Racers, what is your experience, routine, in ref to swapping tires side to side?

In my experience, it does lengthen the tires service life. However, in my experience, the tire will often take two runs to "come back" after the swapping.

Specifically, with the Super 10 [Hoosier 32 x 14 D05], they develop a definite grain pattern after about 20 runs.

Tell me what y'all are doing.

Unless I see some really unusual graining (rare), I never swap sides.

On my other car I swapped side to side all the time for better wear and also flipped them on the wheels as they wore faster on inside than outside. I never noticed it taking two runs to come back l, it ran the same all the time.
I noticed it looks like the new ride is wearing inside faster too so I am gonna flip them on wheels also.

I run Hoosier 29.5x10.5's, swap them side to side every other weekend, about 20ish passes, never saw any issues doing this.

32x14.5w DO5 on mine and swap them every six or seven races . I can throw out the first pass untill the hair gets turned back right on them.

Hoosier 9x30x15 Radials swapped every 10-12 runs.No issues with "coming back".

If anything,the first pass after a swap is usually a few thou quicker in 60ft.

Larry, consider trying the Hoosier 18245 which is the 32x14 stiff wall version in a door car. I use these and rotate every 20 -25 runs. 175 to 200 runs and replace.

When I saw rubber curling “slightly” on the outer 3” of the edges, swapping cleans these up and the first run from swapping was the very same as the last.

I no longer see this grain pattern while still spending the same time in the BO box smoking the tires up very good. This is because I no longer launch in 1st gear.

I swap mine side to side fairly frequently. They are actually DOTs, not true slicks. Maybe it is doing something positive, but honestly, I am not really all that sure. I plan to continue doing it, just because. Kinda like how I still separate my recyclables from my regular trash. It might not be doing much, not then again... Take care. Tom Worthington

I rotate every 30 runs when its time for the filter change or oil change. never notice any ET difference and get more life out of them. MT 3191 and 3196s on a dragster. Did this with C06 hoosier also.

quote:

Originally posted by Lenny5160:
Unless I see some really unusual graining (rare), I never swap sides.

Same here. I used to swap sides about every couple of weeks, but the benefit didnt outweigh the work, as there really wasnt any benefit on my car. Even not swapping sides, I still get 250 passes on D05 Hoosiers before they need replaced. Maybe if my car was quicker I would have seen a different result.

The only thing I have found with swapping tires is that it wears out the sidewall quicker.

Agreed^^^

I swap them about once a month. Guess its just a habit, 31X14--DO5

I never had a sidewalk issue.

I know one guy who breaks the tires down and turns them around a couple times a month, he likes to keep them on same side but turn direction. I think it is a waste of time but he wins a lot and so it may just be one of those things that gives him that confidence. I know people who rarely if ever swap them or rotate them and are very successful. Years ago I would swap them side to side but I do not bother any more. I think it will wear out the tread and the sidewall faster.

I used to switch sides every 20 runs but a M/T rep told me the sidewalls go away quicker with switching so I stopped. The last few years I only switch if the tires come off for some reason. I also do a much shorter burnout and that eliminated any feathering.

Good topic, Larry. And interesting comments.
Back when I only ran Goodyears, (12 straight seasons), the GY engineers at the nationals always recommended swapping them every 15-25 runs, to prolong the sidewall life. And I did usually see a 1-3 thou difference in 60 on the first pass after swapping sides.
I would run them way down, about 200-225 passes.
On one set I rarely swapped them, and it did seem like the 60's became very inconsistent, even when there was plenty of hole depth left, so I figured that validated the advice.
I kept the habit up when I eventually switched to Hoosiers about 12 years ago, and then a couple years later to Mickeys, always got really good life out of all but the Hoosiers, (because the advice I got from reps and S/S racers was to "melt them to the rim" during the burnout).
I do know all 3 manufacturers use different techniques to build their slicks, so I wonder if that might explain why some racers see a quicker pass or 2 after rotating them, others have it run a bit slower? And some guys see no difference. Of course I suspect the different burnout routines could affect this as well.
Also interesting that some say swapping sides shortens the sidewall life? My car is heavy, and with the trans brake, 4.56 gear and 2.48 low of a TH400, it beats the heck out of sidewalls. M/T says no need to swap them, but old habits can be hard to break, and the set of M/T 29.5 x 10.5 Stiffwalls I retired late last season had over 250 passes, had been rotated every 20-ish passes, they were worn bare, but still super consistent and predictable to .001 in the 60. So whether it helps or not, I guess will continue to rotate them.

Larry, I was wondering. Does the Super 10 need a new back bumper and does Extreme raceway have good bite? LOL

Curtis, were you there?

We definitely have a problem. I have been work on make the power I thought it was capable of and we are about there.

Problem is HUGE wheelie. 250 + feet before it sets down. And yes, on the bumper with a 5.98 ET.

I have several changes before the next outing because the wheelie is too much

quote:

Originally posted by Larry Woodfin:
Curtis, were you there?

We definitely have a problem. I have been work on make the power I thought it was capable of and we are about there.

Problem is HUGE wheelie. 250 + feet before it sets down. And yes, on the bumper with a 5.98 ET.

I have several changes before the next outing because the wheelie is too much

No Larry, wish I had been though. That was something to see. I saw a video on Facebook on the Fatboy Mafia page. I believe you got the power part right though. I'm sure you will get it figured out.