Logic for or against the tire-rotation pattern X > H > X > H

On Monday, September 4, 2017 at 10:06:10 AM UTC-10, micky wrote:
> In rec.autos.tech, on Sat, 29 Jul 2017 15:10:12 -0700 (PDT), dsi1
> <dsi1yahoo.com> wrote:
>
> >On Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 11:26:32 AM UTC-10, Andy wrote:
> >> On Saturday, July 29, 2017 at 12:21:28 PM UTC-5, dsi1 wrote:
> >> > On Friday, July 28, 2017 at 9:44:45 AM UTC-10, Roy Tremblay wrote:
> >> > > What do you think about the 4-tire rotation pattern below?
> >> > > X > H > X > H year 1
> >> > > X > H > X > H year 2
> >> > > etsetera
> >> > >
> >> > > Basic assumptions:
> >> > > Assume the alignment is within spec.
> >> > > Assume the fronts consistently wear differently than do the rears.
> >> > > Assume that F->B differential wear is symmetric per axle.
> >> > > Assume the spare is a donut and therefore out of the picture.
> >> > > Assume a rotation every change of seasons (about 4K miles roughly)..
> >> > > Assume bidirectional tread.
> >> > > Assume whitewalls on one side (otherwise I could flip them on the rim).
> >> > > Assume USA crowns, which is to say almost no crown most of the time.
> >> > >
> >> > > How does the logic of this X > H > X > H rotation pattern look to you?
> >> > >
> >> > > Assume tires go on in year 1, front to back, numbered:
> >> > > 1 2
> >> > > |
> >> > > 3 4
> >> > >
> >> > > The first X-pattern rotation in Spring of year 1 gets us:
> >> > > 4 3
> >> > > |
> >> > > 2 1
> >> > >
> >> > > The H pattern in Summer of year 1 gets us to:
> >> > > 2 1
> >> > > |
> >> > > 4 3
> >> > >
> >> > > The X pattern of Fall of year 1 gets us to:
> >> > > 3 4
> >> > > |
> >> > > 1 2
> >> > >
> >> > > And then, finally, the Winter H pattern of year 1 gets us back to:
> >> > > 1 2
> >> > > |
> >> > > 3 4
> >> > >
> >> > > At the end of the year, with this X > H > X > H pattern I devised, I think
> >> > > the tires would have been on every combination but always as a set per axle
> >> > > because my fronts wear differently than do my rears.
> >> > >
> >> > > If I flip them on the rim, does that help in giving me rotation options?
> >> >
> >> > My guess is that tire rotation is mostly a device used by tire companies to get people to come into their shops on a regular basis. I've never done it nor am I likely to ever start. I don't have enough time and money to just toss it into the wind.
> >>
> >> Rotating tires and re-balancing increases their life and places like Discount Tires do not charge for the service.
> >>
> >> Not doing so is "tossing money into the wind".
> >> But tire companies love you. :-)
> >>
> >> Andy
> >
> >No charge, that's great! Now if they can rotate the tires in 60 seconds or less, I'd go for it. Ideally, you want your tires to be rotated every night while you're sleeping. I believe that would be the best way to go.
>
> My tires rotate whenever I drive. I've checked. I had someone else
> drive the car in a parking lot in circles and sure enough, the tires
> rotate.

You are smart to make sure your tires are rotating. Most people just assume that all their tires are rotating. Non-rotating tires will wear out faster than you can say "Tire Wearhouse." That is, of course, unless you have four non-rotating tires in which case, the tires will pretty much last forever..