i'm REALLY confused on this ... ok, not really. But I just took my car in to the dealer for an oil change and to have them check out the tire roar per Nissan's letter. Anyway, I comment that I would like them to check the alignment for the roaring issue and rotate the tires. The rep tells me they can't rotate the tires .... well, we go back and forth a few times since she keeps cutting me off as I try to describe that the tires need to be removed from the rims and swapped left to right ... I finally get the whole statement out and she STILL says they don't rotate them. WTF? I KNOW I'm not off my rocker here. Nissan's temporary answer was to rotate the tires, was it not?? How could this woman have never heard of rotating the Z's tires?

Whatever! In the end, I just said, "here's the letter from Nissan. I have the tire roar. So please fix it."

We'll see what they do in the end. I'm guessing if they don't replace the fronts, they will rotate them, and she is just clueless.

Funny thing is, I would have PAID for a tire rotation as part of regular service ... but since she insists they don't rotate them, they won't get money out of me if they do decide to do the rotation to fix the roar.

 

Try using the word "swap" or "switch" the front tires. "Rotate" usualy means switching all four tires. Maybe that is what is confusing her.

 

On the real, Nissan's 350z tires cannot be rotated. If and only if they're staggered and for obvious reasons. Now for taking the tires off and switching sides, it can't be done. If you look close at the wall of the tire it tells you what direction they must run(an arrow), thus, switching them from one side to the other will be opposite, or the tires will be running backwards, of what factory is suggesting. Why is it like this... God only knows... or the 350z creator... same difference. I'm also stuck with this dilemma, especially since I just bought a brand new set.

 

it can be done if you dismount tires and remount on the oppisite side tires will spin in the same direction

 

The only way they can be "rotated" is side to side due to the staggered tire size, and yes you would have to remove the tires from the rims to keep the direction going the same way.

 

My service advisor used the term "cross-rotate".

 

my understanding is they are not rotating tires (as per previous posts, that can be done given the stagger, as rotation also involves fronts to back, as well as side to side). The tires can be moved from one side to the other, but they need to be taken off the rims, re-mounted, balanced, etc. The seal on a low aspect tire can be tought to break - I am not a mechanic, and out of my depth here - but my sense is that this is something they prefer to avoid if possible. Not very helpful....but I would push for new tires if you can get them - to me that is the best fix, that along with a change in the front camber/toe-in.

 

as i said in my original post, i DID describe to her that they need to be removed from the rims, etc. She said they still don't do it. i just think that's odd. If you are running a business of working on cars and someone says "i'll pay you to perform this service on my car." Why would you say no?? well, whatever, as long as the growl and feathering goes away.

its been there 7 hours now and i have yet to receive a call. Hmmmmm....

 

I just buy new tires every 8K for the front. Shop around, follow ebay and the Z forums and you can find good buys. I bought a set of new Goodyear GS-D3s for less than half what Discount tire wanted. Lots of shopping and a little patience saved me $600.

 

I'm sure they got tired of replacing rims on their dime every time one of their mechanics f'd up someones rim, so now they just don't want to deal with it.

You say you have "the roaring" and a letter from Nissan. Have YOU inspected your tires to see if you're getting the cupping, feathering, or inside wear that causes this? If you have and none of these things are present, I'd just ask for an alignment and be done with it. I would also consider moving to aftermarket tires rather than continuing to use the nasty OEM RE-040's. Many people here have indicated that an alignment and changing tires to a different model was all it took.

Anyway, dealing with the dealerships is a PITA, isn't it?

 

Can't rotate mine..they are different sizes front to rear and are directional so a side to side rotation won't work, either.

 

I think the reason they don't want to do it has to do with the issue of taking the tire off the rim and then remounting it....while this is supposed to be straight forward, and they have the "touchless" system to protect the rims my guess is that rims and is some cases a few tires get f'd up. Just a hunch.

 

Yeah, Discount Tire put a 4" long scratch on my wheel. Looks like an edge from a screwdriver. Needless to say nobody said anything and I didn't see it until 4 days later. You know the changer knew he did it. So few have pride in their work anymore...

 

Yes that is how I "Rotote" my tires...

Remove them from the rim, and re-mount them so the Inside is on the Out side...

You get Twice as much out of your tires this way....

 

EXACTLY! Thanks, Jason. I'm glad to hear from a dealer who knows what they are doing!

anyway... wanted to give an update. They gave my car back last night having just done the oil change. They agreed that I have a problem and they ordered new front tires and scheduled me to come back Sept. 1. Only problem is they have to send my car out to get the alignment done, so she says i should anticipate being without my car for 2 days!! Ugh!!

yes, i know the stock tires are pitiful ... but if they are giving me new ones for free, I'm not turning them down. I don't have the money right now to buy a different brand on my own dime.

 

The inside of the tires always wears on this car... Its set up for the track with negitive camber... Its one of the sacrifices for a great performing car in the corners!

No matter how many times I have said on this board to rotate your tires like this I cant tell you how many people come in with perfectly un touched out side's of tires with worn down to the bone on the inside... I tell them, You could have gotten twice as much out of those tires... Comes back a year later... Same thing...

Some people dont listen I guess...

ALot of dealers either dont understand the consept, or just dont want to be scratching rims... Most dealers dont hire someone just to do tires, Do you want a "Lube Tech" (someone who basicly only does oil) mounting your tires? The dealer at the same time does not want to buy new wheels for customers either... (I cant lie, our best wheel guy has scratched a rim or two as well so we dont do certain wheels any more...)

But this is the best thing you can do for your tires!

 

agree my rear sp9000 were worn after 8000 miles
for those with aftermarket rims I would suggest a performance shop unless you know that your dlr have the correct equip to perform dismount on tires (sure performance Nissan does )

 

Jason,
what do you guys charge for a tire rotation on the Z?

I'm nowhere near you, but I just want to know what I should expect if i shop around for a place that will do the job.

thanks.

 

it depends on the size of the wheels... and what type of wheels...

reverse mount wheels like Racing Harts / Maya / Maido are more...

It is usually about 70-100 for 18's depending on the wheels though...

 

I just had my aftermarket wheels with Michelins 245/40/18s rotated (dismounted, remounted & balanced on opposite rim) and it was $40 plus tax. The $40 rotation is well worth it when you consider these tires are around $300 each...

Be careful, because this tire shop scratched the hell out of one of the rims. Looked like a 6" gash from a screwdriver. The shop owner was honest and reliable and had it fixed. I picked it back up yesterday and it looked like new.