Don't Rotate Tires!?

[GRusco]

We purchased our 2005 X5 3.0 Sport Pkg a few years ago. After putting enough miles to warrant an oil change I told my BMW dealer he should probably rotate the tires (http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AB2&url=index.jsp) at the same time. The service manager told me they didn't recommend tire rotation on the X5! Huh? First I'd heard tires (http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AB2&url=index.jsp) should not be rotated. So now we have over 56k on the OEM Michelins (http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AB2&url=/tires/michelin/michelin.jsp). Anyone else not rotating tires (http://www.tirerack.com/a.jsp?a=AB2&url=index.jsp)?

[Bjkearns]

I am not sure about that specific vehicle but is there an offset?
meaning larger in the rear and smaller in the front

[AHenry014]

what i think the fellow above means is, are the tires different sizes from to rear? and/or are the wheels staggered. if their all the same size and the fronts are wearing more than the rears, i see absolutely no reason NOT to rotate them

[GRusco]

The X5 has no offset as it came from factory.

[mryakan]

BMW does not recommend rotation because some customers complain of road noise and/or vibration after rotation or a change in handling characteristics. This is due to the rather aggressive negative camber alignment that BMWs have.
That being said, I almost always rotate my tires when doing the seasonal switch. Staggered tires cannot be rotated front/back (different sizes) but can be rotated left to right if they are not directional. Bridgestone claims the latter reduces the effects of feathering and the associated road noise. If you do not use winter/summer tires, rotating the tires may not be cost effective depending on how much you pay to do the rotation. Definitely a side to side rotation is not worth paying for on its own since it does not really extend the life of the tires.

P.S. Not sure about the X5, but many BMWs come from the factory with staggered tires (which I what you guys are referring to, i.e. different size tires front/rear. Offset is a totally different thing).

[Bjkearns]

oops that is correct I did use the wrong term
newb move
Im learning

[Cliche Guevara]

If you do not use winter/summer tires, rotating the tires may not be cost effective depending on how much you pay to do the rotation. Definitely a side to side rotation is not worth paying for on its own since it does not really extend the life of the tires.
Discount Tire will rotate them for free. Also, it's pretty damn easy to just do it yourself.

[Jason5driver]

I don't rotate, mostly because the wear characteristics are different from front to rear.
The camber is different from front to rear.
Over the years, I have found that rotating tires leads to wearing the tires incorrectly, and making noise.