When a shop rotates your tires do they actually remove the tire from the rim and move it to the other side or do they just switch the entire thing to other side, which seems like a whole lot less work?

 

if the tires are directional they would have to take them off the rims

 

They would also have to remove the tires if you have different sizes front and rear.

 

I'm just wondering because my '03 has the tire feathering so the dealer said they would rotate the front tires. I noticed that my curbed rim on the right hand side was still on the right side after I got the car back. So I guess they removed the actual tire and moved it to the left side.

 

Yes you are correct, they only move the tires not the wheels.

Side to side that is. BTW, thats only a temp fix, won't fix **** in my opinion.

 

They should have also done a complete realignment. That's also part of the fix.

WayneTN