A dually, or dual rear-wheel truck (DRW), is made to take on heavy loads all while providing you increased traction, balance, and stability on the road. They’re hard to beat when it comes to hauling and towing. However, because dually trucks have six tires instead of four, rotating their tires can be more complex than standard truck tire rotations.
• Why is it Important to Rotate Your Dually’s Tires?
• How to Rotate Tires on a Dually
• Dually Rotation Patterns: Normal Wear
• Dually Rotation Patterns: Irregular Wear
• How Often Should You Rotate Dually Tires?
• Dually Truck Tire Rotation Services Near Me
Regularly rotating your tires is crucial for maintaining even wear on any vehicle. However, this practice becomes even more critical for dually trucks, which endure a wide range of loads, from light to heavy. Due to these varying loads, the four rear tires are prone to wearing out faster than the front tires. Therefore, investing time in tire rotation not only extends tire mileage and lifespan but also proves worthwhile, particularly considering the expense of replacing all six tires on a dually truck.
In most cases, the best (and easiest) way to rotate tires on a dually pick-up truck is the circular rotation pattern where the front tires become the outer rear tires, the outer rear tires become the inner rear tires, and the inner rear tires become the front tires—all without switching sides.
However, there are a few cases in which the circular rotation pattern may not work for your dually. So before rotating your tires, consider your tire wear, wheels, and whether or not your tires are directional.
If your tires are wearing evenly and…
• Your wheels are all matching and non-directional: the best rotation pattern to use is circular.
• You have directional tires: the best rotation pattern to use is dually directional.
• Your wheels are different: the best rotation pattern to use is side-to-side (for inner steel and outer aluminum wheels).
But if your tires are wearing unevenly and…
• Your rear tires are wearing faster than your front tires: the best rotation pattern to use is rear tire irregular wear.
• If your front tires are wearing faster than your rear tires: the best rotation pattern to use is front tire irregular wear.
Best if your wheels are all matching and non-directional
If your tires have typical wear, this dually rotation pattern is ideal and often preferred to other rotation patterns.
NOTE: All three wheels must be matching for this rotation pattern. This makes dually trucks with six matching steel wheels the best candidate.
Left Side
• The front driver’s side tire moves to the outer left rear position
• The outer left rear tire moves to the inner left rear position
• The inner left rear tire moves to the front driver’s side position
Right Side
• The front passenger’s side tire moves to the outer right rear position
• The outer right rear tire moves to the inner right rear position
• The inner right rear tire moves to the front passenger’s side position
Best if you have directional tires
If your dually has directional tires where the outer rear wheels are mounted facing inward, you’ll want to use this rotation pattern. Because directional tires have a specific tread pattern that’s made to only rotate in one direction, you’ll have to pay closer attention to their placement. If mounted incorrectly, the tread will channel water into your tire’s path of contact instead of away.
NOTE: This rotation pattern is ONLY recommended for directional tires.
• The front driver’s side tire moves to the inner left rear position
• The inner left rear tire moves to the outer left rear position
• The outer left rear tire moves to the front passenger’s side position
• The front passenger’s side tire moves to the inner right rear position
• The inner right rear tire moves to the outer right rear position
• The outer right rear tire moves to the front driver’s side position
Best if you have inner steel and outer aluminum wheels
This rotation pattern is ideal if you have regular wear but the outer and inner rims are different.
Front
• The front driver’s side tire switches positions with the front passenger’s side tire
Back
• The outer left rear tire switches positions with the outer right rear tire
• The inner left rear tire switches positions with the inner right rear tire
If your rear tires are wearing faster than your front tires:
• Switch the left outer tire with the left inner tire
• Switch the right outer tire with the right inner tire
NOTE: The outer and inner rear wheels must be matching for this rotation pattern.
If your front tires are wearing faster than your rear tires:
• Switch the front driver’s side tire with the left outer rear tire
• Switch the front passenger’s side tire with the right outer rear tire
NOTE: The outer wheels must all match for this rotation pattern.
It’s good practice to rotate your dually tires about every 5,000 miles. However, you’ll want to check your manufacturer’s requirements for tire rotation to maintain your warranty. It’s also important to note that how you use your dually can affect how often your tires need to be rotated. Regularly carrying heavy weight can cause additional wear on your tires.
Still have questions about rotating your dually’s tires? Give us a call and we’ll help you find the right solution for your vehicle!
And if you’d rather have a professional rotate your dually’s tires, Wonderland Tire is up for the job. Find us at one of our many Michigan locations or in Calumet City, IL, Elkhart, IN, Rensselaer, IN, Newport, KY, and Lebanon, TN.
Find your nearest Wonderland Tire to set up an appointment today!
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