogen does make a big deal. Generally, the air put into a tire is not the air we breath, it has a lot of water in it from the compressor tank that inflated it. And we all know what damage comes from water and metal. Water also permiates the inner liner of the tire and can start to corrode the steel belts. The oxygen in the air oxidizes the inner liner of the tire also, causing premature wear. Also, the water, oxygen, argon, and nitrogen in a conventional "fill-up" all heat up at different rates. Causing warm-up temperatures to be erratic. As tires heat up, pressure increases and the tires expand. On long trips or during spirited driving, this can mean a pressure difference of 10%-20%, the more water, the more expansion. If the expansion is not controlled, you can over-inflate your tires and not even know it. Putting 100% nitrogen insures proper inflation and heat build-up in the tire without worry of over-inflation due to heat. And since nitrogen is dry and inert, it cannot cause oxidation or rust.

Your right, moisture would make a difference. I have a dryer on my compressor so I don't worry about that. However, nitrogen will expand when heated just like all other gases. The pressure will change as you drive and the tire heats up. I doubt that there would be a significant difference between air and nitrogen. I am going to have one of my tires inflated with nitrogen to the exact cold tire pressure as the others. I'll drive it mid-afternoon when it's about 100 here in Texas and then check the pressures. I'll post the results.
Tires have been filled with air from their beginning. Manufacturers expect this and I would imagine have their rubber compounds formulated to prevent excessive oxidation. I know that I have never had a set of tires dry rot (oxidation deterioration) on a vehicle. I wear them out long before they dry rot.

Armada · 08-04-2005, 04:53 PM

I take my BFG Rugged Trail 17's to the BFG dealer for rotation. They charged $5 per tire, but that's not too bad to have them thoroughly inspected by the tire dealer for that brand in the process. I don't trust Nissan to do it right (sorry). They were rotated at 10,000 and now again at 20,000. Wear is very even and about half the tread is still left. I check pressures obsessively and run 35 psi cold. I drive it hard - 80-85 mph on the Interstate, and have done a lot of acceleration runs (many by accelerometer, once at the strip). I also sometimes tow an 8,000 lb. trailer. I'm hoping to make 40,000 and think I can get at least 35,000 on this set. I'll upgrade to BFG LT T/A All Terrains then.

On the nitrogen issue, technically it is an advantage. Especially if one is going to be racing or driving a lot at speed limiter velocity. I've owned a lot of vehicles over 40 years of driving and have not had any issues about internal wheel corrosion or other adverse effects for using ordinary air. I would not pay extra for it. Just one opinion.

Enjoy your trucks. Aren't they fabulous!