Freelander 1 rotating tyres

know we all talk about tyres all the time, lol

but how many of us rotate them

it's always worried me as we all know how sensitive the hippos are

mine must be about 3 x years old and only done around 4,000 miles on them

wouldn't mind doing a rotation but suppose in the back of my mind worked if it will upset the vcu

did rotate my tyres but that was on the previous series landy i had

what are ur thoughts on this plse

thks guys

Yes I agree. I bought a new set and had rotated F to B. Then a replaced the spare with the same as the set i bought. I rotate that on the back axel. Interestingly after about nearly two years the tyres are now less than 5mm tread. The spare has just under 7mm. The fronts are wearing a bit more on their inner edges by about 0.5mm

I do not rotate mine I know people like to but the reason I do not is because if the tyre has worn to the position it is it will not stop it from wearing if you move it around so why bother.

There's a few schools for thought on rotating the tyres.
The Freelander generally wears the front down at about half the distance of the rears, give or take a slight tolerance.
So if you are happy with the current tyres, and they are still available. I would simply replaced the two worn fronts, fitting them to the rear and move the rears to the front. This is perfectly acceptable, and is actually beneficial to the VCU at some point in the tyre wear cycle.
If you are looking to change the tyres to a different make, type or size. There's no alternative but to change all 5 at the same time. Obviously if you are then keeping with those tyres. Changing two at a time will become acceptable.

Nodge68 said:

There's a few schools for thought on rotating the tyres.
The Freelander generally wears the front down at about half the distance of the rears, give or take a slight tolerance.
So if you are happy with the current tyres, and they are still available. I would simply replaced the two worn fronts, fitting them to the rear and move the rears to the front. This is perfectly acceptable, and is actually beneficial to the VCU at some point in the tyre wear cycle.
If you are looking to change the tyres to a different make, type or size. There's no alternative but to change all 5 at the same time. Obviously if you are then keeping with those tyres. Changing two at a time will become acceptable.

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cheers guys

they still have plenty of tread on them all, but must measure each one

trying to remember the difference that's permissible between them was it 2mm difference

reason i ask , it will be at least a few weeks until i get my hippo into the garage to look at this steering issue and thought about rotating the tyres first, as it won't cost anything , backs to front and front to back

just want to make sure i don't upset the vcu that's all

gstuart said:

cheers guys

they still have plenty of tread on them all, but must measure each one

trying to remember the difference that's permissible between them was it 2mm difference

reason i ask , it will be at least a few weeks until i get my hippo into the garage to look at this steering issue and thought about rotating the tyres first, as it won't cost anything , backs to front and front to back

just want to make sure i don't upset the vcu that's all

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The rear should never be small than the front. This is were tyre rotating becomes tricky. At some point, swapping the tyres will cause the rear to be smaller than the front. This is why I never swap front to back.

Nodge68 said:

The rear should never be small than the front. This is were tyre rotating becomes tricky. At some point, swapping the tyres will cause the rear to be smaller than the front. This is why I never swap front to back.

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know there is a tolerance, but didn't wish to upset the vcu , understand as the hippo is mainly a front wheel drive vehicle with the fronts wearing out quicker

maybe i will swap the fronts left to right and the rears right to left may be a better option

gstuart said:

know there is a tolerance, but didn't wish to upset the vcu , understand as the hippo is mainly a front wheel drive vehicle with the fronts wearing out quicker

maybe i will swap the fronts left to right and the rears right to left may be a better option

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If wheel rotation is an approved procedure, it'll be in the owners handbook
I swap mine L to R, R to L to even out the sawtoothing that AT tyres suffer on the Freelander.

Nodge68 said:

If wheel rotation is an approved procedure, it'll be in the owners handbook
I swap mine L to R, R to L to even out the sawtoothing that AT tyres suffer on the Freelander.

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think i will do that , swapping as u say, fronts left to right and the backs left to right

plus won't cost me anything and will just be one thing of the elimination list,

Hi guys, I've had Two L series hippos from new (one at a time!) current one (2000MY) has done 145k miles and the tyres have all done over 40k miles. I've always renewed tyres 2 at a time and always put new tyres on the rear. I sometimes swap them side to side but never front to back. Always had Michelin except the first '98 MY hippo which wore out a set of Good Year Wranglers in 24k. Currently I have Synchrones on the front down to 2mm and Latitude cross on the rear almost unworn. Trouble is this tyre is now discontinued but worked really well off road. Any ideas what to pair these with when they get moved to the front?

Happyhippo said:

Hi guys, I've had Two L series hippos from new (one at a time!) current one (2000MY) has done 145k miles and the tyres have all done over 40k miles. I've always renewed tyres 2 at a time and always put new tyres on the rear. I sometimes swap them side to side but never front to back. Always had Michelin except the first '98 MY hippo which wore out a set of Good Year Wranglers in 24k. Currently I have Synchrones on the front down to 2mm and Latitude cross on the rear almost unworn. Trouble is this tyre is now discontinued but worked really well off road. Any ideas what to pair these with when they get moved to the front?

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Get another pair of Latitude Cross for the rear. Then move the current rears to the front. Synchrones weren't suitable to be mixed with any other type of tyre anyway

Happyhippo said:

Hi guys, I've had Two L series hippos from new (one at a time!) current one (2000MY) has done 145k miles and the tyres have all done over 40k miles. I've always renewed tyres 2 at a time and always put new tyres on the rear. I sometimes swap them side to side but never front to back. Always had Michelin except the first '98 MY hippo which wore out a set of Good Year Wranglers in 24k. Currently I have Synchrones on the front down to 2mm and Latitude cross on the rear almost unworn. Trouble is this tyre is now discontinued but worked really well off road. Any ideas what to pair these with when they get moved to the front?

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I think you've been fortunate to get away with having different types of tyre on front and back - even if they are the same manufacturer.

I think the only advice most will give on here is to run exactly the same tyres all round, that is also what's quoted in LR documentation.

I'm sure I've heard of LR quoted maximum differences in tyre radius - so that the VCU is not slipping excessively, but have been unable to find it in Rave or the handbook.

GrumpyGel said:

I think you've been fortunate to get away with having different types of tyre on front and back - even if they are the same manufacturer.

I think the only advice most will give on here is to run exactly the same tyres all round, that is also what's quoted in LR documentation.

I'm sure I've heard of LR quoted maximum differences in tyre radius - so that the VCU is not slipping excessively, but have been unable to find it in Rave or the handbook.

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Hi GG. Agreed re the tyres. I seem to remember a maximum of 5mm difference between back and front. Assuming all tyres are the same. The back must be the largest, which effectively makes rear/front swapping a no no.

Try this website gives tire rotation advice for most vehicles

http://2015-land-rover-freelander.tirerotation.net/

John03 said:

Try this website gives tire rotation advice for most vehicles

http://2015-land-rover-freelander.tirerotation.net/

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That's a great site - even tells you how to rotate tyres on your 1991 Freelander!

I wouldn't trust that info one little bit.

It makes no mention of All-Wheel-Drive limitations in tyre rotation/choice.

Nodge68 said:

Hi GG. Agreed re the tyres. I seem to remember a maximum of 5mm difference between back and front. Assuming all tyres are the same. The back must be the largest, which effectively makes rear/front swapping a no no.

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5mm is what I was thinking, not sure if its diameter or radius though.

never trust anything you read on the internet

GrumpyGel said:

That's a great site - even tells you how to rotate tyres on your 1991 Freelander!

I wouldn't trust that info one little bit.

It makes no mention of All-Wheel-Drive limitations in tyre rotation/choice.

5mm is what I was thinking, not sure if its diameter or radius though.

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I assume that the website is just a general tyre rotation listing. I had a laugh at the dates the Freelander was available from.

5mm would be diameter, not radius

Do people have their tyres turned on the rims to extend tyre life? Beneficial on the front where the inner edge tends to wear slightly more than the outer.

htr said:

Do people have their tyres turned on the rims to extend tyre life? Beneficial on the front where the inner edge tends to wear slightly more than the outer.

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If the tracking is optimised, the tyres should wear evenly right across the width. Mine wear flat and they are 225/60/17. Low profile tyres are more fussy and scrub out easier then higher profile tyres.
The trick is to set the tracking spot on

I'm delaying having the tracking done as I'm hoping to make and fit a 40mm lift kit. Will do it then.